May 8, 201511 yr Finding work won't be a problem. Remaining relevant will... Maybe , maybe not. ESPN is the largest platform for sports that is true. But Simmons has a track record of being creative and staying relevant. Plus it helps to have famous friends who will help stay in the limelight. He basically is the Godfather of online sports media. I don't see this being anywhere near the end for the Sports Guy.
May 8, 201511 yr Maybe , maybe not. ESPN is the largest platform for sports that is true. But Simmons has a track record of being creative and staying relevant. Plus it helps to have famous friends who will help stay in the limelight. He basically is the Godfather of online sports media. I don't see this being anywhere near the end for the Sports Guy. All of the big names that have left ESPN have talked about how hard it was to stay relevant going forward and very few have made it out on the other side. Most have either become totally irrelevant or had to crawl back with their tails tucked. Simmons might be an exception, but that is far from guaranteed...
May 8, 201511 yr There's a line that you just can't cross. Say you disagree with decisions. Say you think the product is getting worse. You just can't call the top dog of the customer a "liar."Stephen A calls every white person in the world a racist on the daily. No one touches him. That's far worse than calling someone a liar, IMO.
May 8, 201511 yr All of the big names that have left ESPN have talked about how hard it was to stay relevant going forward and very few have made it out on the other side. Most have either become totally irrelevant or had to crawl back with their tails tucked. Simmons might be an exception, but that is far from guaranteed... That TNT/TBS will snap him right up for NBA coverage will go a long way toward keeping his name out there in a high profile.
May 8, 201511 yr Stephen A calls every white person in the world a racist on the daily. No one touches him. That's far worse than calling someone a liar, IMO. Not when Goddell controls the purse strings for ESPN's NFL contract. It's not that he called just anybody a liar.
May 8, 201511 yr All of the big names that have left ESPN have talked about how hard it was to stay relevant going forward and very few have made it out on the other side. Most have either become totally irrelevant or had to crawl back with their tails tucked. Simmons might be an exception, but that is far from guaranteed... I agree that there is no guarantee , far from it. But I feel what separates Simmons from most the past personalities that failed is the fact he created his own brand and his own products. A lot of the others were part of already successful products and little say in creations of new products. That separates Simmons from most. He was basically an exec and talent molded into one. That is very unique when compared to anyone else in ESPN history.
May 8, 201511 yr I agree that there is no guarantee , far from it. But I feel what separates Simmons from most the past personalities that failed is the fact he created his own brand and his own products. A lot of the others were part of already successful products and little say in creations of new products. That separates Simmons from most. He was basically an exec and talent molded into one. That is very unique when compared to anyone else in ESPN history. Agreed. Key will be finding a spot that will provide the ability to create across multiple well branded platforms. And one that can handle the fact he is incredibly tough to deal with on a regular basis. I'm sure Fox will see him as the guy that makes FS1 relevant, but I think that has disaster written all over it. Turner would be perfect...
May 9, 201511 yr Stephen A calls every white person in the world a racist on the daily. No one touches him. That's far worse than calling someone a liar, IMO. Have to disagree with you on that one...I think Stephen A is really pretty fair regarding race for the most part. He is not afraid people to call out people of any race from what I have seen. I have a problem with him on how he sucked up to slimeball Mayweather but not for how he calls it on race. Maybe I have missed some because I don't watch him every day but what white guys has he called out as being racist - other than maybe Riley Cooper and Donald Sterling?? He also got suspended by ESPN I believe for his comments after the Ray Rice deal so they do at least "touch him"...
May 9, 201511 yr Turner would be perfect... The only problem with Turner is that they have no web presence. Simmons has done TV, but the web and podcasts are his best forums. Turner would have to build a website from scratch centered on Simmons, while hiring several others to make it relevant. But all they have is basketball. Is there enough web demand for just that?
May 9, 201511 yr The only problem with Turner is that they have no web presence. Simmons has done TV, but the web and podcasts are his best forums. Turner would have to build a website from scratch centered on Simmons, while hiring several others to make it relevant. But all they have is basketball. Is there enough web demand for just that? Turner owns Bleacher Report.
May 9, 201511 yr Ah, did not know that. Could certainly change things. It didn't really occur to me either until the NCAA hoops tourney where the Turner networks were plugging Bleacher Report like crazy. I think Bleacher Report's success in the area of customizing content for fans of particular teams was the genesis behind the Team Stream broadcasts during the FF and title game. And Simmons' homer-style when it comes to Boston teams is a logical fit for Bleacher Report in that regard. I wonder what kind of non-compete clause situation there will be for Simmons after his contract is up. And how many of the Grantland writers will follow him to his new employer.
May 9, 201511 yr There's a line that you just can't cross. Say you disagree with decisions. Say you think the product is getting worse. You just can't call the top dog of the customer a "liar." Yeah don't ever tell the truth. Exactly what is wrong with the media nowadays. The media is supposed to be a check on the truth, not in bed with politicians and sports networks. Who is supposed to get at the facts then, when there is no watchdog?
May 9, 201511 yr Stephen A calls every white person in the world a racist on the daily. No one touches him. That's far worse than calling someone a liar, IMO. Absolutely correct but that is way out of bounds in today's world. Stephen A. (whom I actually like, should have been fired several times for some of his outrageous talk.)
May 9, 201511 yr That TNT/TBS will snap him right up for NBA coverage will go a long way toward keeping his name out there in a high profile. TNT could really extend their NBA footprint with him. He has a pretty large cult like following. I wonder if he is going to try and take some of the writers with him. Should be a mess. Grantland will be dead within 18 months. They have no one like him to fill the content void and it will be even sooner if he takes any of the writers with him.
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