Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

[JayBee74]

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.

What about a couple of years ago when Simmons "Twitter responded" to the asinine Richard Sherman-Skip Bayless encounter on First Take?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's amazing to me that people get so worked up about First Take. Who cares? Just don't watch it. There are like 800 TV channels.</p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/309893785163272193">March 8, 2013</a></blockquote>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am not defending this segment - <a href="http://t.co/FHby3bmZea">http://t.co/FHby3bmZea</a> - I thought it was awful and embarrassing to everyone involved. Seriously.</p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/309895947448619008">March 8, 2013</a></blockquote>


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">But what bothers me about the reaction to that segment is people saying Richard Sherman &quot;won.&quot; Nobody won. Everyone lost. Including ESPN.</p>&mdash; Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillSimmons/status/309897082586669057">March 8, 2013</a></blockquote>

[Brandon13]

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 think this is probably what I saw before. At about two minutes into the video Dan talks about going through the proper channels to have Simmons on the show: https://youtu.be/nqoD80fCcNg

[slickdtc]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Sounds like HBO might be the destination.

http://www.theverge.com/2015/6/17/8798105/bill-simmons-hbo-tv-show

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Grantland just ain't been the same since he left.

[kehlis]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Ha, Keith Olbermann and ESPN our now "parting ways" was well.

[DJ]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Ha, Keith Olbermann and ESPN our now "parting ways" was well.

Not surprised. ESPN bounced his show around and then the rumor of them wanting Olbermann to axe the best part of his show likely contained some truth.

With an election coming up, I could see him returning to a news-oriented network.

[SPTO]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Olbermann should just have his own podcast and do whatever the hell he wants. He's a bit of an ego driven person but I find him entertaining at what he does.

[areobee401]

Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Simmons landing a weekly talk show gig at HBO starting in 2016.

Press release - http://hbob2b.vo.llnwd.net/u/mr_twit..._ann_final.pdf

I like this pairing. Should provide Simmons a place to put out a variety of projects with more freedom than ESPN even granted.

[SPTO]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

That sounds like a pretty good pairing indeed. As far as his documentary production and such that'd give him a much bigger budget and freedom to explore subjects that ESPN might balk at.

Not sure how the weekly talk show would go but i've heard him do interviews from time to time and he does have a leisurely style that makes athletes feel very comfortable. So I guess it could work. It's when he's alone or have to formulate an opinion is where he becomes douchey.

[DJ]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Smart move for him. He'll get to make a lot more documentaries and his weekly show will be good for HBO. Maybe serve as a lead-in or follow Real Sports?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

That gig seems like it's right up his alley. As long as he doesn't get too big a head and allows the talent that he procures to do their work (like he did with 30/30 and Grantland), this will be a home run.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Of note, it's a TV exclusive deal. If he still wants to write, he can ink a writing deal somewhere else.

[DJ]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Of note, it's a TV exclusive deal. If he still wants to write, he can ink a writing deal somewhere else.

Yep. I wonder if he's even interested in writing anymore. He wasn't doing much the last 2 years at Grantland.

[SPTO]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

So I guess that means he could start a podcast network independent of HBO as well?

Seems like this is a very flexible situation for him.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

So I guess that means he could start a podcast network independent of HBO as well?

Seems like this is a very flexible situation for him.

I think HBO has his podcasts.

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