ESPN Nixes Yet Another Sports Guy Move
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I can't imagine it's fun to be Bill Simmons right now. I mean sure he's successful, has a nice family and is more than likely a millionaire, but his employer is seemingly shooting down his every idea. First, we had the odd summer where he started blogging over at his personal blog (which has a total of 10 entries), so he could write what he wanted to. Then it was ESPN saying that he couldn't interview Barack Obama on his podcast, and the network eventually putting him on every single outlet. Well now it seems that ESPN isn't letting Simmons join a Fantasy Basketball league.
Does anyone remember that random website, Christian Sings The Blues (Extremely NSFW!), that broke the Wilbon-Kendra Wilkinson photos? Sure you do. That site's owner was invited by both Simmons and ESPN Fantasy Guru, Matthew Berry, into an NBA fantasy league and the thought of a porn star in one of their leagues did not sit well with ESPN. From CSTB (Again...extremely NSFW!) via The Brockett Blog....
Oh and finally, Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, sent me an email tonight. He basically apologized for the fact that due to the graphic and adult content on this blogsite, that ESPN wouldn't let him and Matthew Berry let me into the league. He also said that ESPN chopped off the part where he stated this fact on his podcast yesterday.I guess it's ESPN ultimately just covering their collective ass, but it doesn't really seem like a big deal. The network just doesn't appear to trust Simmons these days, and I wonder how the Sports Guy feels about that recent four-year deal right about now. Good times.
Man, what a downer. I guess I understand, but it still sucks...."I coulda been a contender!"
The F'ing Dungeon And Lisa Sparxxx? (Christian Sings The Blues)
ESPN and porn evidently don't mix (Brockett Blog)
12 Comments:
They also prevented Erin andrews from participating on Dancing With the Stars.
Wee Willie Simmons is a narrow niche non-entity. Can't believe you still make a big deal of anything he's involved in. Nobody gives a crap.
Um, AA... I read that as ESPN won't let the porn blog guy into THEIR league, that Simmons and Berry are running, not the opposite. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong.
um the latest entry on that guys blog is a fat chick getting nailed. noone wants to see that up close or on film. i wholeheartedly support this call by espn after seeing christian's latest post.
most companies would protect their name and intelluctual properties in the same manner. There's no doubt that the site would promote them as ESPN employees and you cant blame them for not wanting them involved.
In my radio contracts anything I want to do that will draw attention to the station or the station and/or company names could or would be attached needs to be approved by management.
this is going to lead to more One a Week columns from Bill (if that) and one 30-m podcast a week.
Simmons and Berry offered a fantasy basketball challenge to their listeners/readers, where they created a 10 team league and were going to accept 8 entries from fans. There are promises of prizes (trips to Bristol to me Berry, yea!) and what not. During the podcast to announce this contest, Simmons randomly brought up Christian and his blog and said that he should be an automatic entry into the league if he wanted in.
Wow this is a horrible post. First, the porn guy's site did not break the wilbon pictures story, he was freaking there! in the club, his porn friends took pictures with wilbon and co. Those are his pics. Second, ESPN will not allow the porn guy into Simmon's/Berry's league, not the other way around.
ABC put a porn star (Kim Kardashian) on one of it's central shows, Dancing with the Stars -- something watched by millions of kids. But a porn blogger can't participate in a fantasy league?
i just want to say thanks for the shoutout for my blog and that i was extremely bummed that i couldn't participate in the bill simmons/matthew berry fantasy league.
Is it a coincidence that when Christian shows up here, my word verification is "fistato"??? AA, I think you've finally made it.
I get it. Wilbon is allowed to party with porn stars but Simmons and Berry can't argue about the merits of Paul Pierce with one? Makes sense!!!