What did it take to get TSN off the ground on day 1?The CRTC granted our license in April of 1984. Shop Air Jordans Shoes Free Shipping . I had to convince [then-owners] Labatt that we had a business plan that would eventually become profitable. They gave me the green light, and from there, we had four months to build a broadcast centre, to assemble staff, to contract with program suppliers and rights holders, and to put together a program schedule. All of this had to happen in time to sign on the air September 1, 1984 at 12 noon… and somehow, we made it. Our original programming concept was to do eight hours of original programming a day and then repeat it twice. And it was a challenge just to get eight hours of original programming pulled together. We had some Blue Jays rights, we had some Canada Cup and College hockey rights, but we had to assemble all the rest. So in those early days, we introduced some interesting sports – we broadcasted Australian rules football, we had darts, we had snooker, we had a lot of programming that the television audience wasnt used to seeing.What made you choose the name TSN? And what inspired the original TSN branding? Deciding on a name for the network was probably one of the hardest things we had to do. We hired an agency to research names, and they came to us with a long list. We sat down in a boardroom and narrowed it down to 10. Then we got it down to three – which were Action Canada Sports Network, The Sports Network, and one other I dont even remember. Must not have been a strong candidate. The Sports Network was the only one I really liked – it was pre-emptive. It was THE Sports Network, and TSN sounded like a great, short branding opportunity. For the logo, we commissioned an artist who did nothing but design logos. I phoned him after about the weeks of waiting and asked if he had any options for me. We were going to air soon, so I was anxious. He said he had one design for me – just one. With great trepidation I went to his office, and he asked me, Whats the one element thats associated with all sports? Im thinking, its not a ball, its not a stick, its not a sweater with a number... I was going through all these ideas and couldnt come up with anything. He said, "Its a scoreboard." And so he unveiled the logo which featured the three letters, TSN, lit up like a scoreboard. I loved it.Do you remember the first hour of TSN going live to air?I was determined to start the service with the Canadian national anthem. That was the first thing that TSN broadcast – both pictures and audio. TSN has never played the anthem again because since that day, weve never signed off.The first day actually went really well – we did a two-hour documentary on the building of the network, right from getting the license to going on the air. We then went to Halifax for a live Canada Cup hockey game, came back and did our first SportsDesk, which was what SportsCentre was called in those days. At 7 p.m., we went to a live Blue Jays baseball game, came back at 11 p.m. and did our first late-night Sports Desk. Then we all sat down, looked at each other [and said], Well, what are we going to do tomorrow?!What was your proudest moment at TSN?There were many – from the day we first signed on, and numerous others throughout the years. But what Im most proud of is what we did at the Olympics. TSN was the very first cable network in the world to carry Olympic programming. We acquired some rights through the assistance of CTV, interestingly enough, for the Calgary Olympics of 1988. We had a sizeable presence in Calgary and that was a major milestone in the building of TSN for me. Is there a behind-the-scenes story that maybe no one would know that shaped the future of TSN?Yes. Theres one that affected our launch in 1984. We needed programming, as I said before, so I called up one of the senior executives I knew at ESPN and went down to New York to see him. I said, Wed like to buy programming from you, and wed like to extend your network through our network into Canada. They werent terribly anxious to do that. ESPN wanted to come directly into Canada as other networks such as A&E and CNN had done.The day before we launched, on the Friday, I still didnt have a Program Supply Agreement with them, but the draft program schedule was loaded with ESPN programming… and my public relations group had assembled all the press in our boardroom – we were introducing our commentators and our schedule for the first time. I was in my office still talking to ESPN and they were not going to sign an agreement. The press conference was supposed to start at 12 noon, and at 12:30 p.m. I still didnt have a deal made. About quarter to one I said to the ESPN folks, Well look, either way, Im going in that room and announcing that TSN is carrying some ESPN programming. The only thing that we havent agreed on is the price, but well get to that, and Im sure well find some common ground. And they finally said okay.Now, ESPN is a part-owner of TSN and its been a wonderful relationship. Difficult to get, but well worth the struggle. They have been great partners.Do you still think about the future and TSNs place in Canadian broadcasting?Absolutely. We felt like pioneers back when we launched in September of 1984 and I truly believe that we were pioneers. We launched a whole new industry, and its only grown and grown. Im very proud of it.If you could start it all over again is there anything you would do differently? Not a thing. Wholesale Jordans China . THE THUNDER & PACERS BENCHES: In a nutshell, not impressive at all. Retro Real Jordans Outlet . The Philadelphia left fielder clubbed a tiebreaking, solo home run in the seventh inning, and the Phillies edged the Red Sox, 2-1, in the middle test of a three-game interleague series at Citizens Bank Park. http://www.wholesaleauthenticairjordan.com/ .com) - Tonight will go a long way in determining the two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference.DUMFRIES -- Canada dropped a 7-6 decision to Austria in a quarter-final qualification game Tuesday at the world mixed doubles curling championship. Wayne and Cindy Tuck of Ilderton, Ont., closed out round-robin play earlier in the day with a 7-3 win over Finland but needed a win over Austtria to reach the final eight. Discount Air Jordans Shoes. Austria will play Switzerland in the next round. Canada finished second in the Group B standings with a 7-1 record while Austria was third in Group A at 5-3. The medal round is scheduled for Wednesday at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. Authentic Nike Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Tennessee Titans Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Washington Redskins Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Arizona Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Denver Broncos Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Green Bay Packers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Los Angeles Chargers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike New England Patriots Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Oakland Raiders Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Seattle Seahawks Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Carolina Panthers Jerseys Cheap Authentic Nike Cleveland Browns Jerseys Cheap Cheap Throwback Baseball Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Atlanta Braves Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Baltimore Orioles Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Boston Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago Cubs Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Chicago White Sox Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cincinnati Reds Jerseys Cheap Throwback Baseball Cleveland Indians Jerseys ' ' '