ESPN Layoffs

[reinko]

I think that it is possible to win an NBA championship without multiple superstars if you have good chemistry, a solid bench, and great coaching.  IMO, since the retirement of David Robinson, the only true superstar that the Spurs had was Tim Duncan (and what a superstar he was).

Rather than relying on pure star power, I think the Spurs success comes down to team chemistry, and every player playing their respective role, i.e., Bowen as a defensive specialist, Parker as a pass-first point guard, etc. And, IMO, the fact that Pop is a great coach who the players respect.

I like LeBron James, but I think his biggest shortcoming is that he doesn't truly respect any of the coaches that he has had.

Spo in the MIA is by far been LBJs's best coach...outside of him, he has had multiple bags of hot garbage that been hanging out in that in that PHX heat.

[mu03eng]

If I were a betting man, I'd say that Duncan, Parker and Ginobili all will end up in the Hall of Fame, so I guess it depends upon how one defines "superstar." And Popovich, of course, will be in the Hall. And maybe Leonard by the time he's done, although it's far too early to say that.

Spurs are a classic example of chicken or egg. Are Parker and Ginobili truly hall of famers or were they really good players who benefited from playing with a top 3 all time forward(Duncan, LBJ, and Bird in some order) and for a coach who is probably top 3 all time as well.....or were Parker and Ginobili hall of famers who put Duncan and Pop over the top.

[MU82]

Spurs are a classic example of chicken or egg. Are Parker and Ginobili truly hall of famers or were they really good players who benefited from playing with a top 3 all time forward(Duncan, LBJ, and Bird in some order) and for a coach who is probably top 3 all time as well.....or were Parker and Ginobili hall of famers who put Duncan and Pop over the top.

We'll never know the answers to those deep questions!!

[Tugg Speedman]

Will ESPN Dump baseball?  This article argues they might.

As Millennials Turn Their Backs on Baseball, Could ESPN Cut the Cord?
ESPN has been cutting costs and will eventually have to renew contracts for both baseball and NFL games. One media analyst wonders whether baseball could be thrown out.

http://www.barrons.com/articles/as-millennials-turn-their-backs-on-baseball-could-espn-cut-the-cord-1498164785?mod=trending_now_3

BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield was intrigued by a recent ESPN survey sent to sports fans, asking about their baseball watching habits. In a note Wednesday, Greenfield wonders whether ESPN is “trying to understand the impact of giving up rights to MLB to help it maintain NFL programming.” ( Disney-owned ESPN will see both its Major League Baseball and National Football League contracts contracts expire in 2021.)

New data suggest baseball is less watched by younger viewers.

[muwarrior69]

Will ESPN Dump baseball?  This article argues they might.

As Millennials Turn Their Backs on Baseball, Could ESPN Cut the Cord?
ESPN has been cutting costs and will eventually have to renew contracts for both baseball and NFL games. One media analyst wonders whether baseball could be thrown out.

http://www.barrons.com/articles/as-millennials-turn-their-backs-on-baseball-could-espn-cut-the-cord-1498164785?mod=trending_now_3

BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield was intrigued by a recent ESPN survey sent to sports fans, asking about their baseball watching habits. In a note Wednesday, Greenfield wonders whether ESPN is “trying to understand the impact of giving up rights to MLB to help it maintain NFL programming.” ( Disney-owned ESPN will see both its Major League Baseball and National Football League contracts contracts expire in 2021.)

New data suggest baseball is less watched by younger viewers.

First off, baseball is played during the summer months when "younger" folks spend most of their time out doors and the season is 162 games, not 81 or 16 as for basketball or football respectively. Secondly, even if you are an avid fan, especially true for those of us who live on the east coast, I doubt you are going to watch an entire game that starts at 10 pm even on a Friday night. Thirdly, baseball has no where as many teams eligible for the post season. However, baseball attendance is doing quite nicely (I know this has nothing to do about ESPN).

[rocket surgeon]

Will ESPN Dump baseball?  This article argues they might.

As Millennials Turn Their Backs on Baseball, Could ESPN Cut the Cord?
ESPN has been cutting costs and will eventually have to renew contracts for both baseball and NFL games. One media analyst wonders whether baseball could be thrown out.

http://www.barrons.com/articles/as-millennials-turn-their-backs-on-baseball-could-espn-cut-the-cord-1498164785?mod=trending_now_3

BTIG analyst Rich Greenfield was intrigued by a recent ESPN survey sent to sports fans, asking about their baseball watching habits. In a note Wednesday, Greenfield wonders whether ESPN is “trying to understand the impact of giving up rights to MLB to help it maintain NFL programming.” ( Disney-owned ESPN will see both its Major League Baseball and National Football League contracts contracts expire in 2021.)

New data suggest baseball is less watched by younger viewers.

what fills the void?  what would millennials tune in to espn for?  serious ?  lacrosse is popular as a participation sport, but after that, does it go the way of soccer?  MMA used to be cool(for me)but lost me when it started to become "WWE"  maybe it has captured the millennials a little bit more than it did me 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

what fills the void?  what would millennials tune in to espn for?  serious ?  lacrosse is popular as a participation sport, but after that, does it go the way of soccer?  MMA used to be cool(for me)but lost me when it started to become "WWE"  maybe it has captured the millennials a little bit more than it did me

We can't even afford ESPN to watch it, thats probably half the problem.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I don't know that they drop baseball, like others have asked, what would fill the void? Soccer? WNBA? Give Stephen A Smith an additional time slot? But I would expect that they might not offer as much money for it.

[CTWarrior]

I don't know that they drop baseball, like others have asked, what would fill the void? Soccer? WNBA? Give Stephen A Smith an additional time slot? But I would expect that they might not offer as much money for it.

I love baseball, but I only watch it on ESPN if the Red Sox are playing.  I think most baseball fans mostly watch only their own team (they have 162 of those games every year, who has time to watch other teams play?).  I have the MLB package to because NESN is not offered in my market, and the amount of baseball games I watch that do not involve the Red Sox during the year can be counted on one hand, and they would most likely be games in September that have an impact on the Red Sox playoff chances.

Frankly, I would be happy if ESPN dropped baseball because I hate the 5 or so times a year when the Red Sox play Sunday night.  (And I hate the way they broadcast games.  They never, ever, ever stop talking.)

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I love baseball, but I only watch it on ESPN if the Red Sox are playing.  I think most baseball fans mostly watch only their own team (they have 162 of those games every year, who has time to watch other teams play?).  I have the MLB package to because NESN is not offered in my market, and the amount of baseball games I watch that do not involve the Red Sox during the year can be counted on one hand, and they would most likely be games in September that have an impact on the Red Sox playoff chances.

Frankly, I would be happy if ESPN dropped baseball because I hate the 5 or so times a year when the Red Sox play Sunday night.  (And I hate the way they broadcast games.  They never, ever, ever stop talking.)

Ditto for me, but only if the Yankees are playing. 
They need to get rid of Sunday night games at 8:05pm eastern.  Starting a 1 hour early would make a big difference.

[MUBurrow]

The profound shift in philosophy here would be pretty incredible - from gathering up every minute of live sports "content" at exorbitant prices, to saying no thanks to the #1 sport in terms of content volume.

As an unrelated aside, I'm really disappointed in how much less written content espn.com carries covering fantasy baseball since the evolution of DFS.

[GGGG]

I don't know that they drop baseball, like others have asked, what would fill the void? Soccer? WNBA? Give Stephen A Smith an additional time slot? But I would expect that they might not offer as much money for it.

Whatever content it is, it just might be cheaper.  And my guess is that ESPN is paying a premium for the playoffs, but those occur at the same time as football season.