Jason Whitlock "was replaced Friday as the head of The Undefeated, ESPN’s website about the intersection of race and sports, just weeks before its planned kickoff," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. He "will be replaced on an interim basis by Leon Carter, the site’s editorial director." ESPN in a statement "did not cite any recent incidents that prompted the change but implied that he did not have the management skills to run the site." ESPN said it “decided to make some structural adjustments that will maximize the skill sets and strengths of our team," and added Whitlock “will now be entirely focused on what he does best: creating distinctive and compelling content, which will live across various ESPN platforms." The site’s L.A.-based staff "was given the news about Whitlock in a telephone call" with ESPN Exec VP/Global Strategy & Original Content Marie Donoghue, who oversees The Undefeated. The search for his permanent successor "will most likely require a further delay of the site’s debut" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/13). In Indianapolis, Dana Hunsinger Benbow reported Whitlock on Saturday was "not ready to talk about his removal." Whitlock in a text wrote, "Thanks for reaching out. I'm gonna pass on talking right now" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/14). In DC, Marissa Payne wrote the move to some people "will come as a surprise, considering ESPN reportedly built the proposed site around Whitlock's topics of choice." However, to others, his "replacement seemed inevitable" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/12). In L.A., Tom Hoffarth wrote it is "simply not an easy process to move from writer to manager of any kind of start-up, and acknowledging that now instead of later is a safer way to play it." Hoffarth: "'Hire slowly and fire quickly,' Whitlock told us about what’s he learned as a manager. If this is a painful 'firing' of himself as the chief overlord, which could not have been easy, it was likely the correct move for everyone involved" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 6/14).
THE POISON PEN? SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted what was "not mentioned in ESPN's release was a near 10,000-word piece in April by Deadspin writer Greg Howard titled 'How Jason Whitlock Is Poisoning ESPN'S 'Black Grantland' that examined management issues at the site." Deitsch asked, "Can The Undefeated find traction? Who knows? But Carter is a bright guy who has managed egos before at the New York Daily News and ESPN.com and cares about journalism. If nothing else, he should settle things internally now that he has the title in name and standing. He may also get some writers back in the fold who refused to work for previous management" (SI.com, 6/14). Sporting News' Kami Mattioli wrote on Twitter, "Getting fired from a website before it even began is probably the quickest Jason Whitlock has ever made a point." Awful Announcing wrote, "Whitlock getting removed from his own site before it even launches is actually a pretty impressive accomplishment when you think about it" (TWITTER.com, 6/12).
