Ted Turner, the CNN founder and a key figure in cable television, passed away at 87, leaving a significant sports legacy as the owner of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, as well as the NHL’s Atlanta Thrashers and World Championship Wrestling. He bought the Braves in 1976, transforming the team from low attendance and poor performance into a playoff contender by 1991. To boost attendance, Turner orchestrated creative promotions, including Karl Wallenda’s tightrope act in 1977. Despite the team’s struggles, Turner’s innovative approaches became a hallmark of his ownership.
