Whats with ESPN losing Colin Cowherd, Bill Simmons, and Keith Olbermann? Will it hurt them in the long run? Or are they just too big to falter? Losing these names will hurt. Colin Cowherd is one of the only guys in the sports media who can run a radio show by himself. Keith Olbermann was one of the original names when ESPN started to get popular. And Bill Simmons has been one of the biggest and most polarizing names in sports over the last decade.
Sure ESPN has Michael Wilbon, Tony Kornheiser, Scott Van Pelt, and Stephen A. Smith. But even them are starting to falter. Wilbon has been taking time off of PTI, along with going away from his usual opinions and just wanting to stark controversy. Scott Van Pelt recently ended his long running radio station to become a network anchor with them on Sportscenter. And Stephen A. is just a lunatic who argues with another lunatic on First Take.
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Why did they let these guys go? Did they have too much of an opinion? Did they cost too much? ESPN President John Skipper is saying they cost too much. They want to bring in younger talent who don’t cost as much. Good luck with that Skipper. Who you gonna get? Katie Nolan? Why would she leave? She is living it up, having her own show on Fox Sports 1. Dan Patrick has already taken shots at the “Mother Ship”. Recently saying that almost 12 on air personalities talked to him about leaving. He explained that when you leave ESPN, they will play dirty and try to hurt you in the process.
Why would they need to play dirty? They are ESPN! Honestly, I would love to see all of the on air talent, that actually voice their opinions, start their own website or media outlet. Something that is uncensored. Much like what Bill Simmons will be joining over at HBO. He will be living the life. ESPN 30 for 30s will be hurt with that loss. Simmons will most likely bring HBO Documentaries back to the forefront of the lexicon.
I am glad these guys left the evil empire that is ESPN. ESPN is faltering. They don’t have exclusive media deals with any of the major sports leagues. The NHL having one with NBC and the NFL, MLB, and NBA being spread out amongst a bevy of networks like Turner and FOX. They have two good color guys who do college basketball, Dick Vitale and Jay Bilas. But even cCollege Football and Basketball are seen on Turner, NBC, and Fox. The NCAA Basketball Tournament being on Turner. ESPN did have the chance to have an exclusive deal with the NHL, but ESPN being the arrogant children they are, disrespected the NHL and offered them a very low number of games per week. ESPN literally has two guys to cover the NHL; Barry Melrose and John Torterella, who aren’t the most stable of men.
The ESPN, World Wide Leader in Sports, doesn’t cover one of the 4 major leagues in North American Professional Sports. Riddle me that. How can they just ignore the NHL. Is it because the NHL left ESPN to go to NBC Sports? Want to know why the NHL lacks the audience that the NBA and NFL has? Its because of ESPN and their insufficient coverage of hockey.
John Skipper tried to explain that if they were the sole provider of hockey, they would cover it more. But they can’t do so because NBC Sports covers it. Well maybe if Skipper got off of his thrown and offered a respectable deal to the NHL that works along side NBC Sports, you will earn coverage that Skipper so apparently desires.
ESPN needs to get off its throne of arrogance and come back down to the rest of us. You are no longer the monopoly you think yourselves to be. Fox Sports, Turner, and NBC Sports are now all in contention for the self proclaimed “Worldwide Leader in Sports”. Get your act together, learn how to humble yourselves, and stop letting great talent go.
PuckVille 