Spotlight ESPN founder, 'father of sports television,' Bill Rasmussen dead at 93 Chris Bumbaca USA Today Aug 18, 2026 Aug 18, 2026 Updated 23 hrs ago 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… A dozen years after closure, construction begins on McMullin Bridge's replacement Smyth teacher represents region as Virginia Lottery awards public schools proceeds Marion's Lincoln Theatre appeals to community for support Chasing greatness: Hunter Trivette believes that's making connections with students Upgraded crosswalks at Chilhowie schools expected to enhance student, citizen safety Marion pediatrician, state Health Department express support for vaccines 94-year-old woman's death at Va. assisted living facility ruled a homicide Chilhowie High grad among winners of statewide Women's STEAM-H Essay Contest Marion Police identify suspect in Friday pursuit, search Chilhowie explores adding vehicle charging station Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in 'Heroes' and 'Nashville', dies at 36 Families of JMU students killed in crash collect $2 million in settlements Appalachian Center for Hope sees opening treatment center as just the first step Will winter be snowy, stormy or mild? Farmers' Almanac forecast by region Verizon to phase out copper landline phone service kAmQq:== H2D 2 C6>2C<23=6 >2? – 2 G:D:@?2CJ 2?5 2? :??@G2E@C H9@ 4@?46:G65 E96 :562 @7 2 ?6EH@C< 6?E:C6=J 56G@E65 E@ DA@CED[Q t$!} 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 Hokies' Chambers on playing Mike linebacker How the WNBA got sucked into America’s culture war How the WNBA got sucked into America’s culture war Hokies confident about safety depth heading into season Hokies confident about safety depth heading into season Virginia football training camp sights and sounds, Aug. 17 Virginia football training camp sights and sounds, Aug. 17
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."
