Did You Know Tuesday

Did you know that it was 30 years ago (as of September 7) that ESPN debuted? The first show was on a pretty lame set, and the audio didn’t sync up too well with the video, and the schedule included an NCAA preview, slo-pitch softball (between the Kentucky Bourbons and the Milwaukee Schlitzes...yes, Schlitzes), wrestling and college soccer.

Debuting in the evening, it was up against The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, Facts of Life, Diff’rent Strokes, Rockford Falls and The Dukes of Hazzard. How the hell did ESPN survive against so many classics, right?

To look at ESPN nowadays (including the numerous offshoots...EPSN2, ESPNU, etc) you would be hard-pressed to think it started with such humble beginnings. But I still gotta wonder: when did fireman olympics become a sport that warrented TV coverage? Or cheerleading competition? Or friggin poker tournaments?

Check out the brief clip of the first show here with host Lee Leonard.