ESPN suspends Bill Simmons from Twitter for First Take critique
Last week, we covered Bill Simmons' Twitter criticism of a First Take incident, in which Richard Sherman went after Skip Bayless like a champ.
Simmons went quickly from "just change the channel" to "everyone lost" and the network has, according to Deadspin's John Koblin, suspended Simmons from Twitter:
"ESPN has suspended Simmons from Twitter for a few days after he called the Skip Bayless-Richard Sherman First Take meltdown last week awful and embarrassing. An ESPN source told me that the tweets violated ESPN's social media guidelines; Simmons was told to lie low for a few days. He hasn't tweeted since Tuesday, and he'll apparently be allowed to return to Twitter tomorrow, making it a three-day hiatus."
This is not the first time Simmons has been suspended from Twitter, with the first one coming in 2009. That suspension was the result of him calling an ESPN affiliated radio network, "deceitful scumbags."
ESPN's guidelines for tweeting are along the lines of thinking before you tweet and re-tweet, don't break news, etc. I am assuming the violating in question with Simmons going at Skip Bayless and First Take was with regards to the following rule:
• At all times, exercise discretion, thoughtfulness and respect for colleagues, business associates and fans.
Regardless of the specifics of the suspension, it's a huge story for ESPN to discipline Bill SImmons, who has been named the most powerful man in sports media by Sports Illustrated. You can argue this is a clear choice by ESPN in taking Skip Bayless' side over Bill Simmons. It also says a lot about Bristol that they were willing to discipline their biggest name for daring to speak out against the atrocity that is First Take. Nobody is above protecting the four letters, not even Bill Simmons. I guess "Embrace Debate" has its limits.
[Deadspin]
@justin_ternes @awfulannouncing time for @BillSimmons to role solo. F ESPN...Bayless is such garbage I can't believe they're protecting him
%s wow. Suspended from twitter? Hope Bill Simmons and his followers can get through this dramatic situation. %s
%s Simmons suspended from Twitter by ESPN this week for accurately criticizing First Take. %sb%sons
@awfulannouncing Cracks me up. 1st Take used 2 B somewhat respectable, but now..Bill should just not watch. I predict he goes elsewhere soon
@awfulannouncing Criticizing one's employer can lead to internal discipline when there are guidelines for such. News at 11.
@awfulannouncing Bad decision by the suits at ESPN. He's a huge asset...and he said nothing wrong.
@awfulannouncing ESPN sucks anymore. 1st take is a bullshit show that embarrasses itself everyday. Skip & Stephen A are douche bags
“@awfulannouncing: Bill Simmons was suspended from Twitter by ESPN for criticizing First Take. bit.ly\/WKrcnKHx@mkabbottott
@BrandonWillyams yeah I thought that was stupid Sherman was just going off the deep end but I bet the nfl doesn't fine or suspend him
@awfulannouncing yet nothing happened to Mike Greenberg when he made his "Martin Luther Coon Day" slip.
@awfulannouncing @koblin Way to go ESPN suspend a guy who speaks the truth about a god awful show like first take.
@jamcoux @awfulannouncing @koblin @BillSimmons yea it is. Too bad Simmons can't keep doing it
RT @sa2ny2004: ESPN suspends Bill Simmons from Twitter for First Take critique awfulannouncing.com\/2013\/march\/esp…CVQ v@awfulannouncinging”
@Kevin_A_Powell Did you see that segment? It was terrible. I'm not a fan of first take to begin with but that was embarassing.
@whatMike84lunch I just read about it. I don't watch the show. And Simmons just spoke the truth.
@Kevin_A_Powell yeah I don't like the show either, I watched the segment, it was dumb. Sherman sounded sgupid
@awfulannouncing @koblin I haven't watched Cold Pizza since Bayless said hockey players werent athletes after the Sabres-Pens Winter Classi
@awfulannouncing as an Aussie can I explain Skip Bayliss plays to every negative stereotype that foreigners have of Americans
Retweeted by Bill Simmons “@ozsportsdude: @awfulannouncing as Aussie, Bayliss plays to every - stereotype foreigners have of Americans”
@ozsportsdude @awfulannouncing all he is missing is the morbid obesity. For all Americans I am sorry
@markmoore9517 mate I love the US but when ppl see Bayliss who hate America they come to me and say "See, how can you like them ppl"
@ozsportsdude @awfulannouncing I would gladly trade him for a case of Fosters and Silverchair`s greatest hits
@ozsportsdude @awfulannouncing he plays to every negative stereotype Americans have about Americans
@amat87 thanks for proving my point , and 4 the record I love the US & Americans but ppl like U & Bayliss make it tough 4 me 2 defend the US
@ozsportsdude @awfulannouncing know the great thing about Americans? we dont give a fuck what foreigners think..although I do hate Bayless
@cadillaccannon @awfulannouncing mate, I love America but itmakes it hard for me defend the US to antiamerican friends when Bayliss exists
