Bill Simmons Writing Less Frequently For ESPN.com Amid Dispute
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ESPN.com's Bill Simmons Writing
Fewer Columns Amid Dispute |
ESPN.com's Bill Simmons said he is "not writing for ESPN.com as much -- my choice, not theirs," in response to a question concerning his lack of recent columns posed by Will Leitch of DEADSPIN.com. Simmons: "That's just the way it will be from now on, unfortunately." Simmons said he signed a four-year extension through 2010 with ESPN in April '07 "because I really did believe that we had hashed out all the behind the scenes bullshit and come to some sort of agreement on creative lines, media criticism rules, the promotion of the column and everything else on ESPN.com." Simmons: "Within a few months, all of those things changed and certain promises were not kept. It's as simple as that." Leitch wrote Simmons has "played the ESPN-won't-let-me-be-ME card in the past, but this is the first time, in our memory, that he's plainly stated his frustrations in a public forum and actively written less for the site because of them" (DEADSPIN.com, 5/14). Simmons' latest column appeared as the main story on ESPN.com's home page for the majority of the afternoon yesterday (THE DAILY).
WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENCES: ESPN issued a statement in response to Simmons' comments that read, "Bill is an exceptional talent with a unique voice that we're proud to bring to fans. In any creative environment that features talented people, there will inevitably be differences. As we have in the past, we'll continue to work through them." THEBIGLEAD.com noted L.A. Times columnist T.J. Simers and K.C. Star columnist Jason Whitlock previously criticized ESPN while employed by the net, and both were "almost instantly relieved of their duties." THEBIGLEAD.com: "What will become of The Sports Guy? The guess here is probably nothing. ... Simmons might take occasional, thinly-veiled jabs at his employer in his columns, but this is different -- it's a roundhouse right" (THEBIGLEAD.com, 5/14).
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