Keith Olbermann, His ESPN Years.

[Yavin4]

James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales have written a book about ESPN. It's excerpted in GQ magazine. This excerpt focuses on K.O., and the sense that you get is that he may indeed be a broadcasting genius. He not only can do a great broadcast, but he can redefine an entire network, just like he did with MSNBC.

And like most geniuses, he has a problem dealing with authority and working with others. I can see how he can be a pain in the ass at times, but that's the price of genius.

Chris Berman made that place. But the guy who made ESPN a household word, the guy who made ESPN mean something in the market to everyone, was Keith Olbermann. God, he was a genius. He just reinvented sportscasting by being the smartest guy who ever did it. And watching him in the mid-'90s was a pleasure. It was appointment viewing: What was Olbermann going to say that night?

Read More http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201106/espn-oral-history-sportscenter-keith-olbermann#ixzz1MdzGfS2g

It's a great read, and it will give you high hopes for Current TV.

[oberliner]

1. Sounds like a real jerk

Quite an egomaniac. Upset a lot of good people.

[Bucky]

3. !

Wherever do they find these clowns?

[RagAss]

6. I knew a cameraman who worked on the set.....He told me "Keith took ESPN to another level "

I'll go with what he said.

[woofless]

2. I first heard of Olbermann at work.

I didn't watch ESPN much. Guys started showing up at work saying "Did you hear what Olbermann said last night?" and the discussion was on. Generally comical. It was obvious that this guy was making a real connection. I am now a solid fan. Go KO.

[DFab420]

4. It sounds like everyone liked riding Keith's coattails to household names

but are just as willing to insult him and deride him right after admitting they would be nowhere without him...

[Yavin4]

5. Yep.

Same goes for MSNBC. KO made that network. No one was watching ANYTHING on that network until KO was allowed to do his thing.

MSNBC gave Alan Keyes his own show once.