Simmons / ESPN Split
#1
Posted 08 May 2015 - 09:32 AM
#2
Posted 08 May 2015 - 09:37 AM
Wow.
This is pretty huge. Wonder if he joins another network or just does his own thing. Also, what happens to Grantland and all their writers? I assume that's ESPN property...
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
#3
Posted 08 May 2015 - 09:47 AM
@RichSandomir: BIll SImmons to leave ESPN, according to ESPN president John Skipper. "We weren't going to get to the terms," said Skipper.
Good for him. He'd be a good fit on NESN. With the other people that feel Boston Is the center of the universe.
- SammyBirdland likes this
#4
Posted 08 May 2015 - 09:55 AM
Good for him. He'd be a good fit on NESN. With the other people that feel Boston Is the center of the universe.
Oh stop. i think it's great that he makes no apologies for it. Shit, If i were in his position, I'd be bragging all the time about the O's and Ravens.
I wonder what happens with "30 for 30", that's his baby. Very interesting moving forward.
ESPN doesn't need him, but does he need ESPN?
#5
Posted 08 May 2015 - 09:57 AM
http://deadspin.com/...spn-1703082844#
http://www.nytimes.c...rting-ways.html
Grantland, the sports and entertainment site run by Simmons for ESPN, will be unaffected by his departure, Skipper said.
“It long ago went from being a Bill Simmons site to one that can stand on its own,” Skipper said.
#6
Posted 08 May 2015 - 09:58 AM
Wow... Seth just said... "Ravens". I wasn't sure he knew they existed.
- SBTarheel likes this
#7
Posted 08 May 2015 - 10:11 AM
I bet he goes independent. He's a guy who will try and be his own boss.
I am curious which Grantland writers will join him. No clue how their contracts work but I imagine there are some people there who would be loyal to him over Grantland or ESPN.
#8
Posted 08 May 2015 - 10:22 AM
I bet he goes independent. He's a guy who will try and be his own boss.
I am curious which Grantland writers will join him. No clue how their contracts work but I imagine there are some people there who would be loyal to him over Grantland or ESPN.
Sure. He hired all of them pretty much.
This will be very interesting.
Cowherd talking about it right now FYI.
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
#9
Posted 08 May 2015 - 10:47 AM
I've had a love/hate relationship with Bill Simmons for almost 15 years. I first discovered his "Sports Guy" column in college and I was immediately intrigued. It was unlike anything I had ever read before; the mix of sports, humor, insane pop culture references (his early "Karate Kid" column stands out as a notable example of this). He was truly one of the first people to kickstart the internet era of sports writing. He was a trailblazer in that regard. The fact that he was easily the biggest NBA fan to be found on the internet (which was still growing back in the early 2000s) certainly helped. He also had a unique way of pulling on the heart strings. I'll never forget his pieces on the aftermath of 9/11 and Len Bias (the closing lines of both of those columns still give me goosebumps).
- mweb08 and DuffMan like this
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
#10
Posted 08 May 2015 - 11:56 AM
#11
Posted 08 May 2015 - 11:59 AM
Wow... Seth just said... "Ravens". I wasn't sure he knew they existed.
Ha.
Well, like Simmons with the Bruins (never really speaks of them, but was genuienly happy when they won)
That's what I'm like with the Ravens..I root for them when I watch, but don't really care that much. And was genuinely happy when they won their Super Bowls.
#12
Posted 08 May 2015 - 12:05 PM
#13
Posted 08 May 2015 - 12:22 PM
There is baseball, and occasionally there are other things of note
"Now OPS sucks. Got it."
"Making his own olive brine is peak Mackus."
"I'm too hungover to watch a loss." - McNulty
@bopper33
#14
Posted 08 May 2015 - 12:37 PM
Deadspin is floating a rumor that Simmons found out about this via Twitter...
#15
Posted 08 May 2015 - 01:56 PM
I like the work Simmons is capable of, and I really like what he did with Grantland.
Some of his pouting on set with the NBA telecasts rubbed me wrong.
I think all of the other networks (and larger websites) will throw money at him, but yeah... agree with others, he should start his own site.
He will bring talent from Grantland. Others will join. It will be quality, and interesting. He needs to maintain total creative control based on his personality.
Audience wise it will be a barely noticeable blip for ESPN, but they will miss some of his quality (and those that will be leaving with him).
He could even wind-up doing some TV work with Turner, especially since Barkley is getting closer to hanging it up.
#16
Posted 08 May 2015 - 02:33 PM
Wow... Seth just said... "Ravens". I wasn't sure he knew they existed.
He's always been a closeted Ravens fan.
#17
Posted 08 May 2015 - 02:50 PM
#18
Posted 08 May 2015 - 03:36 PM
It appears that this was more of a firing than a mutual decision as Deadspin reports. However, that may be because it became clear to them that they wouldn't be able to agree to terms with Simmons.
#19
Posted 08 May 2015 - 04:25 PM
Richard Deitsch with a solid, informative column.
What’s next? That’s the obvious question. One longtime agent who has worked with various networks placed Simmons's potential earnings at $7-10 million per year. “Look for him owning his dot-com rights and all the content that comes with it including podcasts,” said the agent. “And a TV play such as Turner, Fox, HBO or Showtime.”
#20
Posted 08 May 2015 - 05:30 PM
I just hope he and Jalen Rose can remain BFFs.
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