Spotlight ESPN founder, 'father of sports television,' Bill Rasmussen dead at 93 Chris Bumbaca USA Today Aug 18, 2026 Aug 18, 2026 Updated Aug 18, 2026 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen died Tuesday at the age of 93 from complications of Parkinson's disease, the network announced.kAm#2D>FDD6? 7@F?565 E96 ?6EH@C<[ 2=@?8 H:E9 9:D D@? $4@EE[ E92E H@F=5 364@>6 <?@H? 2D E96 Q(@C=5H:56 {6256C :? $A@CEDQ :? `hfh 2D 2 423=6 492??6= 32D65 :? E96 >:55=6 @7 r@??64E:4FE – E96 t?E6CE2:?>6?E 2?5 $A@CED !C@8C2>>:?8 }6EH@C<[ H9:49 H@F=5 364@>6 <?@H? 2D t$!}]k^AmkAm}6G6C 367@C6 925 2? 6?E:C6 492??6= 366? 565:42E65 E@ DA@CED ac 9@FCD A6C 52J[ D6G6? 52JD A6C H66<] x? `hhc[ &$p %@52J 42==65 #2D>FDD6? E96 Qu2E96C @7 $A@CED %6=6G:D:@?]Qk^Am People are also reading… Chilhowie confirms it's exploring boundary adjustment Smyth School Board takes next step to address buildings' needs Citizen files court complaint trying to upend Smyth's data center zoning regulations Smyth School Board honors educator who builds on student strengths Smyth County considers permit for second battery energy storage facility Social worker issues appeal for more foster families Diesel costs force Smyth schools to review bus use Legislators honor T-Bone Lewis, present General Assembly resolution Verizon wants to hang up on landlines, but some customers aren’t so sure Where to find food and drink deals for Halloween Serial killer Ted Bundy linked to murder of Utah police chief's 17-year-old daughter Unflappable: QB Grunkemeyer setting the tone for Virginia Tech Patrick Stewart, 'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' star, dies at 86 James Franklin aims to get Virginia Tech freshmen out of 'redshirt mode' JMU football turns to veteran leadership after first loss of season kAmQq:== H2D 2 C6>2C<23=6 >2? – 2 G:D:@?2CJ 2?5 2? :??@G2E@C H9@ 4@?46:G65 E96 :562 @7 2 ?6EH@C< 6?E:C6=J 56G@E65 E@ DA@CED[Q t$!} 492:C>2? y:>>J !:E2C@ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] Q"F:E6 D:>A=J[ ?@?6 @7 FD H@F=5 36 96C6 E@52J :7 :E H2D?’E 7@C q:==’D A2DD:@? 2?5 2== E96 92C5 H@C< 2?5 6?EC6AC6?6FC:2= DA:C:E 96 AFE :?E@ 3F:=5:?8 t$!} :? E96 =2E6 `hf_D – <6J 2DA64ED @7 @FC 4@>A2?J 4F=EFC6 E92E DE:== 42CCJ @? E@ E9:D 52J]Qk^AmkAm%96 #2D>FDD6?DV 52J\E@\52J 4@?EC@= @7 t$!} 6?565 E96 J62C 27E6C :ED 7@F?5:?8[ :? `hg_[ H96? >2;@C:EJ @H?6C v6EEJ ~:= 7@C465 E96> @FE] v6EEJ D@=5 :ED gdT >2;@C:EJ DE2<6 :? E96 qC:DE@=[ r@??64E:4FE\32D65 4@>A2?J E@ pqr :? `hgc]k^Am kAm#2D>FDD6? H2D H6=4@>65 324< E@ E96 4@>A2?J 7@C E96 a_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ 46=63C2E:@? :? `hhh 7@==@H:?8 ?62C=J EH@ 564256D @7 6DEC2?86>6?E] w6 2?5 !:E2C@ E9C6H @FE E96 7:CDE A:E49 2E 2 q@DE@? #65 $@I 82>6 2E u6?H2J !2C< :? a_`h E@ 4@>>6>@C2E6 E96 c_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 ?6EH@C<]k^Am kAmQq:== H2D @FC v6@C86 (2D9:?8E@? 2?5 2 8@@5 7C:6?5[Q t$!} =686?5 r9C:D q6C>2?[ @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE t$!} 9:C6D H9@ ;@:?65 E9C66 H66<D 27E6C E96 =2F?49[ D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E] Qw6 H2D DF49 2 8C2E67F= A6CD@? 2?5 6G6CJ DA@CED 72? 42? 36 8C2E67F= 7@C q:==] w6 H2D?’E 2 8=2DD 92=7\7F== 8FJj 9:D 8=2DD H2D 2=H2JD @G6C7=@H:?8 H:E9 @AE:>:D>] w6 8C66E65 6G6CJ@?6 H:E9 2 D>:=6 2?5 H6 42? 2== D>:=6 <?@H:?8 q:==’D =6824J]Qk^Am kAm#2D>FDD6? H2D C2:D65 :? x==:?@:D 2?5 D6CG65 :? E96 p:C u@C46 367@C6 6?E6C:?8 2 DA@CED 3C@2542DE:?8 42C66C :? |2DD249FD6EED :? E96 `he_D] w6 2=D@ H@C<65 2D 2? 25G6CE:D:?8 2?5 AF3=:4 C6=2E:@?D 6I64FE:G6] #2D>FDD6? H2D :?5F4E65 :?E@ E96 $A@CED qC@2542DE:?8 w2== @7 u2>6 :? a_ad]k^AmkAmQ(96? D@>6@?6 E6==D J@F J@F 42?’E 5@ D@>6E9:?8[ J@F H2?E E@ AC@G6 E96> HC@?8[Q #2D>FDD6? D2:5[ 244@C5:?8 E@ %96 pDD@4:2E65 !C6DD] Q|2?J[ >2?J A6@A=6 E@=5 FD E96C6 H2D?’E 6?@F89 DA@CED E@ 5@ 2 ac\9@FC 492??6=] x 5:5?’E 2C8F6 H:E9 2?J3@5J] x ;FDE E9@F89E E96J H6C6 HC@?8 2?5 x H2D C:89E]Qk^Am kAm#2D>FDD6? H2D AC656462D65 3J 9:D H:76 @7 de J62CD[ {@:D[ :? a_``] w6 :D DFCG:G65 3J EH@ D@?D – $4@EE[ 9:D H:76 {2FC2[ 2?5 v=6?? #2D>FDD6? – 9:D 52F89E6C {J?? '2? w@==636<6 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 {@F:6[ D6G6? 8C2?549:=5C6?[ @?6 8C62E 8C2?5D@?[ 2?5 @?6 8C62E 8C2?552F89E6C]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at age 77 The band's representative said Beard died Monday in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, "with family members at his side." Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video Mike North: Bears' Simmons Trade Fits a Team Built to Win Now SEC Playoff Predictions 2026: Georgia, Texas and Kentucky Lead the Race SEC Playoff Predictions 2026: Georgia, Texas and Kentucky Lead the Race Hokies' Greene on building off win at Clemson Hokies' Greene on building off win at Clemson Hokies' Franklin on facing SMU after open week Hokies' Franklin on facing SMU after open week
Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at age 77 The band's representative said Beard died Monday in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, "with family members at his side."