It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Ted Turner, the media titan and former owner of the Atlanta Braves, who died Wednesday at the age of 87. The man who revolutionized cable television and turned a struggling baseball franchise into a national phenomenon leaves behind a legacy as colorful as it is monumental.
Turner wasn't just a businessman—he was a showman who bet big and won bigger. He purchased the Braves in 1976, when the team was mired in mediocrity, and transformed them into a perennial powerhouse. Under his ownership, the Braves won 14 division titles and captured the 1995 World Series, cementing their status as America's Team. The Braves organization released a heartfelt statement: 'Ted's visionary leadership and innovative approach to broadcast television transformed the Braves into America's Team. We will miss you, Ted. You helped make us who we are today.'
But Turner's influence stretched far beyond the diamond. He founded CNN in 1980, launching the world's first 24-hour news network and changing how we consume information forever. CNN chairman Mark Thompson said, 'Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgment. He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN.'
The tributes have poured in from all corners of the sports and entertainment world. WWE legend Ric Flair posted a heartfelt message: 'So Sorry To Hear About The Passing Of The Great Ted Turner! He Created CNN And Look At It Now! He Rolled The Dice And Wasn't Afraid Of Taking Risks. He Won The America's Cup For Sailing! On Top Of All Of That, He Created So Many Opportunities For So Many Wrestlers Because Of His Love For Wrestling.'
President Donald Trump also weighed in, writing on Truth Social, 'One of the Greats of Broadcast History, and a friend of mine. Whenever I needed him, he was there, always willing to fight for a good cause.'
Turner's empire included TBS, TNT, and Cartoon Network, but his love for sports never wavered. He was also a champion sailor, winning the America's Cup in 1977, and his ownership of WCW Wrestling brought professional wrestling to a national audience. One fan summed it up: '14 division titles as Owner of the Atlanta Braves will always be part of Ted Turner's legacy – along with CNN, TBS, TNT, Turner Classic movies, WCW Wrestling, America's Cup Champion and getting Jane Fonda to marry a Billionaire – Captain Outrageous was a true American legend.'
Turner's death comes in a week that has seen the sports world mourn other losses, including the passing of longtime Yankees voice John Sterling. But Turner's impact is singular—he didn't just own a team; he changed the way we watch sports and news.
From his humble beginnings in Cincinnati to his towering presence in Atlanta, Ted Turner lived a life of audacious risk-taking. He once said, 'You can't have a life without risk.' And he proved it, time and again. Rest in peace, Captain Outrageous.
As news of his death spread, fans and colleagues alike reflected on a man who defied convention at every turn. Whether he was hoisting the World Series trophy or launching a news network from scratch, Turner never shied from the spotlight. His legacy will endure in every Braves game broadcast on TBS, every breaking news alert on CNN, and every story of a dreamer who dared to think big.
