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Your Destiny Awaits You

Writer's picture: LaToya BinesLaToya Bines

Updated: Nov 4, 2023

November 2, 2023

By: LaToya Bines




During Week 8 we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the NFL Network. The journey to day 1 was one of determination and consistency. New Jersey native, Steve Bornstein was born on April 20, 1952. He began his television broadcasting career as a University of Wisconsin college student.


Shortly after graduating in 1974, Bornstein found himself honing his craft as a sports broadcaster with WOSU-TV in Columbus, OH. There Bornstein began to niche down and produced local football television broadcasts. Eventually he would climb the ladder and become an executive producer.


It was during this time that he met Chet Simmons, an American broadcasting executive who worked with ABC Sports, NBC Sports, and ESPN. Simmons mentored Bornstein and encouraged him to join the ESPN team in 1980. During his 10-year tenure he helped launch Sports Center, NFL Primetime, ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPN Radio, to name a few and all while becoming the youngest president and CEO within the network. By the time he was in his early 40’s he became the corporate VP of Capital Cities/ABC.


During the late 80’s and early 90’s cable television wasn’t accessible to every household, but popularity was growing as many moved away from having the three basic channels (3,6, and 10) ABC, CBS, and NBC. In 1987, ESPN began airing NFL Sunday night football games, SportsCenter began to expand (including college sports like basketball and football), and the introduction of live NFL games. In 1993, Bornstein assisted ESPN in their philanthropy efforts by supporting Cancer Research through the V Foundation. Fans would start to see players wearing pink sneakers in October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.


In 1999 Bornstein began working for Disney, who would later acquire ESPN in 2018. In 2002, he found his way to the NFL where he built the league’s media-operations team, but in 2003 he began planning and working toward what would become the NFL Network. While the launch of the NFL Network was November 4, 2003, the first NFL game was not aired until November 23, 2006.


The first game to be shown on the network happened on Thanksgiving Day from Arrowhead Stadium where Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders, and Steve Mariucci would begin the pregame show for the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos. Twenty years later the Chiefs faced the Broncos, but this time playing at Empower field at Mile High. You can still find Eisen and Mariucci on NFL GameDay on Sunday mornings. They’re part of what I call the “A-Team”.


NFL Network has birthed NFL Total Access, NFL GameDay, and A Football Life, not to mention its contributions to the gaming industry. Madden Football was introduced to the Sega Genesis console in the early 90’s. Those of us who craved the latest game then enjoy watching NFL Redzone now.


Bornstein wasn’t afraid to make changes when he saw fit and as a result his vision has impacted millions around the world. What would happen if you had the patience to hone your craft and overtime utilized the skills you have, to make changes? Join Elevated Standards LLC for the month of November when will prepare job seekers for their next step through our “dress for success” clothing drive, career essentials webinar, and discounts on our career essentials services.


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