In an unexpected twist, ESPN’s heartfelt homage to its creator, Bill Rasmussen, met an abrupt interruption, replaced by a boisterous welcome to The Pat McAfee Show.
During the closing moments of First Take, the show aimed to honor Rasmussen’s substantial contributions. The man behind the concept of 24/7 sports broadcasting had recently passed at 93, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped sports media.
Reflecting on Rasmussen’s profound influence, personalities Evan Cohen, Jason McCourty, and Chris Canty shared poignant memories, while a tribute graphic adorned the screen. Host Courtney Cronin was in the midst of her closing remarks, beginning with ‘his legacy lives on’.
However, her solemn delivery was unexpectedly halted by the exuberant voice of Pat McAfee, who burst onto the airwaves with: ‘Hello and welcome to the Thunderdome beautiful people!’
Transitioning swiftly to his dynamic setting, the ex-NFL punter continued with flair: ‘And welcome to our humble abode, the DraftKings Thunderdome on this big ball Tuesday.’
The awkward end to the tribute quickly generated attention on social media, particularly given it involved McAfee, who has become a controversial new face of the network as one of its highest-paid employees.
ESPN botched its own tribute to founder Bill Rasmussen at the end of First Take
The booming voice of Pat McAfee interrupted the tribute as he started his show for the day
ESPN has invested heavily in McAfee, funding his show with a $30-million-a-year contract while making a host of cuts in other areas. He is also set for a pay rise, according to reports, as talks continue over an extension of his contract.
Cronin broke news of Rasmussen’s passing earlier in the show after his battle with Parkinson’s disease ended in his Florida home.
‘He was a sports fan turned broadcaster and entrepreneur who’s out-of-the-box idea of a 24-hour, cable sports network, ESPN, changed forever the landscape of sports media,’ she said.
‘Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports,’ said ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro.
‘Quite simply, none of us would be here today if it wasn’t for Bill’s passion and all the hard work and entrepreneurial spirit he put into building ESPN in the late 1970s – key aspects of our company culture that still carry on to this day.’
Pitaro added: ‘One of my greatest thrills since joining ESPN was getting to know Bill on a personal level. I will always cherish the memory of catching the ceremonial first pitch that he threw at Fenway Park in Boston in celebration of our 40th anniversary. His legacy will always be a part of ESPN.’
Rasmussen is survived by his two sons, Scott and Glenn, daughter Lynn, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He lost Lois, his wife of 56 years, back in 2011.
The Chicago-born executive conceived the idea of ESPN with his son, Scott, in the 1970s after being fired as communications director of the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association.
Rasmussen died on Tuesday in his Florida home at the age of 93 after having Parkinson’s
Tributes have been paid to Rasmussen, who’s ‘game-changing’ idea revolutionized sports
While many initially dismissed his idea, he launched ESPN in 1.4 million homes on September 7, 1979. After serving as the company’s first president and CEO, he left after a few years having laid the groundwork for its astronomical success.
‘Bill was our George Washington and a good friend,’ said veteran anchor Chris Berman, who joined ESPN three weeks after the original network launch in 1979.
‘He was such a grateful person and every sports fan can be grateful for Bill. He wasn’t a glass half-full guy; his glass was always overflowing with optimism. He greeted everyone with a smile and we can all smile knowing Bill’s legacy.’
Rasmussen revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2019. He became an ‘ambassador for Parkinson’s patients through both the American Parkinson Disease Association and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research,’ per ESPN.