"I was fired on a Friday... and by Monday, I was already inventing the world's largest sports channel."
It all started with bad news. In 1978, I was let go from my job as the communications director for a hockey team. I was 46 years old, had a family to support... and zero savings. I could stay home feeling sorry for myself, or I could do something. So I decided to take a chance on an idea that no one dared to try: a television channel dedicated 24/7 to sports. Back then, that was almost crazy.
I had no studio, no signal, not even a satellite. But I found something key: a deal with RCA to rent satellite time cheaper during the nights. And that's how Entertainment and Sports Programming Network was born. With my son Scott, we made calls, designed logos, wrote scripts... all from an improvised office on the roof of a gas station. Literally!
We laughed at the rejections... but they hurt. The big networks told us it wouldn't work. That no one was interested in college sports or reruns. But we insisted. On September 7, 1979, we launched ESPN for the first time. No one could believe it. 30,000 people watched that first program. And today... we are millions. We broadcast the Super Bowl, the NBA, the Champions. But I swear nothing was as epic as that first victory over doubt.
"ESPN was not born in a stadium... it was born in a moment where all we had was an idea and the courage not to let it die."
"Sometimes losing a job... is the kick you need to start running towards your true purpose."
