ESPN ombudsman says Bill Simmons was suspended for two reasons: journalistic integrity and insubordination
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Version 0 of 1. ESPN ombudsman Robert Lipsyte responded to widespread criticism Thursday over the network’s three-week suspension of Bill Simmons. Simmons was sanctioned Wednesday night after what Sports Business Daily describes as “two days of internal phone calls and hand wringing among senior ESPN execs” for calling NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a “liar” and accusing him of having seen the infamous Ray Rice in-elevator video well before Sept. 8. Simmons made the comments on his popular “BS Report” podcast. (The episode has since been taken down.) Lipsyte wrote on ESPN.com: Roger Goodell is the sports world’s villain du jour, but until the NFL’s elevator of investigation reaches the top — or ESPN delivers a smoking gun that proves the NFL viewed the Ray Rice video tape — the commissioner is not a certified liar. And Bill Simmons has no license to call him one without more justification than ‘I’m just saying it.’ Roger Goodell is the sports world’s villain du jour, but until the NFL’s elevator of investigation reaches the top — or ESPN delivers a smoking gun that proves the NFL viewed the Ray Rice video tape — the commissioner is not a certified liar. And Bill Simmons has no license to call him one without more justification than ‘I’m just saying it.’ Lipsyte did not leave it at that, however. He also had some choice words in describing Simmons, who literally dared anyone to tell him he was in trouble for his remarks about Goodell. Lipsyte wrote: Simmons is, in my opinion, ESPN’s franchise player, but by no stretch a leading journalist. On his 45th birthday [Thursday], my gift to him was recounting my favorite quote from the late basketball coach Butch van Breda Kolff: ‘Everyone’s strength is their weakness.’ He said he liked it. In Simmons’ case it has to do with his driving energy and creativity, which can also morph into tunnel vision and self-absorption. What makes him always think something’s right just because he thinks it is? Or that his sometimes loopy declarations are easy to interpret? Simmons is, in my opinion, ESPN’s franchise player, but by no stretch a leading journalist. On his 45th birthday [Thursday], my gift to him was recounting my favorite quote from the late basketball coach Butch van Breda Kolff: ‘Everyone’s strength is their weakness.’ He said he liked it. In Simmons’ case it has to do with his driving energy and creativity, which can also morph into tunnel vision and self-absorption. What makes him always think something’s right just because he thinks it is? Or that his sometimes loopy declarations are easy to interpret? Regarding who Simmons may have been daring to tell him he was “in trouble” for his Goodell remarks, Lipsyte noted ESPN President John Skipper thought it was him, and that came off as insubordination. [T]hat insubordination was one of the main two reasons for the severity of the suspension. Particularly on podcasts, said Skipper, Simmons has a tendency to slip back into his ‘bad boy, let’s-go-to-Vegas’ persona. Simmons, Skipper believes, is transitioning into an important influence and mentor at Grantland, and needs to leave his well-worn punkishness behind. [T]hat insubordination was one of the main two reasons for the severity of the suspension. Particularly on podcasts, said Skipper, Simmons has a tendency to slip back into his ‘bad boy, let’s-go-to-Vegas’ persona. Simmons, Skipper believes, is transitioning into an important influence and mentor at Grantland, and needs to leave his well-worn punkishness behind. The other reason for Simmons’ forced (and unpaid, according to Sports Business Daily) three-week vacation doled out by Skipper, Lipsyte writes, was strictly journalistic: The more important reason for the suspension, said Skipper, had to do with fairness and the difference between commentary and reporting. Both have been on exemplary display of late, as ESPN did its journalism proud covering Rice and Goodell — including a terrific story arc by Don Van Natta that chronicled the league and the Baltimore Ravens’ myriad missteps that led to Rice’s suspension. Skipper said Simmons had to advance the story, bring some evidence, before he could make flat-out charges against anyone. The more important reason for the suspension, said Skipper, had to do with fairness and the difference between commentary and reporting. Both have been on exemplary display of late, as ESPN did its journalism proud covering Rice and Goodell — including a terrific story arc by Don Van Natta that chronicled the league and the Baltimore Ravens’ myriad missteps that led to Rice’s suspension. Skipper said Simmons had to advance the story, bring some evidence, before he could make flat-out charges against anyone. Lipsyte made no mention of the proverbial elephant in the room, however — speculations that the NFL, ESPN’s “broadcast partner,” had prompted this suspension, Simmons’s third and harshest from ESPN. The Washington Post’s Cindy Boren reminds us: When it comes to the pecking order in [ESPN's] Bristol headquarters, even Simmons, a network star who has produced Grantland and “30 for 30,” takes a backseat to a “broadcast partner” like the NFL — to which it pays $15.2 billion for “Monday Night Football.” When it comes to the pecking order in [ESPN's] Bristol headquarters, even Simmons, a network star who has produced Grantland and “30 for 30,” takes a backseat to a “broadcast partner” like the NFL — to which it pays $15.2 billion for “Monday Night Football.” Meanwhile, Lipsyte’s words have reinvigorated #FreeSimmons, the hashtag trending on Twitter that’s now not just being used to rally behind Simmons, but also criticize ESPN’s justifications for the suspension. @ESPN_Lipsyte I’m sorry but your column on Simmons is not up to par. Does not address core issue AT ALL. #FreeSimmons — Andrew Lisi (@AndrewMLisi) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte I’m sorry but your column on Simmons is not up to par. Does not address core issue AT ALL. #FreeSimmons — Andrew Lisi (@AndrewMLisi) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte Your actions have made your value worthless. You don’t get it. #freesimmons — john david bobo (@fizbanmoose) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte Your actions have made your value worthless. You don’t get it. #freesimmons — john david bobo (@fizbanmoose) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte Dislike @BillSimmons suspension. Screams of hypocrisy after patting yourself on the back for your finest hour #FreeSimmons — Brendan Curley (@Dr_Curley) September 25, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte Dislike @BillSimmons suspension. Screams of hypocrisy after patting yourself on the back for your finest hour #FreeSimmons — Brendan Curley (@Dr_Curley) September 25, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte You and the rest of @espn are a bunch of cowards. #FreeSimmons — Tyler Norton (@tyler_norton) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte You and the rest of @espn are a bunch of cowards. #FreeSimmons — Tyler Norton (@tyler_norton) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte ‘Goodell is not a certified liar’…as if there is such thing as a ‘certified liar’. Weak suspension defense. #FreeSimmons — Joel Curry (@curriedjoel) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte ‘Goodell is not a certified liar’…as if there is such thing as a ‘certified liar’. Weak suspension defense. #FreeSimmons — Joel Curry (@curriedjoel) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte I thought ombudsman were supposed to be impartial? #FreeSimmons You didn’t bring up Steven A or Olbermann. #FreeSimmons . — Charlie (@NinjaDeathStars) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte I thought ombudsman were supposed to be impartial? #FreeSimmons You didn’t bring up Steven A or Olbermann. #FreeSimmons . — Charlie (@NinjaDeathStars) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte Brutal article. And if ESPN really felt they were in the right, they would allow comments on the bottom of it. #FreeSimmons — Mike Rotch (@MikeRotchhurtss) September 26, 2014 @ESPN_Lipsyte Brutal article. And if ESPN really felt they were in the right, they would allow comments on the bottom of it. #FreeSimmons — Mike Rotch (@MikeRotchhurtss) September 26, 2014 |