The formatting of the book is so strange, using just interview transcripts as the primary text. I got lost often as the author decided to throw so much information at you in a noncomprehensible way and suddenly shift to a new idea or story. The book also runs really, really long, when a lot of the back and forth between interviews can be condensed into a fascinating story. The first half of the book moves so slowly through minute details about the formation and growth of ESPN. Two stars because I'm a huge sports fan and enjoyed hearing from some SportsCenter personalities, but otherwise, very difficult to get through.

ESPN has been around as long as I can remember and after my brother, ESPN: the magazine and Bill Simmons is a big part of why I'm interested in following sports. I really enjoyed reading about how the network grew over time and about the random things that led people to play a part in its growth. I liked how the author had the people involved tell the story, rather than summarizing it in prose himself, and that he included both (or multiple sides) of a story on occasion.

This is a fascinating, exhaustive, and gossipy look behind the scenes at ESPN. Eye-opening history and juicy anecdotes abound. This was written before the "Me Too" movement. One of the striking things that interested me in this book was the behavior of some of the male sportscasters towards their female counterparts. A few were really guilty of disgusting behavior. And yes names were named. I couldn't help but believe that if this book had come out today, many heads would roll.

The best way to read this book is to go to the index and start with the personalities and topics that interest you the most. Do not read it front to back, because parts a quite dry ancient history. Once you start this way, you will find yourself reading background and going off on tangents as you want to find out more about topics and people that are mentioned while reading about your primary interests. Particularly entertaining is getting multiple viewpoints of the same people and incidents from different eyes. I ended up reading 75% of the book, even though there were really only a few personalities and topics I started off being interested in.

https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/

Liked the book, but the editing was too poor to make it 5 stars. Misspellings, repeated quotes, redundant sections. Great content, but execution left something to be desired especially after multiple delays of the release date. Pages 608-611 have same quotes as those on 676-678.

Interesting to learn how a small station created to cover Connecticut sports turned into the behemoth it is today. (The answer is satellite time, Getty money, and a bit of luck.) The last 100 pages didn't bring anything to the table.

3.5 but rounded up. Too disjointed and disorganized to be anywhere near 5 stars. Since it was nearly all quotes, the book lacked cohesion. The stories and characters were interesting enough to motor through over 750 pages.

This lengthy oral history of ESPN had a huge amount of buzz before it. There was an embargo on its release to help drum up interest.

But like a summer blockbuster, all the interesting stuff was in the trailer. The book is 700 pages full of TV executives talking about expanding market share, blowhard ESPN anchors talking about how wonderful they are and how awful other people are, and then there are bits and pieces about the seemingly rampant sexual harassment at the cable sports network.

I watch a lot of ESPN as I enjoy watching sports on TV and the network covers just about everything I like. It evens cover stuff I don't like (the X Games is one example). But, I don't think I really learned much about ESPN that I didn't already know. The early years of the network are interesting and the Keith Olbermann stories are fun, but after that it's hard to wade through. (Way too much of Tony Kornheiser feeling sorry for himself is a big problem.)

The most interesting story in the book, and it's not even part of the oral history section, but rather a comment by Dallas Cowboys owner Jimmy Jones where he tells someone that when other networks show an NFL game, it's about the teams playing, but when ESPN broadcasts an NFL game, it's all about ESPN.

ESPN really likes themselves. Except when they speak in this book. Then they all seem to hate each other.

Massive oral history of the origins of ESPN and its subsequent rise to the top of the sports entertainment world. A bit too long and loosely focused but, for a fan, a worthwhile read.