Editor’s Note: As SportsCenter approaches its 50,000th episode (expected to be Thursday, Sept. 13), Front Row will present content related to the show and the milestone. Today, a timeline of important dates in SportsCenter’s history and facts you may not know.
Sept. 7, 1979 — ESPN launches and the first program aired is the flagship show, SportsCenter, hosted by George Grande and Lee Leonard.
Feb. 6, 1981 — SportsCenter anchor Rhonda Glenn joins ESPN and becomes first full-time woman sportscaster for a national TV network.
Jan. 1982 — SportsCenter provides on-site reports from the Super Bowl for the first time.
Dec. 2, 1988 — The 10,000th episode of SportsCenter airs.
Oct. 10, 1995 — This is SportsCenter, the irreverent, behind-the-scenes, on-air promotional campaign, begins. Roger Clemens, Grant Hill and Micheal Andretti were among the first athletes to visit Bristol to participate in the critically acclaimed campaign.
May 17, 1998 — The 20,000th episode of SportsCenter airs.
Jan. 2000 — The first international edition of SportsCenter, reaching 2.4 million homes in Brazil, launches in Portuguese.
Aug. 25, 2002 — The 25,000th episode of SportsCenter airs. continue reading…
