ESPN: The Uncensored History [Paperback]

ESPN: The Uncensored Historytraces the first 24-hour sports network from its inception through its evolution into a slick media outlet reaching more than 60 million homes via more than 26,000 cable providers.Entertainment and Sports Programming Network,ESPN, has blazed a stunning path of achievement with its expansive coverage of broadcast sports—spinning off intoESPN2,ESPN Classic Sports,ESPNews, andESPN Magazine—but has also experienced its share of controversy. Along the way, this American entrepreneurial triumph has alienated on-air talent, drawn charges of racial discrimination, and seen employees accused of blatant sexual harassment.
ESPN's success story is no fairy tale. Among the colorful lore and amusing anecdotes lurk serious complications and controversies. Through information gleaned from internal documents, police and court records, and interviews with network employees, on-air talent, producers, and executives,ESPN: The Uncensored Historyprobes the inside story of America's premiere sports network. Part corporate history, part media and cultural analysis, and part expose, the book examines both the positive developments effected by the network and the bad habits it has picked up from the business it covers.
This paperback reveals the most recent developments atESPNsince the publication of the hardback, including the network's aggressive reactions to the book.Michael Freeman is a sportswriter withThe New York Timesand has held several positions as a reporter atThe Washington Post,The Boston Globe, andThe Dallas Morning News. He currently covers the National Football League. Freeman was named Sports Journalist of the Year in 2000 byThe Village Voice. He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.This is a must-read for ESPN and sports fans alike.The tale of ESPN's rise digs deeply...into behind-the-scenes shenanigans......powerful and entertaini