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Gifts for all occasions in the Galleria! Subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list. The "What is the Deal?" Deal-of-the-Week: Movielink(TM)−Download Movies Now September 12, 2004 What is the Deal with ESPN? By Jan A. Larson The erstwhile Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, now known simply as ESPN, has been airing non-stop sports for a quarter century. In September of 1979, I'm sure even the most optimistic observer would never have imagined the effect that ESPN would ultimately have on American culture. When ESPN debuted, the idea of a television network devoted to such a narrow range of programming 24 hours per day was unheard of and many television "experts" dismissed the idea as folly. ESPN forged ahead and, not having broadcast rights to the traditional "major" sports, introduced Americans to the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat in such sports as slow-pitch softball and Australian rules football. With 24 hours to fill every day and without access to a large amount of live sports programming, ESPN not only regularly reran sporting events, but they also introduced the sports equivalent of CBS' 60 Minutes, the ESPN SportsCenter. Unlike the weekly edition of 60 Minutes, SportsCenter aired three times per day! SportsCenter provided the venue whereby little-known sports anchor men and women would become national celebrities while introducing Americans to such catch phrases as Dan Patrick's "En Fuego" to describe a player who was "on fire" and Stuart Scott's "Boo Yah!" used for emphasis on home runs or slam dunks. Chris Berman, the "godfather" of ESPN, played a significant role in transforming the staid, traditional 10-minute sports report seen on countless local television stations around the country into a production in which even the anchor could be a fan. Berman's booming voice, rapid-fire delivery and enthusiasm for sport epitomizes the passion that many sports fans have for their team and their sports. ESPN's success ultimately led to the acquisition of the network by ABC and that, in turn, fueled the growth of ESPN to the point when now all four major sports leagues, the NHL, NBA, NFL and major league baseball, are seen on ESPN. ESPN has become the de facto standard for sports production and innovative programming. Before ESPN, there was the Saturday afternoon "Game of the Week" and "Monday Night Football." Now there are nationally broadcast major league baseball games several times per week, NFL games on Sunday nights, college football on Thursdays and basketball games all the time during the season. There are the extreme sports "X-Games" and a lot more people who know who is the World's Strongest Man. There are ESPN2 and ESPN Classic. There are foreign language editions of ESPN broadcast around the world. Few would question the impact that ESPN has had on sports programming. The real impact of ESPN, however, was not just on the world of sports, but also on the cable television industry in general. Without ESPN, it is hard to imagine that there would be 24-hour networks such as Food Network, Court TV or Home and Garden. Would there be literally hundreds of specialty channels available via cable or satellite without ESPN? The real question for me is, with so many Americans leading such hectic, stressful lives, who has time to watch television? Maybe our lives are hectic and stressful because of television. Gotta run. Time for SportsCenter. -- Send feedback to the author. The "What is the Deal?" column will appears weekly on the Pie of Knowledge website. Guest submissions are welcome and encouraged. To submit an article to "What is the Deal?" click here. To subscribe to the "What is the Deal?" mailing list and receive early notification when a new column is available, click here. The Pie of Knowledge will never, ever divulge email addresses to any third party for any reason unless so ordered by a court of law. Contributions to the Pie of Knowledge are greatly appreciated. 
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