Bill Simmons suspended from ESPN for 3 weeks

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I understand Bill Simmons, popular writer and podcaster has been suspended from ESPN for 3 weeks for comments he said regarding Roger Goodell and his handling of the Ray Rice situation. His comments in the podcast, in part, are as follows:

“Goodell, if he didn’t know what was on that tape, he’s a liar,’’ Simmons said. “I’m just saying it. He is lying. If you put him up on a lie detector test, that guy would fail.
“For all these people to pretend they didn’t know is such [expletive] [expletive]. It really is, it’s such [expletive] [expletive]. For him to go into that press conference [Friday] and pretend otherwise . . . I was so insulted.”
“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,’’ Simmons said. “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.”
Inflamatory, for sure, but he is saying what many believe, and what seems to be implied by ESPN's own investigation in the matter. Either way, I support Simmons right to say what he said. I am a fan of his though, so I am curious what other people think.

[TurdFerguson]

Even though I agree with him, someone in that media position cannot just toss that kind of accusation around as if its fact. Clearly state it as an opinion piece and I think its totally fine. That said, i would have expected a defamation threat by Goodell before a ESPN

I have not totally followed that story though so perhaps I'm missing a key detail or context.

[Sainters7]

Was reading about this the other day. IMO, I think where he got himself in trouble wasn't so much regarding what he said, but rather when he made the odd decision to challenge his superiors to do something about his comments. Take out the ego-driven "whaddya gonna do about it, huh?" part of it, and I bet he doesn't even get suspended.

PS- I'm also a Simmons fan. Or I was back in the day anyway

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I think Simmon's position is that his podcast is always an opinion piece, and I would agree with that. The lines do get blurred with opinion/journalism on that site, but the bigger issue in my view is the treatment of journalism vs. the conflict of covering the sport that is your business partner by virtue of the broadcast rights.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by TurdFerguson

Even though I agree with him, someone in that media position cannot just toss that kind of accusation around as if its fact. Clearly state it as an opinion piece and I think its totally fine. That said, i would have expected a defamation threat by Goodell before a ESPN

I have not totally followed that story though so perhaps I'm missing a key detail or context.

Strongly worded opinion is still opinion. Not a chance Goodell could sustain a defamation charge.

Mostly, I think Simmons was suspended because he was brazen enough to dare ESPN to suspend him. He basically wins either way though. He gets to be a martyr because he was suspended, while he would have effectively given himself immunity if he wasn't.

[squiggs96]

My favourite comment on it was that Simmons got suspended for 50% longer than Ray Rice originally was suspended for, for talking about Goodell not suspending Ray Rice properly.

I think he would have been fine to talk about it if he didn't dare his bosses to suspend him. I'm not sure of the exact relationship between the Bill and espn, but espn obviously still has some power. He was not allowed to tweet for two weeks last year after being ordered by espn to stop. Even though he runs Grantland, it still is linked shown on espn. One of his first columns, maybe even his first, he swore in it and said how liberating it was to be free. He does have more freedom, but ultimately not complete freedom.

[rubecube]

I think Simmons' contract with ESPN is up soon, and they may end up regretting this in the long run.

[killer_carlson]

why?

ESPN is the biggest sports platform in the world. Simmons, while good, is replaceable and there would practically be fist fights to even line up to audition for his gig.

Between the suspension of Smith and now Simmons, i think ESPN needs to send a message to their pundits that they aren't bigger than the network or the sport.

[nik-]

The thing is Simmons kind of created his gig. Came up with Grantland, came up with 30 for 30, insane basketball knowledge. It would be way easier for Simmons to find a sweet gig than for ESPN to replace him.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by rubecube

I think Simmons' contract with ESPN is up soon, and they may end up regretting this in the long run.

I don't think it will, he has too much riding with ESPN now

Grantland and 30 for 30

would need to leave both, plus he has said in the past that he wants to be at the place which has the NBA rights, which ESPN is going to keep

where else does he go either?

[killer_carlson]

Unless there is a new player in the US sports broadcasting business, who has the $$$ to outbid ESPN on major coverage, his leverage is very little.

Simmons might find a sweet gig, but it isn't going to get him anywhere near the exposure he has now.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Unless there is a new player in the US sports broadcasting business, who has the $$$ to outbid ESPN on major coverage, his leverage is very little.

Simmons might find a sweet gig, but it isn't going to get him anywhere near the exposure he has now.

I think he could easily get the exposure he wants and as much basketball as he wants by going over to Time Warner.

[killer_carlson]

and I don't think he could.

This is a lesson from the network to him.

[Resolute 14]

The network may think it is a lesson, but I doubt many others, especially Simmons himself, sees it that way. ESPN is the ones who come out of this looking petty and foolish.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

and I don't think he could.

This is a lesson from the network to him.

Any of the other major sports websites would consider it a coup if they nabbed Simmons from ESPN. I'm not even the guy's biggest fan, but I'll take his stuff over sycophants like Peter King and the recently retired Rick Reilly any day.

[killer_carlson]

i'm sure they would consider it a coup. It would probably increase their ratings as well.

But that's like Peter Mansbridge going to Sun News. Some viewers will follow. Some wont. Highly unlikely that he'd ever get the following he gets on the National no matter how much Sun News would pay him.

[GGG]

Simmons in his first column back has this fantastic shot at Goodell

Well, if Roger Goodell can claim that Ray Rice deceived him on June 16, or that Goodell didn’t know what was on that second elevator tape, then I’m claiming that I went 58-0 against the spread from Week 4 through Week 7.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by GGG

Simmons in his first column back has this fantastic shot at Goodell

He had a few other good shots at him too throughout the article. He's still pretty bitter, but it was a good read.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

He had a few other good shots at him too throughout the article. He's still pretty bitter, but it was a good read.

Yep, it will be interesting when Godell is forced to testify under oath.