26CornerBlitz Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Further evidence of the degradation of the Evil Empire that is ESPN. . @Jim_Madalinsky Wow. Not good. ESPN shuts down Grantland. http://espnmediazone.com/us/espn-statement-regarding-grantland/ @SInow ESPN announces it has suspended publication of Grantland http://on.si.com/1jXiIXD @MJ_Baumann Well that's the first time I've ever found out I was laid off via Twitter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Poojer Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 i kinda liked the work that grantland did, that's too bad, i wish they'd shut down espn and keep grantland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in Horseheads Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 When they canned Bill Simmons you almost knew this was going to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted October 30, 2015 Author Share Posted October 30, 2015 When they canned Bill Simmons you almost knew this was going to happen. Hard to disagree with you here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 So ESPN has no money for Grantland but has money for Ray Lewis, Cris Carter and Mike Ditka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Dafuq is Grantland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Dafuq is Grantland? Really? So ESPN has no money for Grantland but has money for Ray Lewis, Cris Carter and Mike Ditka. 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gugny Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Really? I swear on my family that I've never heard of it. I stopped listening, clicking and watching ESPN years ago. I only watch when there's an NFL football game or a Mets game that I can't watch anywhere else. Otherwise, no views, no clicks, no listens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpberr Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Grantland was way above the general demographic that ESPN thinks is it's bread and butter. The level of technical analysis and writing style appealed to the college educated sports enthusiast that had interest in topics other than sports. Grantland isn't for the sports fans who enjoy former NFL players shouting at each other for an hour before kickoff. That's not a slight, just fact. The only times I find myself on ESPN was for Grantland articles. You could catch an interesting analysis of jersey sales or why a team does X and then catch an opinion piece on politics or movies. I'm not a big fan of Bill Simmons overall but he assembled some bright writing talent there. ESPN is a disaster. They paid too much for the broadcasting rights and selling their souls to the television companies has provided them less customers to watch very, very expensive sports to produce and broadcast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Grantland was way above the general demographic that ESPN thinks is it's bread and butter. The level of technical analysis and writing style appealed to the college educated sports enthusiast that had interest in topics other than sports. Grantland isn't for the sports fans who enjoy former NFL players shouting at each other for an hour before kickoff. That's not a slight, just fact. The only times I find myself on ESPN was for Grantland articles. You could catch an interesting analysis of jersey sales or why a team does X and then catch an opinion piece on politics or movies. I'm not a big fan of Bill Simmons overall but he assembled some bright writing talent there. ESPN is a disaster. They paid too much for the broadcasting rights and selling their souls to the television companies has provided them less customers to watch very, very expensive sports to produce and broadcast. Its the cord cutters that are killing them. Paid subs is down like 16% in the last two years, and will continue to drop as more and more people drop cable/satellite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maury Ballstein Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 ESPN is crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in Horseheads Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 (edited) Hard to disagree with you here. His (Simmons) show on HBO with out big brother interfering should be great. Edited October 30, 2015 by Mike in Horseheads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 Don't get me wrong, i love/d Grantland. But i am so tired of hearing how horrifying it is people getting laid off from ESPN and now the Grantland shuttering. The world, she is a changing!!! Just a fact of life revenues at ESPN are declining, and it only going to get worse. What are the y supposed to do? Continue to not hit margins? In terms of Grantland, the ESPN hate is something today.That site was Simmons. So Simmons, if you were so damn worried about everyone there, you would not have dared ESPN to suspend you. You would have played nicer on the NBA show..but you had to be cooler than everyone else. And this coming from a loyal Sports Guy reader since 2002 . I also hate when people get laid off, but if the site is so damn great, and the writers so damn awesome , and they will pull clicks and thus revenue, have Simmons and HBO recreate it. Hes the one that lead to the downfall, he should be the one to come to the rescue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 When they canned Bill Simmons you almost knew this was going to happen. I didn't follow the details of that, but I'd guess this is as much an FU to Simmons as a financial decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLynchTrain Posted October 30, 2015 Share Posted October 30, 2015 How would people feel if Terry somehow convinced Bill Barnwell to be a scout/analytics/assistant to the assistant GM guy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Frankish Reich Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 How would people feel if Terry somehow convinced Bill Barnwell to be a scout/analytics/assistant to the assistant GM guy? That's actually a great idea! I didn't follow the details of that, but I'd guess this is as much an FU to Simmons as a financial decision. And I have to think there's something to that. I mean, paring down Grantland -- getting rid of a lot of the pop culture stuff that I don't pay a whole lot of attention to -- would have been perfectly understandable, but that didn't mean having to take the site down. They could have existed with a skeleton permanent staff and pay-by-the-article features. The cost of running a Grantland like that would be a rounding error in espn's annual books. But they have to kill Simmons' legacy too. It's hard to tell who's more childish here: Simmons, the overgrown frat boy, or espn management, his jealous ex-lover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 This is a bummer. Grantland is (was) a much better read than most ESPN output. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 with so many people using ad blocking extensions this isn't surprising Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I never knew about it Care less what they shut down. Over paid over staffed. Just like all the big networks. The millions they pay the top dogs is nuts. Feel bad for all the people on the low paying jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 That's actually a great idea! And I have to think there's something to that. I mean, paring down Grantland -- getting rid of a lot of the pop culture stuff that I don't pay a whole lot of attention to -- would have been perfectly understandable, but that didn't mean having to take the site down. They could have existed with a skeleton permanent staff and pay-by-the-article features. The cost of running a Grantland like that would be a rounding error in espn's annual books. But they have to kill Simmons' legacy too. It's hard to tell who's more childish here: Simmons, the overgrown frat boy, or espn management, his jealous ex-lover. Aah, the sex angle. No good drama should be without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
todzilla Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 Sports, movies, tv and music all in one place with great writing and analysis. Simmons, Morris, Pierce, Klosterman, Hayden, Barnwell. So many great writers The site was an everyday stop for me. It will be greatly missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLynchTrain Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 That's actually a great idea! /quote] I've been talking this topic with friends for years, seems like a good time more than ever since, you know, he's unemployed. I think he's the best in the business when it comes to analysis, and he's razor sharp on cap/contract matters. I feel like in some ways his articles can get lazy, but I think that was more from not really having a strong editor the past couple months. Either way, what would it cost Terry to put him In a mid-level training role? 100 grand a year? This might merit its own topic on the front page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JM57 Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 This was a terrible idea. Grantland was an every day read for me as your typical mid-to-late 20's sports fan. I'm at a loss why they would try to integrate the quality content from Grantland into the cesspool that ESPN.com is Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 ESPN has been going downhill ever since Disney bought them in 1996. Grantland was one of the few reasons I ever checked in to the espn websight. ESPN is now dead to me. I will check hockey on nhl.com. I will check scores on CBS or others. The only other redeeming value of ESPN is 30 for 30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike in Horseheads Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 ESPN has been going downhill ever since Disney bought them in 1996. Grantland was one of the few reasons I ever checked in to the espn websight. ESPN is now dead to me. I will check hockey on nhl.com. I will check scores on CBS or others. The only other redeeming value of ESPN is 30 for 30 I think Simmons was a big part of 30-30 also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted October 31, 2015 Share Posted October 31, 2015 I think Simmons was a big part of 30-30 also.He was the creator. Almost everything good about ESPN in the last decade came straight from Simmons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted November 1, 2015 Author Share Posted November 1, 2015 How Grantland DiedESPN killed Grantland today. There were hints that this would happen, starting with the departure of Grantland founder Bill Simmons in May. This summer, news broke that ESPN would be making enormous budget cuts over the next two years. Last month, Grantland suffered a crippling blow when four top editors—Sean Fennessey, Juliet Litman, Mallory Rubin, and Chris Ryan—left on the same day to join Simmons at a still-unannounced project, and Dan Fierman, Grantland’s editorial director, went to MTV. When Deadspin reached out to ESPN last week to ask if Grantland was being shuttered, a spokesman declined comment. Today it became official. The 40-odd remaining writers and editors at the sports and culture website found out virtually when everyone else did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 But the meat of that article to me 26 is the following n retrospect, the editorial exodus looks to have been more or less the end. One Grantlander says that no one knew the four editors were leaving to join Simmons until the day they left. That’s because, another source says, Simmons has been warring with ESPN both by acting as a source for writer Jim Miller, and by more nefarious means.While Grantland writers are on contract, editors are at-will. The four editors’ exits were coordinated, and Simmons, according to this source, told the editors who jumped ship with him that a condition of their employment was that they couldn’t warn anyone at ESPN they were leaving, in order to hit the site as hard as possible. “He put his beef with [ESPN president John] Skipper above the jobs of dozens of people,” one Grantland staffer said. Like i mentioned above, i have been a huge fan of Simmons for at least a decade...but i think he holds some culpability in all of this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted November 2, 2015 Author Share Posted November 2, 2015 @DownGoesBrown I wrote a few words about the end of Grantland, and collected all of my favorite posts from four years in one place. http://www.downgoesbrown.com/2015/11/the-end-of-grantland-plus-some-of-my.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 This is an interesting piece, more about how the business of sports writing is changing /changed. Kinda what I said upthread, if the business is profitable recreate it elsewhere. Grantland was not even close to profitable. http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage/on-grantland-and-sports-media-110215 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeviF Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 But the meat of that article to me 26 is the following Like i mentioned above, i have been a huge fan of Simmons for at least a decade...but i think he holds some culpability in all of this Yeah. Say what you want about his contributions, but Simmons is a class-A !@#$. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Yeah. Say what you want about his contributions, but Simmons is a class-A !@#$. Several years ago you could see the evolution of him in his writing from funny, self-deprecating, every-man to arrogant, self-aggrandizing, douche-bag. Pretty classic case of what happens to an ordinary guy when he achieves a certain level of fame and fortune. Once he reached that end of the spectrum (and became obsessed with the NBA) I stopped reading his stuff. It sounds like he's only become more insufferable in the years since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Several years ago you could see the evolution of him in his writing from funny, self-deprecating, every-man to arrogant, self-aggrandizing, douche-bag. Pretty classic case of what happens to an ordinary guy when he achieves a certain level of fame and fortune. Once he reached that end of the spectrum (and became obsessed with the NBA) I stopped reading his stuff. It sounds like he's only become more insufferable in the years since. I still really enjoyed his writing...but i was not a podcast listener. and i did not read his NBA stuff. But somewhere along the line, i think he and Dietch and the rest of the traditional media have just forgot that things need to be profitable.Its like they think the site was "culture" and ESPN should be a supporter and benefactor of the arts...profit be damned! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted November 3, 2015 Author Share Posted November 3, 2015 But the meat of that article to me 26 is the following Like i mentioned above, i have been a huge fan of Simmons for at least a decade...but i think he holds some culpability in all of this Yep. Pretty much a battle of titan egos with those nearby left as collateral damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Fong Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 That's a shame. Grantland and their 30 for 30 series is the only quality stuff ESPN is putting out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 (edited) That's a shame. Grantland and their 30 for 30 series is the only quality stuff ESPN is putting out. I know people like to rag on ESPN, and they do put out a lot of garbage...but they got a lot of space to fill! OTL and E-60, i think, are quality programs, NFL Matchup and PTI are very good...SVP Sportscenter is good and will continue to get better. I also like Sportsnation and Michelle Beadle when i see it. The magazine does some excellent long form pieces as well/ Problem is Bayless and Smith and the like get all the attention(and the ratings BTW) And don't get me started on Ray Lewis or the pregame/postgame shows ...think those are all awful...except for GameDay Edited November 3, 2015 by plenzmd1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Fong Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 and PTI are very good... I STRONGLY disagree with this. That show is unwatchable to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plenzmd1 Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 I STRONGLY disagree with this. That show is unwatchable to me. Different strokes is all...have loved that show from Day 1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted February 17, 2016 Author Share Posted February 17, 2016 @BillSimmons More details on The Ringer here. RT @brianstelter: Another half a dozen ex-Grantland staffers joining @BillSimmons http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/17/media/bill-simmons-the-ringer/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maury Ballstein Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 @BillSimmons More details on The Ringer here. RT @brianstelter: Another half a dozen ex-Grantland staffers joining @BillSimmons http://money.cnn.com/2016/02/17/media/bill-simmons-the-ringer/index.html Hell yea. Bring back the Simmons mailbags ! Die ESPN die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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