“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.”
Yeah it is thread worthy. He's probably the biggest name in sports, among people who really care about the games. He's done a ton for ESPN. Grantland and 30 for 30 most recently, but establishing the podcast as a viable medium, and helping building Page 2 (RIP) as well. For his sake, I hope he moves to another company and doesn't try to do the independent route. But we'll see. His best work at ESPN was probably in the past anyway. Maybe this opportunity will rejuvenate him.
Yeah his legacy is great but its hard to care too much at the same time, he's way past his prime at this point.
I used to look forward to his Page 2 mailbags more than anything, now 90% of the written content he produces (which is scarce to begin with) doesn't appeal to me at all.
Leaving ESPN probably isn't a good look for him though, I can't think of anywhere else he can land that will give him the internet and tv audience he gets now.
I think the hate is unwarranted. He's gotten older and richer. His writing still has bright spots here and there. There's way worse writers out there and several that write for grant land.
I'm still a fan. Not too sure what the hate is about. If you're reading/listening to Billy and looking for insightful analysis, you're barking up the wrong tree. He's one of the few entertaining writers in a sea of shitty boring robotic writers.
Tommy Bunz wrote:Yeah his legacy is great but its hard to care too much at the same time, he's way past his prime at this point.
I used to look forward to his Page 2 mailbags more than anything, now 90% of the written content he produces (which is scarce to begin with) doesn't appeal to me at all.
This is exactly how I feel about him as well. His stuff used to be appointment reading for me but now I hardly ever check for anything he writes or his podcasts (I can't stand his voice). He definitely doesn't deserve the level of hate that he gets (deadspin has pretty much been basking in his firing since it broke) but he's definitely fallen the fuck off since the page 2 days.
I think Bill tries to go the independent route as most of his problems at ESPN came when his opinions went against the company line. I don't know how successful he'll be starting from scratch without the vast resources from ESPN backing him. It's hard to have a second Grantland idea, let alone one without the backing of ESPN giving you all the resources you need to execute it successfully.
"Dosent russian bitches let you shit on their face?" -AxEwOuNdFiStEr-
Masked Terror #1 wrote:We were cranking Slayer on the underwater speakers the whole trip. Sharks love Slayer.
Reggie wrote:Bottom line is that if you're not making rap music because you love it and/or you've got something unique to say, that is, if rap is just your "hustle", then you're a fucking asshole.
I wouldn't go that far. It's the entire layout is just atrocious. That slide show bullshit is annoying. They have some shitty writers but they do give young writers a chance. They're like a lower grade NXT to borrow a wrestling analogy
alpha wrote:I wouldn't go that far. It's the entire layout is just atrocious. That slide show bullshit is annoying. They have some shitty writers but they do give young writers a chance. They're like a lower grade NXT to borrow a wrestling analogy
To use a tech site analogy, they are the BGR of sports sites
didnt know simmons was behind 30 for 30 before this thread but i dont know man this hbo shit is probably gonna be wack. not everything they touch is gold but it just so happens they have touched the best stuff. if its a personality show a la bill maher or that news dude it will probably not be worth watching
