Following a rant on a recent episode of the ‘B.S. Report’ in which he called out Roger Goodell while weaving in a flurry of bleeped-out expletives, Bill Simmons has been suspended for three weeks by ESPN. Obviously, this drew a huge reaction from our fine friends at Twitter.
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Most of the reaction had to do with confusion as to why ESPN suspended him for such a length of time. After all, he isn’t a reporter. He was hired for his opinions. On the podcast, however, Simmons went on a furious rant against Goodell and the NFL, then dared his employer to suspend him.
ESPN released the following statement:
“Every employee must be accountable to ESPN and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate within ESPN’s journalistic standards. We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria. Bill Simmons did not meet those obligations in a recent podcast, and as a result we have suspended him for three weeks.”
John Breech of ESPN tweeted out a transcript of what Simmons said. At the end of his rant, Simmons poked the bear.
"“I really hope somebody calls me or emails me and says I’m in trouble for anything I say about Roger Goodell. Because if one person says that to me, I’m going public. You leave me alone. The commissioner’s a liar and I get to talk about that on my podcast. Please, call me and say I’m in trouble. I dare you.”"
Simmons is one of the more controversial writers/sports personalities around, but Twitter almost unanimously gathered in his support.
Simmons is as polarizing as they come.Do you know how badly you have to screw up so even people that don't like him think this is ridiculous
— Scoops (@ejmaroun) September 24, 2014
Well ESPN had to suspend Simmons because he dared them. Elementary rules say that you always have to follow a dare or you're called chicken
— Dakota Schmidt (@Dakota_Schmidt) September 24, 2014
Hard pressed to believe Simmons was suspended for his comments on Goodell. Had to be the threat to threaten.
— Rris (@Trisity_) September 24, 2014
Bill Simmons has been suspended by ESPN after testing positive for opinions.
— Ethan Felderstein (@efelderstein14) September 24, 2014
Is it crazier that Simmons was suspended for this or that no one else at ESPN criticized the NFL enough to get one?
— Eric Freeman (@freemaneric) September 24, 2014
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