A Recent History of ESPN Bending to Outside Pressure

Last week, ESPN employee Bill Simmons went on his own podcast, The BS Report, and absolutely shredded Roger Goodell and his handling of the Ray Rice situation. Among other things, Simmons called Goodell a “liar” with “no integrity whatsoever,” and ended his rant by saying, “You leave me alone. The Commissioner’s a liar and I get to talk about that on my podcast.”

Apparently not, Bill.

In the wake of his comments on Goodell and daring ESPN to punish him for his words, the network decided to do just that when they announced last night that they would be suspending Simmons for three weeks. Public outcry ensued, and with the hashtag #freesimmons running rampant on the internet today, the microscope now turns to ESPN and the assertion that they’re very much in the NFL’s pocket.

But after a little digging, it’s evident that Simmons’ suspension is not the first time ESPN has acted to protect its image (and more importantly its partnerships). From the cancellation of Playmakers to Simmons’ three-week work stoppage, check out A Recent History of ESPN Bending to Outside Pressure.

Year: 2003

Back in July of 2013, ESPN announced that Rush Limbaugh would be joining the cast of Sunday NFL Countdown. Who didn’t smell disaster from the start, here? Anyway, in the show’s very first telecast on Sept. 7, Limbaugh went off on then-Eagle quarterback Donovan McNabb. Basically, Limbaugh said that media was looking for a black quarterback to prop up, and that Donovan got a lot of the credit he thought the overall team deserved. How many ESPN execs fall off their couches that Sunday?

Here’s exactly what Limbaugh said: “Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didn't deserve. The defense carried this team.”

A week after those comments, Rush reportedly resigned from the network. Whether you agree with Limbaugh’s opinion of McNabb or not—and he’s not the only personality to think McNabb was overrated, though maybe he should’ve used different words—ESPN clearly acted on the fear of being labeled a racist network.

Year: 2004

Apparently, a real examination of drugs and sex on a fictional television show was not how the NFL wanted its fans to view the league. And since Playmakers was an ESPN production, it probably didn’t take very much pressure from the league to get the network to drop the 11-week series. One call from then-commissioner of the NFL, Paul Tagliabue, to Michael Eisner at Disney, ESPN’s parent company, was all it took for this show to lose its second season before it was even a thought.

“Mission accomplished,” said ESPN executive VP Mark Shapiro. “It played to men and brought in women. We showed we don't have to be as reliant on games as we have in the past.” However, he also added, “It's our opinion that we're not in the business of antagonizing our partner, even though we've done it, and continued to carry it over the N.F.L.'s objections. To bring it back would be rubbing it in our partner's face.''

That’s like saying, "Yeah, we got it right, but dollar signs are more important than quality broadcasting."

Year: 2006

Who knew that a hug at an Outback Steakhouse could get you into so much trouble? That was reportedly the situation that landed former ESPN broadcaster Harold Reynolds in hot water with the network back in 2006. Reynolds was dismissed from the network after allegations of sexual harassment were levied by an ESPN production assistant, who claimed Reynolds touched her inappropriately.

“This was a total misunderstanding,” Reynolds said after being fired by ESPN. “My goal is to sit down and get back. To be honest with you, I gave a woman a hug and I felt like it was misinterpreted.”

This is ESPN, fam. You’re not sitting down, and you are most definitely not getting back. Before Reynolds was convicted of a crime, he was given the boot just four months into a six-year contract worth roughly $4.9 million. We’ll leave it up to you to decide if Reynolds was shown the door because it made financial sense for ESPN, especially considering there were other sexual harassment allegations floating around against Reynolds. But think about this: Just two years after they parted ways, Reynolds and ESPN settled out of court over a wrongful termination suit. Why?

Year: 2008

“Jemele has been relieved of her writing an on-air responsibilities for a period of time to reflect on the impact of her words,” an ESPN spokesman said after Hill referenced Adolf Hitler in a column she wrote about the Boston Celtics during the 2008 playoffs. Granted, she probably shouldn’t have compared the C’s with one of the most evil men in the history of the world, but these ESPN suspensions are a farce. How about the editor who allowed this article to be published? You have the freedom to speak your mind at ESPN, until there’s even the hint of public backlash, and then we never knew you.

In case you’re wondering, here’s exactly what Hill wrote: “Rooting for the Celtics is like saying Hitler was a victim. It's like hoping Gorbachev would get to the blinking red button before Reagan. Deserving or not, I still hate the Celtics.”

Not exactly comparing KG and Pierce to Himmler and Goebbels, but yes, she was probably off the mark there. What does a few weeks away from her craft and a public apology do to benefit her or ESPN in any way, though?

Year: 2009

According to an article published by NBC’s Pro Football Talk, ESPN—the leader in taking the moral high road—issued a “do not report” memo to its staff regarding the sexual assault lawsuit filed against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in 2009. Oh? It didn’t tell any of their outlets or reporters why they couldn’t report on the news of the very real lawsuit that was filed against Roethlisberger, but it just said don’t. Because, you know, they said so and what not. That’s how journalism works, right?

Year: 2010

Before we get into the reason behind Tony Kornheiser’s suspension from his show Pardon the Interruption back in 2010, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that ESPN pays this man for his snide, brash, and opinionated delivery and how he discerns sports news. Kornheiser was suspended for two weeks for comments he made regarding the attire of fellow ESPN employee Hannah Storm. Kornheiser said Storm was wearing, “a horrifying, horrifying outfit today. She’s got on red go-go boots and a Catholic school plaid skirt…way too short for somebody in her 40s or maybe early 50s by now.” We’re certainly not sure what sparked Kornheiser’s comments about Storm, but he did issue an apology afterwards. Doesn’t this come off to anyone as a case of "be yourself but only when it suits our agenda"?

Year: 2010

Back in 2010, former ESPN broadcaster Jay Mariotti was dismissed from the network after charges were made public of Mariotti allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. Mariotti faced seven misdemeanor counts in connection with the incident, but was dismissed with no plans of return before any conviction was handed down.

“We have no plans to use him at this time,” an ESPN spokesman said after Mariotti’s release from the network.

You’ve served your purpose, Jay. And before all the facts are determined, we’re just going to go ahead and let you go, big guy. Thanks!

Year: 2012

If there’s one thing we learned, specifically over the last couple of months, it’s that the NFL is king. Mess with any of their players, in any sort of way, and it’s not going to end well for you at ESPN. We’re in no way, shape, or form agreeing with the opinion that Rob Parker voiced regarding RGIII’s “blackness” a few years back on an episode of First Take, but the pattern is still clear. Parker called Griffin a “cornball brother,” and was subsequently suspended by ESPN for 30 days following his comments. Now, why Griffin’s “blackness” matters is beyond us, but Parker was expressing his opinion on First Take. He wasn’t reporting the news in any way. Is his suspension because of what he said, or because of how his employers perceived the reaction it would elicit?

Parker also had a few parting words for ESPN after his contract was officially not renewed following his suspension.

Year: 2014

Recently, Stephen A. Smith was suspended from First Take and ESPN Radio for a week, regarding the comments he made on Ray Rice’s wife’s role in the altercation that took place between the two at an Atlantic City casino a few months back. Stephen A. said women who have been or could be victims of domestic violence should not “do anything to provoke wrong actions.”

The response towards Smith’s comments was instant, most notably one from ESPN colleague Michelle Beadle, who tweeted her disgust at Stephen A.’s words. Smith apologized and tried to clarify his statement, but in the end, he couldn’t avoid the week-long suspension from ESPN’s broadcast. Ray Rice got two games initially for his actions, Stephen A. got a week for his comments.

Year: 2014

The most recent ESPN employee to feel the fist of the corporate hand is Bill Simmons. Simmons recently went on his BS Report podcast and laid into Roger Goodell and his handling of the Ray Rice situation. Simmons called Goodell a “liar,” and claimed his defense was “such f*cking bullsh*t.” Simmons finished his rant by daring ESPN to take action against him. And late yesterday, that’s exactly what they did. Simmons received a three-week suspension for his verbal rant against the commissioner, and the popular public opinion seems to be that ESPN only suspended Simmons to help their relationship with Goodell and the NFL.

“Every employee must be accountable to ESPN and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate with ESPN’s journalistic standards,” the network said following the announcement of Simmons’ suspensions. “We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria. Bill Simmons did not meet those obligations in a recent podcast, and as a result, we have suspended him for three weeks.”

Besides Roger Goodell and the NFL, who is holding you accountable, ESPN?