Fairly sure we are seeing a great experiment here when it comes to Bill Simmons and ESPN.
Simmons is trying to test the 10,000-pound gorilla theory by seeing if there are any limits as to the extent of aggravating his bosses in Bristol.
Matt Yoder of Awful Announcing writes about the latest eruption from the franchise that is Simmons:
With his comments in the early morning hours after Game 4 of the NBA Finals, Bill Simmons may be on his way to a trifecta of suspensions (or at least a stern talking to from the HR department) Simmons objected to SportsCenter editing out a joke of his about Dwyane Wade and managed to take another dig at one of the network’s more controversial personalities. He also sent a cryptic tweet that makes you think it’s going to be difficult for him to return to ESPN’s NBA studio next year:
@billsimmons: Wow, SportsCenter edited my joke out about Wade going to Germany before Game 4 – I should have just ripped people to shreds like SAS did.
@billsimmons: The rigidity of studio TV is really discouraging. Let’s just say that A LOT makes sense after these past 8 months.
Later Yoder writes:
Even though he may once again get a slap on the wrist, Bill Simmons is taking full advantage of a privilege that nobody else at ESPN has. He can afford to criticize his employer publicly because he’s too valuable to Bristol to do anything drastic. He has a platform and a following that allows him this leeway.
Not so sure about that. Simmons should be careful. He shouldn’t risk having to see if his act works at Fox.
Simmons IS Grantland, and without that ESPN has little content that anyone cares about. There’s no way they’d get rid of him.
Wait. Reporters and columnists decry athletes and coaches who don’t reveal anything or speak in anything but cliches and platitudes… but when one of their own speaks his mind, that’s a bad thing? He’s showing guts few of, um, his colleagues show.
Let’s face facts. Simmons is a unique talent, but he bumbled his way through the ESPN pre and post game shows. He kept interrupting his colleagues with mumbled comments, which broke their trains of thought and were partially inaudible. His really not — technically rready for prome time. So he either needs to master those presentation skills or focus on radio and the printed word where he is unique and a professional communicator.
Bill Simmons along with Wilbon, Johnson and Rose are simply unbearable to watch. I’ll even go so far to say the same about Breen and Van Gundy. ESPN won’t do this, but if I was running the NBA programming, the pre-game needs a host. Like Mike Tirico, even though he’s on ESPN Radio. Use Scott Van Pelt. As for play-by-play, give Kevin Harlan a contract he can’t turn down. Steal him from TNT while adding a colorful analyst to do the NBA Finals. ESPN/ABC coverage does not match the importance of a major sports championship.