The announcements this week that Mike Tirico and Skip Bayless are leaving ESPN are the latest in a steady "drain of superstar talent over the past 10 months, an exodus that is occurring amid deeper structural changes that are eroding ESPN's once-unassailable fortress," according to Paul Farhi of the WASHINGTON POST. The net since last year has "ended its relationship with other high-profile personalities, including Keith Olbermann, Jason Whitlock, Bill Simmons and Colin Cowherd." Sources at ESPN "caution against declaring any trends," and said that "circumstances surrounding each of the recent departees varies." ESPN was "outbid by rivals" for Bayless, Tirico and Cowherd, while the company "chose to walk away from Olbermann, Whitlock and Simmons." ESPN VP/Communications Josh Krulewitz in an email wrote, "Over the past 12 months alone, we have signed or re-signed nearly 200 of the more than 1,000 ... commentators ESPN employs. The notion that 'everyone is leaving' is a superficial narrative." Farhi notes ESPN's problems "go deeper than the loss of a few hosts and talking heads." After years of "raking in gargantuan profits, its lucrative empire is threatened by upheaval in the media and technology business." While ESPN still has the rights to the NFL, the NBA, MLB and college football, all of the "chord-cutting and skinny-bundling has cut into the revenue streams that have long showered ESPN with money" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/28).
VOICE FROM WITHIN: ESPN’s Dan Le Batard yesterday addressed the recent talent departures, comparing them to athletes who leave a team for a bigger contract and more money. He said, “The ego of these guys is such that they don’t believe they’re choosing money over winning. They believe they are going to make the difference. It’s happening right now in the sports opinion business. I told Colin Cowherd not to leave this spot. ... I was telling Colin Cowherd, ‘I don’t think you leave. If you leave, you’re going to get lost, you’re going to do it for money and no one’s going to know where to find you.’ We don’t do this to have your voices stuffed in a drawer, we do this to be heard.” Le Batard said Bayless “doesn’t think he’s going for money." Le Batard: "Skip Bayless thinks he’s going to make a difference, and he’s not” He added, “What’s been happening with the athletes is now happening in the gasbag business … and the way that gets distorted is Fox is also telling, ‘Hey, you’re that guy, you’re the guy. You come over here, look at all this money. Here you’re going to change this.’ So it gets intoxicating. Now we’re being recruited in the opinion business, and how much time have we been spending criticizing those who get lured by the recruiting?” (“The Dan Le Batard Show,” ESPN Radio, 4/27).
IBANEZ MAKES DEBUT: ESPN has signed a multiyear deal with former MLBer Raul Ibanez to be an analyst for the net, and he made his debut during last night's Yankees-Rangers game. Ibanez will primarily provide commentary for “Baseball Tonight” in addition to serving as an in-game analyst for select games. He also will contribute to “SportsCenter” and other programs. Ibanez served as an analyst during Fox Sports’ MLB postseason coverage last year (THE DAILY). The L.A. Daily News' J.P. Hoornstra noted Ibanez will maintain his position with the Dodgers "as a special advisor and isn't scheduled to do any Dodger games" (TWITTER.com, 4/27). Ibanez called last night's game alongside Jon Sciambi and Rick Sutcliffe, and FORBES' Gabe Zaldivar wrote the booth "felt loose and the broadcast went smoothly." Ibanez brings a "wide knowledge of the game, immense respect from his colleagues and the kind of geniality that should have ESPN confident they have their broadcast situation solved" following Curt Schilling's dismissal (FORBES.com, 4/27).
SOUR GRAPES? Schilling yesterday in an interview with the "Breitbar News Patriot Forum" on SiriusXM Radio said, "Some of the most racist things that I’ve ever heard come out of people that are on the air at ESPN. There are some of the biggest racists in sports commentating, and you take it for what it is." In DC, Des Bieler notes Schilling "claimed that other ESPN employees would tell him that they agreed with his political views, but quietly, for fear of reprisal from the company." Schilling: "I had people come up to me and go (whispering) ‘Hey, I’m with you. I’m a Republican, too.’ But they had to whisper. It was like a deadly serious thing, like ... religion on the table was a much easier discussion to have than who you voted for" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 4/28).
