You really are fast, J.R. I'm usually the last to know, but I just saw this on twitter. I really liked some of Grantland, even though I'm not a big Simmons fan. I always wondered how on Earth anyone thought it was a profitable platform though. "Hey, let's write long, thoughtful articles for the 0.3% of the population who enjoys reading long, thoughtful articles! Maybe we can horn in on The Atlantic's readership!"
After careful consideration malakas has decided that espn is now complete trash that doesn't deserve any clicks or attention. I hope that Lowe follows Simmons to HBO and continues his articles. I will read them since he's the best nba writer. ESPN can keep the clowns and the a$$holes it employs so braindead people can visit it -broader audience-.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">All <a href="https://twitter.com/Grantland33">@Grantland33</a> writers will have their contracts honored; intent is to use sports writers on other <a href="https://twitter.com/espn">@espn</a> platforms.</p>— James Andrew Miller (@JimMiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimMiller/status/660158782408949760">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RIP Grantland. <a href="https://t.co/uvcpS0wya8">https://t.co/uvcpS0wya8</a></p>— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/660156083374305280">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Several dozen of the best writers and editors in the country just found out they were fired via a press release. This is a tough business.</p>— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) <a href="https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/660157527380860929">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The only ones worth reading were: Bill Barnwell Robert Mays John Keri Kirk Goldsberry as far as sports was concerned
ESPN is laying off more people: http://espnmediazone.com/us/174517-2/ <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's crazy to think a site as great as Grantland is being shut down, but then again ESPN is involved so of course. The idiocracy wins.</p>— Frank Madden (@brewhoop) <a href="https://twitter.com/brewhoop/status/660159641729429505">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
RIP Grantland. They had by far the most in-depth NBA coverage of any site. Meanwhile, ESPN's regular NBA site is now nothing but made-up stories and content they cut and paste from TV teleprompters. Hopefully, Simmons uses this as a chance to talk HBO into hiring some of his better writers there (Lowe, Goldsberry) and other young talent excited about the NBA.
They're not fired. ESPN is honoring their contracts. I suspect many will leave for other venues though, especially the non-sports writers. Too bad, despite all its hot air I usually enjoyed Grantland. This is just the continually increasing irrelevancy of BSPN.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">hi</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/660154603804221445">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cancel that Lowe Post, <a href="https://twitter.com/coachthorpe">@coachthorpe</a>. Tuesday column was gonna be fun, too. Return of the 10 Things I Like and Don't Like!</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/660155225366470656">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">/turns phone off</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/660155653084700672">October 30, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It's amazing and sad at the same time how the one time giant of sports coverage... ESPN... is now on the same level as "Bleacher Report" with its level of coverage of the 4 major sports. How the mighty have fallen indeed.
I like Lowe, too, mainly because he's thorough. He seems to get burnt out occasionally, and starts writing about topics like mascots and PA systems. But he's the only regular writer who seems to actually understand the salary cap and CBA. May not always be an exciting read, but usually informative.
I hope J.R or someone else or hupu is kind enough to repost whatever Lowe posts in his articles coz I personally I'm not clicking on that site. And wish that Lowe at least would resign rather than have to write, make podcasts,speak along the likes of Amin"the troll" Elltrashan, Chad Fraud, Kevin -I am only a mathematician - Pelton, and SArS.