OT: Bill Simmons leaving ESPN

ESPN is not renewing his contract

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/09/s...espn-are-parting-ways.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

Dude was a pioneer on internet sports columns. I remember his Page 2 days.

Simmons was ahead of his time and I believe creatively trapped at ESPN. He brought quality back into vogue and largely proved that people do gravitate to and want higher level stuff. I respect him deeply professionally. There's an awful lot of organizations out there who will offer him a king's ransom and enable him full control of his work and vision. I could easily see Vox or Vice bringing him on.

He was the only one on Page 2 who wasn't completely off the wall insane.

Loved BS sad to see him leave.

Definitely ahead of his time, he kinda pioneered the sports/pop culture blog genre, and perhaps even more influential is his work with the 30 for 30 series, those quick-hit documentaries are everywhere now and the subjects they hit on in that series were so well thought out.

I think he got too big for his genre--the 'everyman sports columnist with a spin'....because he's no longer (and hasn't been for a while) an 'everyman'. Grantland was a great idea and the columnists there are top notch. The last decade his columns haven't resonated the way they did in the early days, but those Page 2 years were phenomenal, 30 for 30 will stand the test of time and Grantland should remain viable as long as they keep paying good writers. Say what you will about him these days, he's done some incredible work.

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/020204
Perhaps the greatest article ever written.

Still get goose bumps reading that one.

Have read Simmons for a long time. I'll follow his work wherever he goes.

This is great news, now Simmons can give his honest opinion without being suspended!

If I'm Fox Sports i jump all over him

Good, I like Simmons and I hate supporting ESPN. This is a win as far as I'm concerned. Will follow wherever Simmons goes, and will put up a DNS redirect on all ESPN sites to make sure that I never even accidentally give those asshats traffic.

I know there is some discussion on Simmon/BSPN in another thread. Thought I'd put this here.. It's really a shame that he loses Grantland, but the BS report? I hope he resurfaces with a new podcast where he can say whatever the hell he wants. http://www.si.com/more-sports/2015/05/15/bill-simmons-done-espn-grantland-john-skipper

Bill Simmons can actually go work for a Reputable organization now. Good for him!

moosekill said:

http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/020204
Perhaps the greatest article ever written.

Click to expand...

Wow! What a great column! Brought back happy memories of my experience watching that first SB.