About 23 years ago, I remember having a choice: Would I rather have heat or cable for my off-campus home? I opted for cable, and my friends and I would sit in sleeping bags, watching SportsCenter.

SportsCenter meant a lot to me as a college student, and it still does today as we celebrate the 25,000th show on Sunday (ESPN, 11 p.m. ET). But the number of years carry more importance to me than the number of shows. Since 1979, SportsCenter has withstood the test of time, raising a generation of sports fans.

While viewers see two anchors on camera, there are probably 30 to 40 people involved in every SportsCenter show.

Someone who started watching SportsCenter at age 17 may now -- at 40 -- have children who enjoy it. SportsCenter is TV's equivalent of going to a ballgame with dad. A father and son can watch it together.

Or, the morning after a father watches it, a son can get up and catch one of the re-airs before he goes to school. Then, hopefully, when the son gets older, his kids will enjoy it -- long after I'm gone.

As SportsCenter anchors, we've reflected on ourselves and the 25,000th show in recent weeks. We've talked about its impact and about our place in Americana. But it would be unfair to talk about SportsCenter's outward effect without first looking inward. My reflections would be incomplete without mentioning the people behind the scenes who have made my job easier and allowed me to flourish.

Outside our little world in Bristol, Conn., no one knows their names. And chances are you'll never see their faces. But without them, ESPN wouldn't be celebrating a 25,000th show.

At ESPN, there are people doing lots of different jobs at strange hours. Many of them come straight from college and make money that might not be compensatory to their degree. But they do it because they want to contribute to a quality product in a sports environment. They're willing to work hard and do the grunt work. And they, not Chris Berman or Dick Vitale or any other on-air personality, are why ESPN runs.

While viewers see two anchors on camera, there are probably 30 to 40 people involved in every SportsCenter show, whether they're running the prompter or doing the research or watching the games or cutting the highlights. There is a meeting everyday at 4 p.m. to discuss what has happened in sports and what could happen. There is copy to be written and there are games to be watched. Duties often get passed like a baton from one person to someone else who is working later hours. The anchors take direction and get information funnelled to them. If our job looks fun and easy, that's why.

Our producers at one point probably wanted to be on TV, but they accept their roles and perform them with excellence. Producers such as Norby Williamson, Mike McQuade, Gus Ramsey, Mark Summer, Steve Vecchione and Ed Schimmel have displayed a determined nature and a keen grasp on how to squeeze a day of sports into 60 minutes. Summer started out at ESPN running the prompter, a job in which one must be perfect -- and then better than perfect. Now he's a coordinating producer.

Our directors, people like Linda Willhite, Lenny Daniels, Kevin Stolworthy, Rick Paiva and the late Denis Sedory, have been calm voices in our ears, helping SportsCenter to run efficiently and effectively over the years.

No one can underestimate the value of ESPN's research department.

No one can underestimate the value of ESPN's research department, with the likes of Jeff Bennett, Pete McConville and Craig Wachs. There is no better researcher in the country than Howie Schwab.

No matter what time of day or night, you can ask Howie a sports question, and you don't have to wait long for an answer -- if you have to wait at all.

Overall, the guidance of ESPN executive editor John Walsh has been instrumental in making SportsCenter what it is today. Fifteen years ago, he viewed the show as something that could be special and changed its direction. His fingerprints are all over a majority of the 25,000 shows -- and rightfully so. Without his influence, we might have only celebrated the 15,000th SportsCenter and stopped there.

There are so many people to thank, so many who deserve a tribute for their commitment to SportsCenter. They have allowed the anchors to earn the plaudits and gain the recognition. They have individually touched my life. And if you have watched and enjoyed any of the 25,000 SportsCenters, they have touched your life as well.