Bill Rasmussen, ESPN founder who conceived a cable network devoted to sports, dead at 93

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ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen passed away at the age of 93 on Tuesday from the effects of Parkinson’s Disease. ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro published the following statement, remembering Rasmussen:

"Bill was a remarkable man – a visionary and an innovator who conceived the idea of a network entirely devoted to sports. 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."

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ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen recalls the network's start in 1979, saying it began with a $9,000 credit card cash advance. "That doesn't go too far when you're buying satellite time and paying people, but it all worked out pretty well," the 86-year-old said. Rasmussen was fired by the Whalers before launching the network. (Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

During a traffic stop in 1978, Rasmussen and his son Scott were discussing programming options for their newly acquired satellite transponder from RCA.

Rasmussen then blurted out an idea: a 4-hour cable network devoted to sports.

ESPN launched on Sept. 7, 1979, beginning with the first broadcast of SportsCenter, which remains the network's flagship