http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/10/espn-bill-simmons-breakup

Written by the guy that wrote ESPN: Those Guys Have All The Fun

Interesting. Sounds about like what everyone expected. Simmons wasn't easy to work with and a lot of ESPN execs had big heads themselves, got tired of his act, and said to hell with him.

That was a weird read. Not sure if it's cause I am a big Simmons fan (probable) but it just read like a hack piece. Almost no comments from Simmons supporters (of which there are many loyalists defecting with him) except a single vouch by a filmmaker in the final paragraph. Most of it is just execs *****ing and throwing unsubstantiated dirty rumors about death threats and sexism.

The sins hes accused of by all the quotes is he was hard to work with in regard to regular ESPN suits/staff (big surprise that a blogger doesn't get along with basically the E! of sports), that he was not grateful enough (he brought them 30 for 30 but is a dick cause he thinks he should have a photographer on staff?) and that he acted like a coach protecting his staff of eclectic and interesting writers (this does not seem absurd to me on a site that does Jean Claude Van Damme rankings as well as poetic Japanese sumo culture/WWII reflection think pieces that would not have a home anywhere else)

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/3q1g3c/hey_its_bill_simmons_its_saturday_am_and_im_bored/?limit=1500

Simmons AMA on reddit/nba a couple days ago. I haven't read through it yet, so don't know how juicy he gets. He seems to mainly be taking shots at ESPN without being specific since his stay in purgatory is over.

He didn't get that juicy. I was surprised he says he checks r/nba every day though.

Personally I trust the word of Bill Simmons over corporate execs of a company that promotes hacks like skip bayless and his ilk.

I mean, that article seems like it was basically bought and paid for by ESPN, haha.

quote:

---

I mean, that article seems like it was basically bought and paid for by ESPN, haha.

---

The guy that wrote that is the guy that wrote the big book These Guys Have All The Fun about the inner shady dealings and sexual harassment at ESPN. ESPN is not a fan of this guy at all.

quote:

---

quote:

---

I mean, that article seems like it was basically bought and paid for by ESPN, haha.

---

The guy that wrote that is the guy that wrote the big book These Guys Have All The Fun about the inner shady dealings and sexual harassment at ESPN. ESPN is not a fan of this guy at all.

---

Interesting then. Still seems like all his sources are primarily from ESPN in the article, though.

quote:

---

quote:

---

quote:

---

I mean, that article seems like it was basically bought and paid for by ESPN, haha.

---

The guy that wrote that is the guy that wrote the big book These Guys Have All The Fun about the inner shady dealings and sexual harassment at ESPN. ESPN is not a fan of this guy at all.

---

Interesting then. Still seems like all his sources are primarily from ESPN in the article, though.

---

Yeah, I think he has great sources at ESPN, most of which hate management. I think Simmons is likely a big source for him.