ESPN Suspends Bill Simmons From Twitter After First Take Criticism

[Sylez_G_Koolaid]

Originally Posted by Ahab

What did Simmons say anyways?

He said a turrible show is turrible.

[socraticsilence]

Originally Posted by Sylez_G_Koolaid

He said a turrible show is turrible.

Yeah he said it was like an embarrassment to the Network.

[BobK89]

Soooo, Simmons tweets what all already know? That First Take sucks and is contrived? Ok, suspend him.

How about suspending First Take?

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[LimeyGator]

Originally Posted by Sylez_G_Koolaid

He said a turrible show is turrible.

He was suspended for telling the truth on a social media platform. People's minds were blown and so he's facing virtual murder charges as a result.

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by thedyc09

Michael Wilbon was on Jason Whitlock's podcast one week and he had some pretty harsh criticism for First Take (no people or shows were named, but it was made very clear what the two of them were talking about).

Also, First Take is INCREDIBLY popular, for a 10am-12pm pseudo-sports-news show. Apparently it was crushing the morning Sportscenters in the ratings with its incessant Tebow talk, so with intra-office competition being what it is at ESPN, Sportscenter doubled down on Tebow, doubled down on social media interaction (another thing First Take was the first to truly utilize at ESPN), and doubled down on contentious bickering. First Take single-handedly destroyed what little remained of civil, informed discourse about sports.

You're probably right about ratings, as I consider it the Jerry Springer of sports programming (fighting it out with that god awful Sports Nation and that brain killing late night thing with Danny Kanell), but like Springer it needs a lethal dose of Cancellation Potion. Bum Fights gets eyeballs too. Civil society shouldn't be subjected to that either.

In the last couple of months alone you had the one dude waxing poetic about "real brothas", this five minutes of genius banter, and innumerable dipsh!tty exchanges of meaningless opining between Skip and Stephen A. It's the same conversation you have with some drunk goober at a bar. At least at the bar they're running a hose to me from the keg.

[qwghlmgator]

Originally Posted by thedyc09

Michael Wilbon was on Jason Whitlock's podcast one week and he had some pretty harsh criticism for First Take (no people or shows were named, but it was made very clear what the two of them were talking about).

Also, First Take is INCREDIBLY popular, for a 10am-12pm pseudo-sports-news show. Apparently it was crushing the morning Sportscenters in the ratings with its incessant Tebow talk, so with intra-office competition being what it is at ESPN, Sportscenter doubled down on Tebow, doubled down on social media interaction (another thing First Take was the first to truly utilize at ESPN), and doubled down on contentious bickering. First Take single-handedly destroyed what little remained of civil, informed discourse about sports.

Ype. And I think this entire thing was manufactured. Simmons gets reinforced in his positioning as the reasonable "everyman" columnist and we all end up talking about (and giving free pub to) a show we all agree is execrable. Seems like a win all around for Bristol. And that makes me start feeling manipulated...

[thedyc09]

The truly sad thing is that something like First Take could be a wonderful show. Can you imagine a daily sit-down (ideally with either rotating random hosts or some sane mainstays) where 2-4 people just chatted about recent sports events with no manufactured controversy, no manufactured user interaction, no scripted sides, no incessant needling. Just talk. A real barbershop chat type show, the kind of discussions you have with coworkers or friends. When someone is ignorant about a subject, they admit it. When someone is informed about a subject, the others listen and respect them. Real diverse opinions and topics (my sports-talk buddies represent every major American sport and teams from probably 30 states). I would watch a show a like that - I think many people would, and we could all retain some dignity while doing so.

[BobK89]

There was a syndicated show back in the late 80's and early 90's called "The Sportswriters on TV" based out of Chicago. Ben Bentley, Bill Gleason, Bill Jauss and Rick Telendar were on it and it set the bar for ESPN's Sportswriters.

First Take is just manufactured nonsense.

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[GatorInSC]

First Take was good back when they had other segments on the show other than 1st and 10. Skip and Steve used to just be a 20-30 minute segment of the 2 hr show. They need to get back to the original format

[Bedlam]

I thoroughly enjoy First Take. I don't watch it for serious sports discussion and insight. I watch it for entertainment purposes. I love Skip.

And as for Richard Sherman, I don't think anyone has ever come across so butt-hurt and upset about what a sports writer says about them. He completely embarrassed himself.

[GatorJeff]

Originally Posted by Bedlam

I thoroughly enjoy First Take. I don't watch it for serious sports discussion and insight. I watch it for entertainment purposes. I love Skip.

And as for Richard Sherman, I don't think anyone has ever come across so butt-hurt and upset about what a sports writer says about them. He completely embarrassed himself.

Sherman came across as a complete a-hole. What a bully. What a loser. Skip is generally too critical and inflammatory, but Sherman is ridiculous.

[Emmitto]

BTW, anyone watch this week? I tuned in today and one more day this week, for a few minutes each time. No Skip, no Steven A. They had some other ESPN personalities, including a new host. The debate about the new NFL helmet rule today was good stuff. I don't recall the subject on the other day, but it was a good discussion too.

Is this ESPN trying to restructure the show on the fly? It was a small sample, but I found it far superior to the recent format and more like what I envision with "sports debate."

Anyone else see it?

[GATORAZ]

did not see it I rarely do but those two trolls will be back they are ratings gold

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by GATORAZ

did not see it I rarely do but those two trolls will be back they are ratings gold

Probably so. But the segments I saw were lively and spirited. Herm Edwards was on both times and I find him very watchable. The host (I don't think I've seen him before now) did a great job leading the discussions and posing good questions.

I'm hoping they're going for good ratings via quality debate versus sideshow/train wreck curiosity. But I'm likely setting myself up for disappointment. Skip and Steven A. are probably just on vacation or something.

[GATORAZ]

Originally Posted by Emmitto

Probably so. But the segments I saw were lively and spirited. Herm Edwards was on both times and I find him very watchable. The host (I don't think I've seen him before now) did a great job leading the discussions and posing good questions.

I'm hoping they're going for good ratings via quality debate versus sideshow/train wreck curiosity. But I'm likely setting myself up for disappointment. Skip and Steven A. are probably just on vacation or something.

You are definitely setting yourself up for disappointment those two will be back by Monday its tournament time. Those two could do a show you enjoyed but that is not what the masses want

PTI started all of this back and forth bickering and it will now never end

[Emmitto]

Originally Posted by GATORAZ

You are definitely setting yourself up for disappointment those two will be back by Monday its tournament time. Those two could do a show you enjoyed but that is not what the masses want

PTI started all of this back and forth bickering and it will now never end

Well, that didn't take long. Don Bell (host) said at the top of the show (it came back on at noon) that Skip, Steven, and Carrie were on vacation. At least my dream didn't have much time to take hold.

And I love PTI. Even when I disagree Tony and Mike seem to put real thought into their opinions. Skip and Steven A. are just playing me for a sucka!

[tim]

I'm sorry but this guy just looked like a complete dumbass to me...I don't mind Skip as much as some of you do but this isn't about him. Sherman could hardly form complete sentences and half the junk he kept spewing didn't make much sense....."In my 24 years of life, I'm better than you.." Really?! What a prick.

[GatorAvatar]

Skip is a troll. He likes to annoy people, but if you watch him daily you'll know he is a nice person. In that interview, Sherman came off as a major league ahole. Skip was professional and respectful.

[DangerDays10]

Sherman is a lil biotch and all skip's points were valid

[GatorAvatar]

Originally Posted by Bedlam

I thoroughly enjoy First Take. I don't watch it for serious sports discussion and insight. I watch it for entertainment purposes. I love Skip.

And as for Richard Sherman, I don't think anyone has ever come across so butt-hurt and upset about what a sports writer says about them. He completely embarrassed himself.

I think most people's perception of Skip is from a select few clips that do not do justice to the man. Skip is a kind man at heart. His on air persona is just that - a scripted on-air character. He is funny, and acts like jerk on purpose: to yank people's chains. I watch Skip and Stephen A all the time and they are funny most of the time. In a few instances, they discuss really serious issues, and that's when you see that Skip is a good man at heart. He has priorities right.

On the interview with Sherman, Skip was very humble. He let Sherman hurl insults at him, but he was above it all. He asked valid questions, bur Sherman answered none. To many, Sherman came off as an idiot.