Jen Lada headed to ESPN

[brandx]

ESPN is doing some major clean-up within it's controversial people department:
-Colin Cowheard
-Bill Simmons
-Keith Olbermann
-Jason Whitlock

If I'm Steven A Smith and Skip Bayless I would be a little terrified

Cutting an awful lot of high-priced guys.

[mu-rara]

I don't watch sports talking heads.  It's the content.  It's the content.

[rocky_warrior]

I don't watch sports talking heads.  It's the content.  It's the content.

+300

I've heard of most of those guys (mostly though scoop), but haven't watched more than a couple minutes of them on TV...combined.

[LloydsLegs]

Grantland good, Olbermann had his moments.

The remaining group of Cowherd, Whitlock, Smith and Bayless are all awful.

100%

[Tums Festival]

Deadspin > Grantland

[reinko]

ESPN is doing some major clean-up within it's controversial people department:
-Colin Cowheard
-Bill Simmons
-Keith Olbermann
-Jason Whitlock

If I'm Steven A Smith and Skip Bayless I would be a little terrified

The Deadspin guys had a interesting talk about this on their podcast last week (Deadcast, a good listen).  They opined these 4 guys, yes all very expensive, but they stirred the wrong kind of pots that got ESPN brass upset.  They stirred pots that upset commissioners, coaches, players, but also their fellow ESPN colleagues, which the flagship despises. 

While other gutter trash like Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless, Chris Bouseard...usually stepped out of line with disparaging remarks about women, gays, or knocks about sports that are not as popular, thus are easier to deal with.

[martyconlonontherun]

I don't watch sports talking heads.  It's the content.  It's the content.

1. Simmons was responsible for 30 for 30 and Grantland. He brought most of the quality content the last few years that wasn't a live game.

2. It's not just who is leaving but who they keep. They are keeping SAS, Broussard and Bayless, which means more content of that kind of trashy sports show. They aren't going start playing playing games at 4 PM or 9 AM, so there are gaps in live-sport content that needs to be filled. Would much rather fill it with shows I don't hate myself for watching.

[GGGG]

Deadspin > Grantland

They are completely different types of sites.  Deadspin is an aggregator that is oftentimes amusing, but has a few individual works that are OK.

Grantland is more of an in-depth site whose sports reporting is more long-form and in depth on aspects of sport that you don't get from many other places. 

Both are good sites IMO, but they aren't really comparable. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

They are completely different types of sites.  Deadspin is an aggregator that is oftentimes amusing, but has a few individual works that are OK.

Grantland is more of an in-depth site whose sports reporting is more long-form and in depth on aspects of sport that you don't get from many other places. 

Both are good sites IMO, but they aren't really comparable.

Thanks for the explanation. What would this message board do without you?

[GGGG]

Well now Cowherd has been dumped by ESPN early due to dumb comments about Dominican baseball players.  Fox picks another winner.

[Logi4three]

Well now Cowherd has been dumped by ESPN early due to dumb comments about Dominican baseball players.  Fox picks another winner.

I assume that a firing for cause relieves them from having to pay any severance that they owed Cowherd.  If so, what a dumb @$$ he was/is.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The Deadspin guys had a interesting talk about this on their podcast last week (Deadcast, a good listen).  They opined these 4 guys, yes all very expensive, but they stirred the wrong kind of pots that got ESPN brass upset.  They stirred pots that upset commissioners, coaches, players, but also their fellow ESPN colleagues, which the flagship despises. 

While other gutter trash like Stephen A. Smith, Skip Bayless, Chris Bouseard...usually stepped out of line with disparaging remarks about women, gays, or knocks about sports that are not as popular, thus are easier to deal with.

Cowherd was offered $5M to stay at ESPN.    He left for $6M at Fox.  Olbermann has been fired at almost every job he's been at, it is in his nature to be a complete dick.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Well now Cowherd has been dumped by ESPN early due to dumb comments about Dominican baseball players.  Fox picks another winner.

He gets ratings, enough that ESPN offered him $5M per year to stay.  He'll get ratings at Fox, that is why they are hiring him.  He's one of those guys you love or hate, but many listen because they love or hate him.

[GGGG]

He gets ratings, enough that ESPN offered him $5M per year to stay.  He'll get ratings at Fox, that is why they are hiring him.  He's one of those guys you love or hate, but many listen because they love or hate him.

I don't know why you feel the need to explain this to me. I know he gets ratings. I find it embarrassing that he does.

[Lighthouse 84]

Does anyone know how the move by Cowherd to Fox affects Jen?

[ChicosBailBonds]

I don't know why you feel the need to explain this to me. I know he gets ratings. I find it embarrassing that he does.

I feel the same away about Olbermann

[Golden Avalanche]

I assume that a firing for cause relieves them from having to pay any severance that they owed Cowherd.  If so, what a dumb @$$ he was/is.

To be clear, Cowherd wasn't fired by ESPN. He had a last work day as of July 31 since his contract has run to its end but in light of his comments on DR baseball players they moved it up a week to July 24th.

It also works out very well for ESPN because now they can "look good" whereas if this was said when Cowherd was under contract nothing would happen because all they need are ratings numbers. They don't work in the business of morality tales.