Bill Simmons no longer to appear on ESPN platforms

ESPN no longer to feature Bill Simmons on any of its platforms

It has been a rather hurried process of getting rid of Bill Simmons at ESPN. I wouldn’t be surprised if they auctioned off his long-time vacant parking spot in Bristol. Today it was announced that ESPN and Bill Simmons have come to an agreement that will put an end to his presence across ESPN platforms. This includes his involvement with Grantland and his podcast on ESPN the B.S. Report.

If you looking to see Simmons’ face again it won’t be anywhere near ESPN. If you were curious how ESPN would handle his exit and the numerous projects he has his hands in, now you know it will be with the subtlety of a falling piano.

Yet, nobody is giving an exact reason to why this is happening now. The only thing that keeps resounding from the ESPN camp is that this isn’t about money. It was rumored earlier that Simmons, after making his damning remarks about NFL commissioner Roger Goddell, was on bad terms with Bob Iger, Chief of Disney. ESPN President John Skipper spoke to this issue at ESPN Upfronts saying:

"“I want to be definitive about that,” he said. “This was my decision. Bob and Bill have been friends, and Bob is an admirer of what Bill does. And I don’t do anything like this without telling Mr. Iger. But he’s put it long ago on me that I will make decisions like that.“It did not come down to money,” Skipper continued. “Look, we’re a big company. If it was just dollars and cents, we would have figured something out. It is about ultimately about what he wants to do, what value that creates, what we want to do together in deciding whether there is going to be a match, and we decided that ultimately there wouldn’t be.”"

Whether you believe any of this or not is your call. This writer doesn’t, because ESPN’s defense against money being a motivator is paper thin. ESPN has plenty of money, but it didn’t reach Worldwide Leader status because it throws it around blindly.

Simmons bit the hand that feeds him, that is for sure, but ESPN should also be held accountable. You bought an extremely sharp knife. You shouldn’t be surprised if you get cut from that knife, especially if you use it for everything.

Via SI.com