Why ESPN Fired Bill Simmons

[charlie and algernon]

That Bill Simmons’s 14-year run at ESPN has come to an end isn’t actually all that surprising. The relationship between Simmons and the brass in Bristol been rocky for some time now, and Simmons recently lost the support of his greatest champion, ESPN president John Skipper. What is surprising is the way in which it went down. This doesn’t look like a mutual parting, but rather an outright firing.

Again, here is Skipper’s statement announcing Simmons’s departure:

“I decided today that we are not going to renew Bill Simmons’ contract. We have been in negotiations and it was clear it was time to move on. ESPN’s relationship with Bill has been mutually beneficial - he has produced great content for us for many years and ESPN has provided him many new opportunities to spread his wings. We wish Bill continued success as he plans his next chapter. ESPN remains committed to Grantland and we have a strong team in place.”

“I decided today ...” is a far cry from the neutral corporate-speak that usually gets deployed in situations like these. (“After a great deal of discussion and negotiations, ESPN has decided to move forward in a new direction, blah blah blah blah.”) This was an active decision by Skipper to push Simmons out the door, and more than one ESPNer has described this to us as a firing— one that Simmons found out about at the same time as the rest of us did.

http://deadspin.com/why-espn-fired-bill-simmons-1703103609


I'm very curious to know what happens to Grantland. I love that site. It has FAR FAR FAR better writing than ESPN could ever manage.

[joeybee12]

1. He called Goodell a liar...

The truth was too much for ESPN to take.

[mythology]

2. Because he's an utterly awful writer who just doesn't have a clue what he's talking about

and that's before you get into his amazing self-aggrandizing nature.

Good riddance.

[JonLP24]

4. Very few people have a clue at ESPN

It was painful years ago when I would suffer watching Around the Horn. They all argue their claims with arrogant certainty, they all probably write very professionally but they still don't have a clue. Like Bob Ryan suggesting that someone should smack Joumama Kidd for attending the games. She used to work for the Suns UPN broadcast team when they were in Phoenix.

Bill Simmons was one of the few that thought like a liberal, he'd often make incorrect predictions but that's what all their columnists do. Only the celebrity guests on First Take ever said anything interesting. Out of the frequent guests maybe Rod Woodson. I was baffled the one time when Lomas Brown said something that was historically factually incorrect about a team he played for. It was obvious he confused '97 with '98 when they made the playoffs (that Kent Graham & Jake Plummer were subbing each in-and-out but that was only true somewhat even then. Kent Graham was hurt against Tennessee in a blowout, they put in Stoney Case -- still a blowout, they put in Plummer) His next appearance was on the road in Philadelphia, can't remember what happened but Plummer went in with 99 yards to go late in the 4th he drove it for game tying TD but later had an intentional grounding in OT for throwing it at Larry Centers' feet (the rules were different back then) he played out the rest of his rookie year but started the entire year the '98 season. He was asked by the anchor his experience being on the last Cardinals team that made the playoffs in 2008 just said young struggling Jake they kept switching with Kent Graham. The 1996 season they did switch Boomer Esiason with Kent Graham a lot -- Kent Graham started out with duds, Esaison played great til he struggled, Graham went in and played amazing until he sucked then Esiason went in -- I think a 500+ overtime against Washington with a 3 TD 4th quarter comeback. At the end of the season, he demanded a raise they turned him down.

Anyways, I was taken back that someone who did the blocking didn't have a clue what he was talking about that I remembered more than he did though I could imagine those who were some forgetful times.

[JonLP24]

3. Where is he now?

Bill Simmons has had a longtime difficult relationship with ESPN management(mainly his editors), suspended longer than Skip Bayless (who is giving a statement on his departure) for calling Goddell (daring management while calling him a liar) than Skip Bayless (I may be confusing this with his morning show co-host--he sometimes didn't cross that line though he did cross lines) did blaming the victim for Ray Rice but interested to know where he is to follow his writing. A lot of his predictions would annoy me & turn out incorrect but at-least he was interesting. ESPN has quite a few poor professionals giving "expert" opinions. Skip Bayless still has a job. Even worse, I bet racist radio host Colin Cowherd still has a job. What other ignorant hacks still have a job?