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ESPN Pulls Plug On Grantland
October 30, 2015 at 11:52 AM (PT)
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ESPN has abruptly suspended publication of GRANTLAND, the sports and pop culture website and podcast network formerly headed by BILL SIMMONS before his controversial departure for HBO earlier this year.
In a terse press release, ESPN said, "Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of GRANTLAND. After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.
"GRANTLAND distinguished itself with quality writing, smart ideas, original thinking and fun. We are grateful to those who made it so. BILL SIMMONS was passionately committed to the site and proved to be an outstanding editor with a real eye for talent. Thanks to all the other writers, editors and staff who worked very hard to create content with an identifiable sensibility and consistent intelligence and quality. We also extend our thanks to CHRIS CONNELLY who stepped in to help us maintain the site these past five months as he returns to his prior role.
"Despite this change, the legacy of smart long-form sports story-telling and innovative short form video content will continue, finding a home on many of our other ESPN platforms."
The site was home to a podcast network that spawned "JALEN AND JACOBY," now an evening show on ESPN RADIO, plus several others hosted by GRANTLAND staffers like baseball expert JONAH KERI, basketball columnist ZACH LOWE, pop culture writer ANDY GREENWALD, and football writers BILL BARNWELL and ROBERT MAYS.