Bill Simmons is leaving ESPN, and the sports world is buzzing
Bill Simmons and ESPN are parting ways when his contract expires next fall, The New York Times is reporting.
Breaking News: Bill Simmons Is Leaving ESPN http://t.co/Ahae02MP1d
— The New York Times (@nytimes) May 8, 2015Simmons, known for blending sports and pop culture in his writings, has been with ESPN for nearly 15 years, first writing for Page 2 and later running Grantland, ESPN’s sports and entertainment site. He had been in contract negotiations with the network, but ESPN president John Skipper told The Times that he had come to the decision to not renew Simmons’ contract.
“We’ve been talking to Bill and his agent and it was clear we weren’t going to get to the terms so we were better off focusing on transition,” Skipper said.
News of Simmons’ impending departure brought out praise, speculation and snark on Twitter.
Bill Simmons, like Choire Sicha and a few others, has had a huge effect on the voice we write in online: http://t.co/F8ruxGYlQr
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) May 8, 2015I'll say this about Bill Simmons. I might not be doing this for a living were it not for the influence of his early Page 2 columns.
— Doug Farrar (@SI_DougFarrar) May 8, 2015Best of luck to Bill Simmons in his next endeavor. Opened an awful lot of doors for an awful lot of talented people.
— Chris Crawford (@CrawfordChrisV) May 8, 2015best of luck to the folks at Grantland whose work I admire, incl. (occasionally) the departing Bill Simmons. Plenty of talent to go around
— Jay Jaffe (@jay_jaffe) May 8, 2015Bill Simmons, like Choire Sicha and a few others, has had a huge effect on the voice we write in online: http://t.co/F8ruxGYlQr
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) May 8, 2015So is Bill Simmons going to Netflix or Amazon?
— Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) May 8, 2015Your new Monday Night #Raw General Manager... Bill Simmons!
— Super Prime (@WWEgoat) May 8, 2015A lot of people speculating Simmons will start own thing. I don't see it. He wants to be a personality, not an online mogul.
— LostLettermen.com (@LostLettermen) May 8, 2015Bill Simmons leaving ESPN reminds of when my buddy Hench was talking about the time Brandon Walsh left 90210.
— Royals Review (@royalsreview) May 8, 2015