ESPN's Skipper Addresses Parting of Ways with High-Profile Columnist Bill Simmons

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ESPN's Skipper Addresses Parting of Ways with High-Profile Columnist Bill Simmons 05.12.2015 Among the many videos presented at ESPN's 2015 Upfront in New York was a highlight reel previewing a new slate of upcoming films from the award-winning "30 For 30" franchise. For media observers, it was a reminder that life moves quickly at the World Wide Leader, even after the abrupt silencing of one of its most influential voices. Of course the biggest news at ESPN this week was the firing of "30 For 30" executive producer, Grantland founder and writer Bill Simmons. Network president John Skipper, who announced he was not renewing Simmons' contract on Friday, closed the upfront presentation and then was quickly bombarded by reporters asking about the split with Simmons. "It was business," Skipper told reporters. "We are a big company. If it was just dollars and cents we would have figured something out," he said. Skipper and Simmons had long had a strong relationship, though reports indicate it had recently begun to unravel. Simmons earned an unpaid three-week suspension last fall when he unleashed a tirade on NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over his handling of the Ray Rice scandal. Some say the last straw for Skipper was when Simmons took some more healthy jabs at Goodell on Dan Patrick's radio show. Skipper told reporters he doesn't expect a mass departure of writers from Grantland and reiterated ESPN's commitment to the popular sports and pop culture web site. He also said he has high interest in keeping other high-paid personalities like Colin Cowher and Skip Bayless whose contracts run out soon. Skipper did make known his appreciation for Simmons and all he had done for the network and acknowledged that Simmons did find out he was being canned after seeing a tweet about it from the New York Times.Â "We got fabulous value from Bill Simmons," Skipper said. "If any of you guys know another Bill Simmons, please let me know.".

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