One underlying question that came to the forefront in the wake of of ESPN's Bill Simmons' public tiff with the net's Mike Golic is that Simmons' contract with ESPN expires next summer, and "one of the biggest parlor games in sports media circles is whether Simmons will re-sign with ESPN, jump to a competitor, or go Glenn Beck-ing his way into a heavily-funded multimedia site," according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. Simmons "still sees himself as an outsider" despite working for "the ultimate establishment sports brand." He remains a "polarizing figure at ESPN" -- his supporters "swear by him," and Simmons "has the ear of upper management and that makes some of his colleagues very jealous." He also "has plenty of detractors who feel the network sets a double standard for him and every other front-facing person." Deitsch spoke with six ESPN employees, "a mix of on-air people and management," regarding Simmons' recent dispute with Golic. Most of them "thought Golic was out of line, even those who think Simmons gets Jordan Rules treatment from management." One ESPN.com writer said, "I think it would be bull -- if Simmons gets dinged for this." But an on-air staffer said, "With Bill, nothing seems to happen without some plan or sense of self. In my opinion, it’s all orchestrated." Deitsch wrote ESPN brass "does not like when its employees attack each other on social media, and it has disciplined employees in the past (including Simmons) for such actions." Author James Andrew Miller, who wrote "These Guys Have All The Fun: Inside The World Of ESPN," said, "ESPN goes out of its way to say we do not like when members of our network attack other members of the network and it is clear that is exactly what Golic did. Simmons is a guy defending himself here. If Bill Simmons had said the same exact thing Mike Golic did about Mike Golic or any other notable ESPN personality, people would be saying he has to be suspended for that. ... I think this time that is unfair" (SI.com, 11/7).
TASTE OF HIS OWN MEDICINE: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy wrote saying anything critical of Simmons "is guaranteed to draw the wrath of Fanboy Nation, but the tonnage of coverage devoted to the happiness of Shawshank Bill is truly astounding." Other members of the sports media are "all appropriately jealous of Bill, his legion, and his millions." But for Simmons "to whine about anybody criticizing him without having 'the (guts) to call me and discuss ...' is truly laughable." Simmons "is the brave guy who got his start ripping from the comfort of his den without ever facing anyone he 'covered'" (
BOSTON GLOBE, 11/9).
