The original logo of a team that came into existence in 1979, the Entertainment and Sports Network, better known as ESPN. The network, led by commentators like Bob Ley, Chris Berman, George Grande and the late Tom Mees, made the decision to air coverage of the NFL draft in 1980. Commissioner Pete Rozelle took the idea to the league owners, who overwhelmingly rejected it. Being the visionary he always was, Rozelle ignored the owners and told ESPN president Chet Simmons to air the draft as a news event, which the league would be powerless to stop. Needless to say, the draft has become a huge event that fans attend live and that not only ESPN but the NFL’s own network air each year.