[Moon RiverParticipant]

I don’t always agree with Bill Simmons, but I do find him entertaining and informed.  Have to agree 100% with him on the NFL Commish rant though.

This is not original to me, but found it also on point:

Hit a joint, 1 year suspension.  Hit a spouse, 2 game suspension.  Hit the nail on the head, 3 week suspension.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 It’s about professionalism.  The amount of profanity he used during his rant was over the line and not a precedent ESPN, or any mainstream sports media outlet, would want to see set on their podcasts.

[i’m jus so offendedParticipant]

 His podcasts are for his website and there is cursing all over Grantland, not just from him.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

There’s truth to this, but it’s one thing to use profanity in normal conversation, but it’s another to use it in a tirade against a sports personality, particularly the NFL commissioner who hasn’t currently been proven to have done much wrong.  His rant was vulgar and not supported by a lot of facts and that’s a recipe for unprofessional ism and a suspension. 

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

There’s truth to this, but it’s one thing to use profanity in normal conversation, but it’s another to use it in a tirade against a sports personality, particularly the NFL commissioner who hasn’t currently been proven to have done much wrong.  His rant was vulgar and not supported by a lot of facts and that’s a recipe for unprofessional ism and a suspension. 

[i’m jus so offendedParticipant]

 His podcasts are for his website and there is cursing all over Grantland, not just from him.

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

 It’s about professionalism.  The amount of profanity he used during his rant was over the line and not a precedent ESPN, or any mainstream sports media outlet, would want to see set on their podcasts.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

found an interesting article from march of 2013 on some of the Suspensions ESPN has giving out over the past few years..didnt know mike terico was suspended for 3 months for groping female co-workers…scott van pelt suspended for calling mlb commish bud selig a pimp…dana jacobsen was suspended for being drunk at a party and using profanity…they seem to be a little unfair becuz they’ve suspended an employee for saying something that another person said,but didnt get suspended..

ESPN Suspensions: What Will Get You Suspended? A Brief and Incomplete History [UPDATES] http://shar.es/1aJfEJ via @thebiglead

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

found an interesting article from march of 2013 on some of the Suspensions ESPN has giving out over the past few years..didnt know mike terico was suspended for 3 months for groping female co-workers…scott van pelt suspended for calling mlb commish bud selig a pimp…dana jacobsen was suspended for being drunk at a party and using profanity…they seem to be a little unfair becuz they’ve suspended an employee for saying something that another person said,but didnt get suspended..

ESPN Suspensions: What Will Get You Suspended? A Brief and Incomplete History [UPDATES] http://shar.es/1aJfEJ via @thebiglead

[dcaseParticipant]

ESPNs suspensions make as much sense as the NFLs rationale for suspending players.  Steven A. Smith essentially commented on air that the women involved with domestic abuse somehow provoked it and he got suspended for 3 days (and this was only after the public was outraged by his comments).  Bill Simmons (who I can not stand) calls someone a liar and uses some profanity and he gets 3 weeks.  I would like to see what type of discipline rubric are being used by these organizations.

[machu46Participant]

I’m not even a fan of Stephen A, but his comments were taken so far out of context.  What he essentially said was that we can’t arrest someone before they’ve committed domestic violence, so the only way that we can go about preventing it is if we try to take steps to get out of situations where it could occur.

At the time that he said it, it had been reported that Janay Palmer went after Rice and was trying to hit him, and he hit her back.  Obviously that isn’t how things ended up playing out, but at the time, what Stephen A said made sense.  But once Michelle Biedel flipped out about it, it became a huge thing and his words got twisted more and more until he had to be suspended because of something he didn’t actually say.

 

[dcaseParticipant]

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/stephen-a-smith-ray-rice-domestic-violence-women

Video as well as text of what he said.  Yes he does say people can’t be arrested before they’ve committed domestic violence (as well as rambles on and on about what he would do if someone in his family was a victim of domestic violence) and does suggest ways to hopefully prevent it from happening.  But most of his rant insinuates that women shouldn’t PROVOKE these wrong actions by violent men.  No one knows exactly what Stephen A. was trying to convey or meant by his excessively long winded rant, but the way it came across was that the woman should "tip toe" around and do what she can not to upset the man in order to avoid a beat down. 

[machu46Participant]

1. The gender really isn’t relevant.  Domestic Violence is domestic violence regardless of whom is hitting whom.

2. His point was that you should do what you can to avoid dangerous situations.  Even if you do, you can still find yourself in a dangerous situation, and that doesn’t mean that you as the victim are to blame.  It just means that you were unlucky, but you can still take steps to try to mitigate the likelihood of it happening.  In this particular case, the rumor at the time was that Janay Palmer started hitting Ray Rice first.  Obviously this is not smart if you’re trying to mitigate the risk of something bad happening to you.

People simply read what he said and heard what they wanted to hear and turned it into a much bigger deal than it really was.

 

 

[dcaseParticipant]

The statistics would argue that gender is relevant.  Depending on the source/study it is estimated that up to ~85% of domestic violence victims are women.  Furthermore, his comments were directly related to women (as he puts it into the context of his female family members) and what they should do to prevent being a victim.  I agree that he could have been trying to make the point that people should do what they can to avoid dangerous situations…..he just did a poor job conveying that message and made it seem like women might be at fault for provoking the dangerous situation. 

"People simply read what he said and heard what they wanted to hear and turned it into a much bigger deal than it really was."…….. or conversely some people simply ignored his ignorant comments and brushed them off as not being insensitive and/or a big deal.  Obviously it can be viewed two different ways like most topics up for debate.

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

Just because majority of domestic violence cases are ones in which the women is the victim doesnt mean that a women beating her husband/male partner isn’t domestic violence. A man can be beaten up too, gender is irrelevant. 

[he_gets_bucketsParticipant]

Just because majority of domestic violence cases are ones in which the women is the victim doesnt mean that a women beating her husband/male partner isn’t domestic violence. A man can be beaten up too, gender is irrelevant. 

[tuck243Participant]

I’m normally with you, but this one is ridiculous.  I have been hit by plenty of women and haven’t called the police one time (I’m sure this is the case with a lot of men too), so yes gender is irrelevant here.  And that’s still domestic violence and if roles were reversed I’m sure I would’ve been in hand cuffs.  A lot of people laughed at Jay-Z and Solange in the elevator video not realizing that WAS domestic volience.   There is a double standard out there.  With that said, Stephen A. Smith did NOT say it’s ok to get hit by a man as a woman when you provoke it.  Only that a woman has a role in SOME those situations as well.   Even a rat backed into a corner will bite back at you.  By no means was he trying to say it’s the victims fault, just don’t put yourself in a situation where a person who can’t control their emotions my strike you.  

You can denounce that claim all you want, BUT I have SEEN women provoke men in ways where if it was another man doing it, then you would knock his a$$ out.  There’s no room for putting your hands on a woman, but there’s something that must be said about the esclation part.  

   

[tuck243Participant]

I’m normally with you, but this one is ridiculous.  I have been hit by plenty of women and haven’t called the police one time (I’m sure this is the case with a lot of men too), so yes gender is irrelevant here.  And that’s still domestic violence and if roles were reversed I’m sure I would’ve been in hand cuffs.  A lot of people laughed at Jay-Z and Solange in the elevator video not realizing that WAS domestic volience.   There is a double standard out there.  With that said, Stephen A. Smith did NOT say it’s ok to get hit by a man as a woman when you provoke it.  Only that a woman has a role in SOME those situations as well.   Even a rat backed into a corner will bite back at you.  By no means was he trying to say it’s the victims fault, just don’t put yourself in a situation where a person who can’t control their emotions my strike you.  

You can denounce that claim all you want, BUT I have SEEN women provoke men in ways where if it was another man doing it, then you would knock his a$$ out.  There’s no room for putting your hands on a woman, but there’s something that must be said about the esclation part.  

   

[dcaseParticipant]

The statistics would argue that gender is relevant.  Depending on the source/study it is estimated that up to ~85% of domestic violence victims are women.  Furthermore, his comments were directly related to women (as he puts it into the context of his female family members) and what they should do to prevent being a victim.  I agree that he could have been trying to make the point that people should do what they can to avoid dangerous situations…..he just did a poor job conveying that message and made it seem like women might be at fault for provoking the dangerous situation. 

"People simply read what he said and heard what they wanted to hear and turned it into a much bigger deal than it really was."…….. or conversely some people simply ignored his ignorant comments and brushed them off as not being insensitive and/or a big deal.  Obviously it can be viewed two different ways like most topics up for debate.

[machu46Participant]

1. The gender really isn’t relevant.  Domestic Violence is domestic violence regardless of whom is hitting whom.

2. His point was that you should do what you can to avoid dangerous situations.  Even if you do, you can still find yourself in a dangerous situation, and that doesn’t mean that you as the victim are to blame.  It just means that you were unlucky, but you can still take steps to try to mitigate the likelihood of it happening.  In this particular case, the rumor at the time was that Janay Palmer started hitting Ray Rice first.  Obviously this is not smart if you’re trying to mitigate the risk of something bad happening to you.

People simply read what he said and heard what they wanted to hear and turned it into a much bigger deal than it really was.

 

 

[dcaseParticipant]

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/07/stephen-a-smith-ray-rice-domestic-violence-women

Video as well as text of what he said.  Yes he does say people can’t be arrested before they’ve committed domestic violence (as well as rambles on and on about what he would do if someone in his family was a victim of domestic violence) and does suggest ways to hopefully prevent it from happening.  But most of his rant insinuates that women shouldn’t PROVOKE these wrong actions by violent men.  No one knows exactly what Stephen A. was trying to convey or meant by his excessively long winded rant, but the way it came across was that the woman should "tip toe" around and do what she can not to upset the man in order to avoid a beat down. 

[machu46Participant]

I’m not even a fan of Stephen A, but his comments were taken so far out of context.  What he essentially said was that we can’t arrest someone before they’ve committed domestic violence, so the only way that we can go about preventing it is if we try to take steps to get out of situations where it could occur.

At the time that he said it, it had been reported that Janay Palmer went after Rice and was trying to hit him, and he hit her back.  Obviously that isn’t how things ended up playing out, but at the time, what Stephen A said made sense.  But once Michelle Biedel flipped out about it, it became a huge thing and his words got twisted more and more until he had to be suspended because of something he didn’t actually say.

 

[dcaseParticipant]

ESPNs suspensions make as much sense as the NFLs rationale for suspending players.  Steven A. Smith essentially commented on air that the women involved with domestic abuse somehow provoked it and he got suspended for 3 days (and this was only after the public was outraged by his comments).  Bill Simmons (who I can not stand) calls someone a liar and uses some profanity and he gets 3 weeks.  I would like to see what type of discipline rubric are being used by these organizations.

[machu46Participant]

I love Simmons, but he deservedly was suspended for this.

The media has reported that Simmons was suspended because he called Goodell a liar, but that is not what ESPN said in their statement, and it doesn’t make sense at all if you look at the way ESPN has reported on this Ray Rice incident.  They’ve trashed the NFL/Goodell/the Ravens pretty much 24/7 since the story came out, but suspended Simmons because he said Goodell is a liar?

More likely, it was the fact that Simmons went completely off the rails on his podcast, and then flat out told ESPN that he’s bigger than them and dared them to suspend him.  They simply called his bluff to set the precedent that if you’re going to trash the NFL, you better come with the facts when you do it.  If you just spout off baseless claims and then threaten your boss, they will punish you for it.

 

 

[machu46Participant]

I love Simmons, but he deservedly was suspended for this.

The media has reported that Simmons was suspended because he called Goodell a liar, but that is not what ESPN said in their statement, and it doesn’t make sense at all if you look at the way ESPN has reported on this Ray Rice incident.  They’ve trashed the NFL/Goodell/the Ravens pretty much 24/7 since the story came out, but suspended Simmons because he said Goodell is a liar?

More likely, it was the fact that Simmons went completely off the rails on his podcast, and then flat out told ESPN that he’s bigger than them and dared them to suspend him.  They simply called his bluff to set the precedent that if you’re going to trash the NFL, you better come with the facts when you do it.  If you just spout off baseless claims and then threaten your boss, they will punish you for it.

 

 

[Andrew1984Participant]

I understand that sports media figures want to diversify and they don’t want to be pigeon-holed, but I enjoy Bill Simmons’ input on the NBA and the NBA only. Specifically, I enjoy reading what he has to say about roster construction, cap space, trades, and overall entertainment. I would enjoy his writing even more if he used less profanity. I find it immature and completely unnecessary.

There are people I enjoy listening to about the NFL, but Bill Simmons is not one of them. When sports media personalities get away from their strength and outside of their comfort zone, I tune out.

[Andrew1984Participant]

I understand that sports media figures want to diversify and they don’t want to be pigeon-holed, but I enjoy Bill Simmons’ input on the NBA and the NBA only. Specifically, I enjoy reading what he has to say about roster construction, cap space, trades, and overall entertainment. I would enjoy his writing even more if he used less profanity. I find it immature and completely unnecessary.

There are people I enjoy listening to about the NFL, but Bill Simmons is not one of them. When sports media personalities get away from their strength and outside of their comfort zone, I tune out.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

Dare your employer to suspend you and in most cases you will get fired. Simmons is the exception, he knows it and ESPN knows it. They are not going to completely severe ties because he is still relevant and he brings them money. He probably was just looking for a vacation.

Being realistic, the NFL is one of those hands that feed ESPN. Most of their employers have an idea of what they can get away with. The NFL brings ESPN way more access and money than Simmons ever will or can. So he gets the suspension. This is nothing about standards or integrity. ESPN used to be fantastic and were on top of real sports stories with some really great people. Now it is basicall TMZ for sports and Simmons is a big part of that sideshow element.

  

[doubledribblerParticipant]

Dare your employer to suspend you and in most cases you will get fired. Simmons is the exception, he knows it and ESPN knows it. They are not going to completely severe ties because he is still relevant and he brings them money. He probably was just looking for a vacation.

Being realistic, the NFL is one of those hands that feed ESPN. Most of their employers have an idea of what they can get away with. The NFL brings ESPN way more access and money than Simmons ever will or can. So he gets the suspension. This is nothing about standards or integrity. ESPN used to be fantastic and were on top of real sports stories with some really great people. Now it is basicall TMZ for sports and Simmons is a big part of that sideshow element.

  

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I’ve read Simmons stuff for a long time.  I’ve read the Book of Basketball, which was a very entertaining book apart from the classic Bill Simmons homerism.  I think he’s a great writer.  He’s that one friend in your crew that can be funny and annoying at the same time.  I think his suspension is mostly funny because..

  A) It’s an over the top punishment.  Someone gave him that length just because they could.   And

 B) It’s Bill Simmons.

Neither of those is what intrigues me most about this situation though.  If anybody is a long time Bill Simmons reader, you may remember a few years back he wrote an article about how someone should come up with this website about sports and pop culture and yadayada.  He basically wrote an article about his business plan with Grantland going forward.  Sure enough it happened.  

He was writing for ESPN then, Grantland is always referenced, and in partnership with ESPN.  As a fan of Grantland I wonder how much, if any does Bill Simmons own, or what ESPN owns.  Does anybody know this??  I don’t imagine Simmons learning a lesson from this, in fact I only imagine him pushing more buttons which should be good.  His wit, matched with his ever growing ego should make for some good comedy.  

Point being, I wonder if they can push him out of his site, Grantland?

 

 

  

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 I’ve read Simmons stuff for a long time.  I’ve read the Book of Basketball, which was a very entertaining book apart from the classic Bill Simmons homerism.  I think he’s a great writer.  He’s that one friend in your crew that can be funny and annoying at the same time.  I think his suspension is mostly funny because..

  A) It’s an over the top punishment.  Someone gave him that length just because they could.   And

 B) It’s Bill Simmons.

Neither of those is what intrigues me most about this situation though.  If anybody is a long time Bill Simmons reader, you may remember a few years back he wrote an article about how someone should come up with this website about sports and pop culture and yadayada.  He basically wrote an article about his business plan with Grantland going forward.  Sure enough it happened.  

He was writing for ESPN then, Grantland is always referenced, and in partnership with ESPN.  As a fan of Grantland I wonder how much, if any does Bill Simmons own, or what ESPN owns.  Does anybody know this??  I don’t imagine Simmons learning a lesson from this, in fact I only imagine him pushing more buttons which should be good.  His wit, matched with his ever growing ego should make for some good comedy.  

Point being, I wonder if they can push him out of his site, Grantland?

 

 

  

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

People who think he should get suspended, I guess are under the assumption that the NFL OWNS ESPN.  Ok, maybe they do.  Maybe they call the shots.  But, shouldn’t ESPN be the provider of sports coverage, not the NFL’s/NCAA’s/NBA’s mouthpiece?

Then you have the ESPN vs. Grantland thing that nobody understands.  Is Grantland separate?  ESPN tries to play it both ways.  

ESPN has a great name but so does Bill Simmons.

If I were Simmons, I would start my OWN website with a blog and podcasts and see if anyone comes over to help.  If not, it would be all Simmons All the time.

Then I would try to get a deal with TNT and just do the NBA exclusively.  Or, on select college basketball games during March Madness.

If he wants to keep doing wrestling then maybe try to do some things with the WWE.  The WWE could use a high profile guy like Bill Simmons especially a guy with his talent in writing.  Simmons could be the "official" rasslin’ writer and blogger, do some awesome podcasts, then work in some skits or call some matches.  

He should do TNT and concentrate on the NBA.

OR, do WWE.  They could both help each other out.

Just have an INDEPENDENT blog, website, and podcast.

Hopefully, he could cover the NBA AND WWE, but if not he could pick one and be fine.

ESPN is turning into a joke.

Bill Simmons could come out winning this thing.

I also don’t really care for Simmons’ NFL and football stuff anyway.  He is an NBA guy.  I don’t think he "gets" football.  But, I guess he has to cover whatever ESPN wants him to cover.  

He should get away from ESPN, move to TNT or join forces with the WWE and get more creative control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

People who think he should get suspended, I guess are under the assumption that the NFL OWNS ESPN.  Ok, maybe they do.  Maybe they call the shots.  But, shouldn’t ESPN be the provider of sports coverage, not the NFL’s/NCAA’s/NBA’s mouthpiece?

Then you have the ESPN vs. Grantland thing that nobody understands.  Is Grantland separate?  ESPN tries to play it both ways.  

ESPN has a great name but so does Bill Simmons.

If I were Simmons, I would start my OWN website with a blog and podcasts and see if anyone comes over to help.  If not, it would be all Simmons All the time.

Then I would try to get a deal with TNT and just do the NBA exclusively.  Or, on select college basketball games during March Madness.

If he wants to keep doing wrestling then maybe try to do some things with the WWE.  The WWE could use a high profile guy like Bill Simmons especially a guy with his talent in writing.  Simmons could be the "official" rasslin’ writer and blogger, do some awesome podcasts, then work in some skits or call some matches.  

He should do TNT and concentrate on the NBA.

OR, do WWE.  They could both help each other out.

Just have an INDEPENDENT blog, website, and podcast.

Hopefully, he could cover the NBA AND WWE, but if not he could pick one and be fine.

ESPN is turning into a joke.

Bill Simmons could come out winning this thing.

I also don’t really care for Simmons’ NFL and football stuff anyway.  He is an NBA guy.  I don’t think he "gets" football.  But, I guess he has to cover whatever ESPN wants him to cover.  

He should get away from ESPN, move to TNT or join forces with the WWE and get more creative control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RooneyParticipant]

"I’ll just go to WWE because I hate ESPN but I don’t know a single thing about WWE."- Bill the Chill Simmons

[RooneyParticipant]

"I’ll just go to WWE because I hate ESPN but I don’t know a single thing about WWE."- Bill the Chill Simmons

[Magic JordanParticipant]

You Act as if wwe is some complex sport to grasp…. 

[Magic JordanParticipant]

You Act as if wwe is some complex sport to grasp…. 

[Ghost01Participant]

My biggest problem wth the suspension is the prescendence it sets.

Simmons was stating his opinion. Cursing is common on his website, and people fail to acknowledge this cursing was censored. 

He challenged espn because he was purely stating his opinion, one he is entitled to.

the simmons/espn relationship is strictly a business transaction. Espn would rather not put up with him, but he gets web clicks. Grantland would be a better site, and Simmons could more freely express his feelings on things of they weren’t connected to espn. But then he wouldn’t make as much money, and his 30 for 30 involvement would be toast and his BFF jalen would be put in an awkward spot.

i wish espn would let grantland be grantland. It’s not G rated, it doesn’t need to follow the espn protocol. If employees can’t understand that difference it’s on them. Stop being salty and controlling and let it be. No one was offended by his Goodell thoughts, nor should they have been. 

 

[Ghost01Participant]

My biggest problem wth the suspension is the prescendence it sets.

Simmons was stating his opinion. Cursing is common on his website, and people fail to acknowledge this cursing was censored. 

He challenged espn because he was purely stating his opinion, one he is entitled to.

the simmons/espn relationship is strictly a business transaction. Espn would rather not put up with him, but he gets web clicks. Grantland would be a better site, and Simmons could more freely express his feelings on things of they weren’t connected to espn. But then he wouldn’t make as much money, and his 30 for 30 involvement would be toast and his BFF jalen would be put in an awkward spot.

i wish espn would let grantland be grantland. It’s not G rated, it doesn’t need to follow the espn protocol. If employees can’t understand that difference it’s on them. Stop being salty and controlling and let it be. No one was offended by his Goodell thoughts, nor should they have been. 

 

[Ghost01Participant]

Ps this is a channel that continues to enable skip bayless to rip people for no reason all the time. But he keeps it family friendly, even if in doing so he is actively making sports fans less intelligent. 

[Ghost01Participant]

Ps this is a channel that continues to enable skip bayless to rip people for no reason all the time. But he keeps it family friendly, even if in doing so he is actively making sports fans less intelligent. 

[Author]

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