Say Goodbye to those ESPN Personalities Ya'll Love So Much: Official ESPN Layoffs Thread

[The_Sheff]

Yeah, the problem is that ESPN's national shows really are just their TV shows, but on the radio, in regards to content. And if we're being real, if you listen to local sports radio in 2023, you don't necessarily care to hear about national stories. You want to hear about YOUR teams, or hear about the national stuff from more of a local viewpoint. Forcing listeners to have to even have an option for that until as late as 10AM in some markets is putting ESPN Radio affiliated channels at a pretty big disadvantage.



Yep, SEC went to ESPN, CBS is splitting the Big Ten rights with Fox and NBC.

The problem with ESPN radio is they don’t have personalities good for radio and they are unable to speak on a sport as a whole. All they do is repeat the same headline topics over and over and over. When they even attempt to talk about something other than the top dog they are woefully out of place.

It’s also not the best to hire arrogant former players as the lead because they can’t pivot to other sports and they can’t handle an opinion other than theirs on the sport they used to play. For example you can’t tell Keyshawn shyt with football, he ain’t trying to hear it. Bruh will spout off something completely asinine and when it’s challenged he immediately goes to “well how many passes did you catch”. ESPN shows also are allergic to taking calls.

I have a rotation of people I listen to on Sirius and they are all entertaining and able to take shyt from callers when they are wrong. The only athletes of the bunch are Scal and Eddie Johnson on NBA Radio. And both of them are great with interacting with the guests and talking about ALL THE TEAMS.


It’s like ever since PTI hit the scene every show is a 2 hour PTI with varying levels of hot takes. PTI works in 30 minute blocks, not the entire day.

 

[NYC Rebel]

My boy (who ironically introduced me to sohh) survived the cuts as an ESPN producer.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

Ya’ll not understanding Kendrick’s appeal

He’s funny and he has that bamma country accent

He has all them country sayings

Basically ESPN has their own Chuckster

 

[Street Knowledge]

Sometimes we forget Only a very tiny percentage of athletes ever get those cush analyst/commentator/announcing gigs, and even for those most of those guys it’s a temporary thing, it’s not long term.

For example how many athletes you saw commenting/analyzing/broadcasting about nba/nfl/mlb 10-15 years ago on various networks from ESPN to CBS who have flat out disappeared? They got replaced by a new set of athletes. You get the bag for a few years(if you are one of the lucky ones) but then have to find something else to do.

 

[mastermind]

Sometimes we forget Only a very tiny percentage of athletes ever get those cush analyst/commentator/announcing gigs, and even for those most of those guys it’s a temporary thing, it’s not long term.

For example how many athletes you saw commenting/analyzing/broadcasting about nba/nfl/mlb 10-15 years ago on various networks from ESPN to CBS who have flat out disappeared? They got replaced by a new set of athletes. You get the bag for a few years(if you are one of the lucky ones) but then have to find something else to do.

I remember how big of a deal it was that Fox got Ronnie Lott for the pregame show. He was gone after a year.

Same with Joe Montana on NBC, who was bad. He was gone after two years.


Your name may get you in, but if you aren't deemed valuable you are out.

 

[jadillac]

Sometimes we forget Only a very tiny percentage of athletes ever get those cush analyst/commentator/announcing gigs, and even for those most of those guys it’s a temporary thing, it’s not long term.

For example how many athletes you saw commenting/analyzing/broadcasting about nba/nfl/mlb 10-15 years ago on various networks from ESPN to CBS who have flat out disappeared? They got replaced by a new set of athletes. You get the bag for a few years(if you are one of the lucky ones) but then have to find something else to do.

You have a new wave of talent such as RG3, Orlovsky, McElroy etc

They probably aren't getting paid as much yet and are better than paying some of these longtime employees $3mil a year or more.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

Sometimes we forget Only a very tiny percentage of athletes ever get those cush analyst/commentator/announcing gigs, and even for those most of those guys it’s a temporary thing, it’s not long term.

For example how many athletes you saw commenting/analyzing/broadcasting about nba/nfl/mlb 10-15 years ago on various networks from ESPN to CBS who have flat out disappeared? They got replaced by a new set of athletes. You get the bag for a few years(if you are one of the lucky ones) but then have to find something else to do.

It shows how good OJ Simpson was...he was easily the top former athlete on NBC broadcasting and was really good at it. He'd be Hof status if his ex hadn't gotten caught up with that Colombian death squad

 

[mastermind]

It shows how good OJ Simpson was...he was easily the top former athlete on NBC broadcasting and was really good at it. He'd be Hof status if his ex hadn't gotten caught up with that Colombian death squad

He wasn’t good at it.

He went from the Monday Night Football booth after he retired, to the NBC studio team to the sidelines. Those are all demotions.

He only lasted because he was a mega c00n.

Lynn Swann was someone who was good at the gig.

Frank Gifford and Pat Summerall as well.

An underrated good one is Ron Pitts who went from the sidelines to color guy to now doing play by play.

 

[Ed MOTHERFUCKING G]

He wasn’t good at it.

He went from the Monday Night Football booth after he retired, to the NBC studio team to the sidelines. Those are all demotions.

He only lasted because he was a mega c00n.

Lynn Swann was someone who was good at the gig.

Frank Gifford and Pat Summerall as well.

An underrated good one is Ron Pitts who went from the sidelines to color guy to now doing play by play.

I remember him being good but yes Lynn Swann and Gifford were definitely better

 

[yseJ]

Don’t give a F abt NFL, but Kimes is one of the few legit figures in that sport. Checks every box, would get max deal elsewhere as mentioned, and gives them actual entertainment (which I don’t think many of their former or current NFL heads give much of) plus worthwhile intellectual analysis of football

Idk why you wouldn’t run full NFL coverage through her, as long she could take the burden

I'd run cover zero through her @Bryan Danielson

 

[RammerJammer]

nvm

 

[mastermind]

I remember him being good but yes Lynn Swann and Gifford were definitely better

Nostalgia

He kept going backwards

 

[Kenny West]

You have a new wave of talent such as RG3, Orlovsky, McElroy etc

They probably aren't getting paid as much yet and are better than paying some of these longtime employees $3mil a year or more.

They kept RG3 after his gaffes

 

[Rapmastermind]

I just saw all the names. Damn why are they cleaning house so bad. It's like the last five years they just been slicing talent left and right. But they even gave Max and Keyshawn the boot too, Damn.

 

[Dilltastic VolWon(derful)]

I just saw all the names. Damn why are they cleaning house so bad. It's like the last five years they just been slicing talent left and right. But they even gave Max and Keyshawn the boot too, Damn.

ESPN is losing money for Disney so shareholders are telling The Board to cut costs.

The easiest way to cut costs at a network = reducing headcount