Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

[BlueNGold]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

My first guess is he goes to Turner/Bleacher Report.

I'm just surprised he doesn't get to take Grantland with him. That's a pretty ****ty deal when you're being removed from something you created.

[DJ]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

My first guess is he goes to Turner/Bleacher Report.

I'm just surprised he doesn't get to take Grantland with him. That's a pretty ****ty deal when you're being removed from something you created.

Grantland was marketed as Simmons' site and no doubt he played a big part in launching and shaping the site. But, ESPN was there every step of the way and smartly negotiated those ownership rights when the site was created.

[aholbert32]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

My first guess is he goes to Turner/Bleacher Report.

I'm just surprised he doesn't get to take Grantland with him. That's a pretty ****ty deal when you're being removed from something you created.

Simmons played a big role but Grantland was always an ESPN owned site. Its not like he created Grantland on his own and ESPN purchased a piece of it. ESPN has always owned 100% of the site.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Plus ESPN's deep pockets are the reason he was able to build such a deep and talented roster. No way he could have fronted 1/10 of the cost as an independent.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Yep, Simmons needed ESPN even though he hated every second of it.

They basically got what they wanted out of each other - it was always going to end like this.

[JayBee74]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Simmons helped create the best two things going over at the World Wide Leader (Grantland and the 30 for 30 series). Wouldn't be surprised if Yahoo or Bleacher Report make a run at him.

I still can't believe ESPN suspended him for calling Roger a liar. Hopefully his next stop provides more freedom to speak freely.

Wasn't it the profanity that came with it an excuse for ESPN to get rid of him? Olbermann criticizes and makes fun of Goodell on an almost daily basis and he's still hanging in there.

[aholbert32]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Wasn't it the profanity that came with it an excuse for ESPN to get rid of him? Olbermann criticizes and makes fun of Goodell on an almost daily basis and he's still hanging in there.

Simmons screwed up two ways:

- When he called Goodell a liar on his podcast, he followed it up by daring his bosses to suspend him.

- The final straw was he went on Dan Patrick's show (ESPN personalities are not allowed to go on non-ESPN radio shows and Dan's show isnt an ESPN show) and said Goodell lacked testicular fortitude. The combination of him insulting Goodell and the disregard for ESPN policy was the final straw.

[SPTO]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Isn't Bob Ryan considered an ESPN personality? I ask because he does a weekly spot on SN radio here in Toronto. I guess he negotiated that independently away from his ESPN duties.

Actually, the "no ESPN guys on other stations" rule has made an impact here as TSN Radio routinely gets ESPN guys while it's almost impossible for Rogers to get anyone from there except the small time guys who do little blurbs on the ESPN site and whatnot.

[JayBee74]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Isn't Bob Ryan considered an ESPN personality?

Although I stopped watching it years ago, Ryan was a regular on ESPN's Sports Reporters for quite some time.

But isn't he retired now?

[aholbert32]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Isn't Bob Ryan considered an ESPN personality? I ask because he does a weekly spot on SN radio here in Toronto. I guess he negotiated that independently away from his ESPN duties.



Actually, the "no ESPN guys on other stations" rule has made an impact here as TSN Radio routinely gets ESPN guys while it's almost impossible for Rogers to get anyone from there except the small time guys who do little blurbs on the ESPN site and whatnot.

Ryan appears on a lot of ESPN shows but he isn't a personality with a ESPN contract. Same goes with a lot of writers who appear on ESPN TV.

[Brandon13]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Simmons screwed up two ways:

- When he called Goodell a liar on his podcast, he followed it up by daring his bosses to suspend him.

- The final straw was he went on Dan Patrick's show (ESPN personalities are not allowed to go on non-ESPN radio shows and Dan's show isnt an ESPN show) and said Goodell lacked testicular fortitude. The combination of him insulting Goodell and the disregard for ESPN policy was the final straw.

I'm pretty sure Simmons had ESPN's permission to be on Patrick's show. Or, at least he did prior to that final appearance.

Edit: I think it was brought up one of the previous times Simmons was on DP'S show. I'll see if I can find it.

[LingeringRegime]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

I'm pretty sure Simmons had ESPN's permission to be on Patrick's show. Or, at least he did prior to that final appearance.

Edit: I think it was brought up one of the previous times Simmons was on DP'S show. I'll see if I can find it.

Yeah, JVG, Mike Wilbon and others have frequented DPs show as well. Perhaps he did it without the divine blessing of the corporate office though.

[aholbert32]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

I'm pretty sure Simmons had ESPN's permission to be on Patrick's show. Or, at least he did prior to that final appearance.

Edit: I think it was brought up one of the previous times Simmons was on DP'S show. I'll see if I can find it.

Hmm. I remember several people reporting (including Richard Deistch of SI who is pretty accurate) that Simmons didn't have permission. I could be wrong though.

[SPTO]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Hmm. I remember several people reporting (including Richard Deistch of SI who is pretty accurate) that Simmons didn't have permission. I could be wrong though.

I just did a quick poke around, It was never definitively stated that he wasn't allowed to go on Patrick's show but it was rather a combination of Simmons' comments in October and then his comments on Patrick's show about Goodell lacking "testicular fortitude" that was the last straw for the Worldwide Leader. In Deitsch's column about Simmons' termination it's blatantly obvious that Disney CEO Bob Iger had had enough and more or less pushed ESPN to fire Simmons.

[Hassan Darkside]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Can't forget about the twitter shots he took at Mike & Mike after they criticized some comments he made about LeBron back at the beginning of the season.