Tom Brennan's ESPN Bubble Has Burst
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Leave it to an ex-College Basketball coach to equate "being on the bubble" to "getting fired from ESPN. Former Vermont Coach and ESPN Analyst, Tom Brennan has been let go by ESPN after three years, and with one year left on his contract. Via the Burlington Free Press....
Brennan said he had one year left on a three-year contract, but the sports network indicated it was not going to pick up his option. The Bristol, Conn., based network has been trimming staff and costs and Brennan said he believed he might get released.That's a shame, because I actually enjoyed Brennan from time to time. He and Gottlieb, would have some epic debates about bubble teams, and it's rather ironic that he would use that term to describe his contract at ESPN. I suspect he'll go back into coaching, given the lack of College Basketball outlets, but someone should take a flier on him.
"They are not renewing me. I kind of knew that I might not continue. I knew I was on the bubble," Brennan said Monday.
Brennan said ESPN was a great run, which began in 2005 when he signed a two-year contract. He later signed a three-year pact.
"I had four years. It was a long time. Every time I went there I pinched myself. Just to be part of that, they are so professional. It was wonderful."
ESPN announced earlier this year that it would lay-off about 100 Connecticut-based employees and leave about 200 vacant jobs unfilled, according to news reports. Some new jobs will be created as the sports giant moved into new areas. The network also implemented wage freezes. ESPN is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. and has about 5,500 people worldwide, including about 3,400 in Connecticut.
ESPN, Brennan part ways (Burlington Free Press)
11 Comments:
Brennan's exuberance was always refreshing to hear. Once again, the WWL alienates its viewers. Memo to ESPN, other than game broadcasts, I only watch ESPN News. Just something to think about if they care about feedback...
I would agree with both of you. Why couldn't they have let Digger Phelps go? I'm sure he makes a lot more money than Brennan and he's a lot more annoying at times.
No one clamored for more Adrian Branch & Stephen Bardo in the studio, but we have it now.
Why couldn't they have let Digger Phelps go?
Sharpie just made a deal with Digger to sponsor his Tie-Liters.
What a shame. TB is a damn good analyst. Funny, insightful and humble. Plus, he has that rare(for ESPN Analysts) trait that any quality On-Air person should have...the ability to be understood, period.
Oh man, this is devastating. As a UVM alum who was at the legendary Syracuse game, I'm very upset that ESPN did this. But I guess I shouldn't be shocked that the WWL fired one of its better analysts. Here's hoping we bring him back for a second stint.
(On a side note, what is that dummy in the orange Syracuse sweater doing?)
If Holy Cross hasn't hired a coach to replace Willard yet, I think Brennan would be a good fit.
unfortunate, he was really entertaining, but I'm sure he will land on his feet because he knows basketball extremely well
Brennan was great. I just wish they would have paired him with better people. Ryan Burr and Doug Gottlieb are horrible on TV.
Stephen Bardo is good. Adrian Branch is not as good. They need to get Bram Weinstein to host Midnight Madness next year. Ryan Burr should be banned from television.
Man I'll miss him. He was a mid-major coach, which meant that the Mid-majors had a fighting chance in all the debates. Without him idiots like Bilas and Digger can say "Well mid-majors dont play tought enough schedules." And there will be no one there to defend them and say "Tell majors to play us, we want to play them but no one will play us."
Leave it to those idiots to terminate a guy that the viewers actually like.