PhillyPhanatics.com interviews ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen

PhillyPhanatics.com, the online community for Philly sports fanatics, recently had the opportunity to interview ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen, who was in the Philadelphia area in conjunction with the release of his book "Sports Junkies Rejoice; The Birth of ESPN."

Rasmussen, an admitted sports junkie himself, has regaled audiences nationwide on how he turned his vision for a cable network devoted exclusively to sports into reality with the debut of ESPN on September 7, 1979, following his dismissal from the New England Whalers of the WHA when the team missed the playoffs in the spring of 1978.

The interview highlights key developments which made ESPN a reality, but also touches on various topics beyond the book, such as the elevated interest and stature of women in sports, the development of the distinctive personalities of ESPN anchors, most of whom, like Chris Berman, were industry rookies in 1979, and of course, Rasmussen's opinion of Philadelphia as a sports town.

PhillyPhanatics.com launched in September 2010, a product of summer discussions between high school friends in the early ESPN era - Eric Fisher, a Philadelphia-area sportswriter and newspaper editor - and Ron Opher, a local attorney, entrepreneur, philanthropist and sports enthusiast.

PhillyPhanatics.com takes the best that digital media has to offer, and weaves elements of "old-school" sports journalism found in the great sports newspaper columns of the past with video and audio which was once the exclusive domain of broadcast outlets, and interactivity with Philadelphia sports fans - who are among the most passionate and knowledgeable fans that we have ever encountered.

For more information on PhillyPhanatics.com, contact Ron Opher,
business manager, at ron.opher@phillyphanatics.com or at 610-710-1477.

For more information on booking Bill Rasmussen as a guest speaker,
contact Jim DeLorenzo at jim@jhdenterprises.com or at 215-564-1122

PhillyPhanatics.com
P.O. Box 2245
Southeastern, PA 19399
contact: Ron Opher, Business Manager

This release was published on openPR.