ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Big Ten Network persevered, prospered and thrives today
From a breaking point to building a brand and a historic debut, the Big Ten Network turns 15 years old this week.
theathletic.com
On BTN's 15 year anniversary, The Athletic (paywalled) tells the tale of its birth.
It's mostly just fun little stories, and I almost spat my drink out at this little nugget about the fateful meeting where ESPN rejected the nascent idea:
"A meeting was set up with Delany accompanied by Illinois athletics director Ron Guenther, Big Ten attorney Jonathan Barrett and Penn State president Graham Spanier opposite ESPN’s hierarchy of George Bodenheimer, John Wildhack, John Skipper and others."
What a crew!
At the end of the day, it always seems clear to me that Jim Delany is very similar to a lot of very innovative people. In 1998 he clearly saw and understood 2010, and in 2016 he clearly saw and understood 2010. What you must say whether you love or hate him is that any other claimants for the title of "Father of Today's College Sports" would be incorrect, he was the visionary power broker, we live in Delany's world now for good and ill.
