Rating: 
Summary: uneven
Review: The first half of this book is interesting. It reveals the history of ESPN and is well written. The second half of the book is an amalgam of gossippy information about the internal organization that is ESPN. It may be interesting for some to read about personality tension, the plight of low level employees, and sexual harassment at ESPN. Yet, unfortunately, personality tensions, bad conditions for workers, abuse of power and sexual harassment are characteristic of many organizations. Abuse of power and sexual harassment needs to be discussed no matter where it prevails. However, I thought much of the second half of the book was a thatched collection of episodes that may have been "uncensored" but did not contribute to a unique history of ESPN. Therefore, I think the title of the book is misleading and thematically, after the first section, the book loses its ostensible focus.
Rating: 
Summary: An Inconsistent Read
Review: The strength of this book can be found in the initial few chapters. For people unaware of the history of ESPN, it is fascinating to note the business/political machinations that occurred to make one of the most powerful enterprises in television history come to fruition. In addition, his focus on John Walsh, and his obsession with ESPN's news worthiness is a compelling portrait. Finally,the author is particuarly keen at drawing comments from participants that would now be considered ridiculous; i.e., "Cable Television would never make it". However, the rest of the book is basically a rehash of current ESPN history; growth, purchase by Disney, blatant self-promotion, that is not particulary revealing. Additionally, the 'bite' of the sexual harrassment accusations he reveals comes across as watered down. While there is no doubt that some of these situations certainly occurred, it would have been more evenly balanced, if he had provided names of the accusers, and the rebuttals of the accused (more in depth). However, in not doing that the author comes across as agenda-driven, which lessens the credibility of the book
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: This book has it all. Great writing, superb reporting, and good quotes throughout. I enjoyed it so much I read it twice.
Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: This is a great book, really shows all the ins and outs and what happened at the company. It tells the truth. However, I am a little disappointed that it did not mention influential production assistant Al Lin. He really helped shape the company, and omitting him was a mistake.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting but not quite sizzling.
Review: This isn't quite what you'd expect from the press.Much of the book is taken up by the tale of how ESPN was started. I found that part to be very interesting and well-written, full of information that I never knew about the nascent and historic network. However, it's not what most of those grabbed by the press will care about. The story of the abuse of PAs and of drug use in the same years it was gripping the sports world is revealing if you didn't expect those things. However, the abuse of PAs is hardly unique to ESPN in the TV world, which doesn't make it any better, but which context seems to get short shrift. I also think many would have expected that a jock net in that era would have its share of drug use. The sexual harassment at ESPN that is alleged in the book (and its poor handling by execs) is similarly less than shocking -- even if that's a very sad thing to say in the year 2000. The Tirico story was publicized at the time it happened, and the book doesn't really add much detail to that particular incident (except the author's impression that Tirico is not contrite, which is by its nature subjective and debatable). The other stories -- again, containing abysmal and inexcusable conduct -- are hardly shocking in a sizeable company with lots of young males, many of whom were jocks or are jock culture-obsessed. Is such conduct as is alleged wrong? Absolutely. Shocking? Nope, especially not when an on-air personality has already been publicly exposed to have been disciplined in that regard. I found the profiles of the on-air staff to be relatively unrevealing, too. Keith Olbermann is an opinionated, brash, sometimes egocentric, eccentric guy with a strong sense of what he thinks is right and wrong. Anyone expect otherwise? Tom Mees and Dan Patrick were/are pros and respected. Berman is revered for what he does, and respected, but sometimes too full of himself. Berman, Patrick and others get close to athletes off-camera, which might make one question their integrity, but which also might give them serious leads that others wouldn't get. The "insights" into the personalities at ESPN basically tell us that they are... mostly exactly what we expected from watching them on TV. Of course, that may not be at all the fault of the author -- if they are mostly what they seem, there wouldn't be much he could do about it, after all! Finally, a book that claims to be critical, in my opinion, needs to be doubly careful in editing, lest it leave itself wide open to having its accuracy attacked. Unfortunately, there's one doozy here that the sports people in Bristol will spot quickly: Freeman initially puts the New England Whalers in the American Hockey League (page 49), then in the "World Hockey League" (page 50). Of course, as those in Bristol who used to call them the "home team" (often with sarcasm) will know instantly, the Whalers were in the World Hockey Association before joining the NHL. Oops. In summary: Generally well-written, especially in its first half, but not nearly as shocking as the press suggests, and not all that insightful as to current ESPN personalities.
Rating: 
Summary: Author should be less opinonated
Review: While the book does a great job of showing the behind the scenes action at ESPN, the writer should heed the lessons of the personalities he writes about. He suggests that many of the anchors and producers are too egotistical, yet at the same time he STATES without any objectivity that Andrea Kremer is the best reporter and that Keith Olbermann is "the best talent in the two-decade history of 'SportsCenter'." While I have no problem with voicing one's opinion, to claim that Olbermann, who was disliked by so many for his smug attitude and sophomoric antics and who later got a dose or reality after he thought he could succeed at MSNBC, was the absolute, no-contest best talent is obsurd to say the least. Tell us the stories, leave the opinions to the readers.
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining
Review: You will look at ESPN in an entirely different way. This is one of the best books about the building of a corporation that will you read. It gives the good and the bad. This is what I wanted to read, a book about the total ESPN network, not what ESPN wants me to believe with its fluffy ads that I know now aren't true.
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