February 11, 2011, Greencastle, Ind. — An upcoming book by Harlan Steinbaum, Tough Calls
From the Corner Office, includes interviews with 39 business leaders who describe "a memorable,
career-defining decision," notes a story in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among the contributors is Bill Rasmussen, a 1954 graduate of DePauw University. The book points out that Rasmussen "helped start ESPN by putting a $9,000 cash
advance on his credit card."
Access the article at the newspaper's website.
Rasmussen co-founded ESPN in 1979 with his son, Scott, a 1986 DePauw graduate. Bill Rasmussen has been called "the father of cable sports" by USA Today and "the George Washington of ESPN" by anchor Chris Berman. He was recognized in 1994 by Sports Illustrated as one of 40 individuals who had the greatest impact on the world of sports over the previous 40 years.
He is among the 2011 class of "The Champions: Pioneers & Innovators in Sports Business." The award, presented by SportsBusiness Journal/Sports Business Daily, recognizes "the architects and builders of sports." Details can be found in this recent story.