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[Man God]

Before the 2004 lockout? They absolutely were. NHL 2Night, multiple games broadcast every week, playoff broadcasts, features on Sportcenter, etc.

The NHL had pretty good status at ESPN, due more so to the Northeastern-raised ESPN execs' affinity for the sport than to the NHL's ability to generate revenue for ESPN. But after the lockout that all changed. And it's no surprise that the NBA has seen a meteoric rise since then, while the NHL has maintained as a relatively-niche sport. ESPN's influence was pretty big, and the NHL suffered from losing it.

I'm not suggesting that the NHL would be anywhere near the NBA's current position if there hadn't been a lockout and ESPN had kept them, but I'm certain they'd be in a better position than they are now. It'll always be a niche sport that mainly appeals to the northern states and Canada, but ESPN's continued promotion would have increased its status.

I was mainly talking about the period after the second lockout, yeah. NHL playoffs wouldn't even be covered on sportscenter instead they'd spend half the show on the last regular season Basketball games. Got even worse when both were in playoffs.

 

[Roland_Gunner]

TrueHoop cancelled & Henry Abbott fired?


Nooooooooooooo

 

[Slo]

I'd be all over a Bomani and Pablo show.

 

[Sandfox]

Marc Stein is gone. I'm absolutely shocked about that one.

 

[TangoAlphaLima]

Marc Stein is gone. I'm absolutely shocked about that one.

That is a weird one. NBA is big for ESPN, and they didn't have many cuts to that group. He was always good on Lowe's pod.

 

[Black Mamba]

Marc Stein is gone. I'm absolutely shocked about that one.

Unreal. Nobody in ESPN had better sources than Marc Stein. Only one in the business better than him was Woj. I guess this leaves Shelbourne & Lowe as the last guys with real sources in the league to break things.

I honestly can't remember a time when ESPN NBA didn't have Stein. So weird.

 

[Anth0ny]

Marc Stein is gone. I'm absolutely shocked about that one.

holy shit!

 

[Patryn]

Unreal. Nobody in ESPN had better sources than Marc Stein. Only one in the business better than him was Woj. I guess this leaves Shelbourne & Lowe as the last guys with real sources in the league to break things.

I honestly can't remember a time when ESPN NBA didn't have Stein. So weird.

Deadspin reported back in February that ESPN was getting close to finishing a deal luring Woj away from Yahoo, but it would take a few months to iron out the details

If that was accurate, this makes a bit more sense.

 

[Black Mamba]

Deadspin reported back in February that ESPN was getting close to finishing a deal luring Woj away from Yahoo, but it would take a few months to iron out the details

If that was accurate, this makes a bit more sense.

That rumor was a while ago now and it hasn't happened. And seeing as how expensive Woj and whatever project he'd bring would be, it would run counter to what ESPN is doing right now with these layoffs. Maybe it happens but why not have both? Those two with Shelbourne would cover the entire NBA insider circle...

Henry Abbott basically invented NBA blogging and looking into advanced stats, etc. Sigh. (note: not the stats, bringing it to the mainstream from those of us in the old Seattle board)

Man. This sucks. Marc Stein won't get to write the final Dirk piece on ESPN. What the fuck is this shit?

 

[Cybit]

Wonder if Simmons is going to use this as a chance to grab the folks he liked from ESPN (Stein, etc)

 

[Plinko]

Marc Stein is gone. I'm absolutely shocked about that one.

I'm completely stunned.

 

[Black Mamba]

Wonder if Simmons is going to use this as a chance to grab the folks he liked from ESPN (Stein, etc)

If he can grab Barnwell, Lowe, Stein, and Pelton, ESPN is useless to me.

 

[WesternHeretic]

Wonder if Simmons is going to use this as a chance to grab the folks he liked from ESPN (Stein, etc)

What does he even have right now beside his podcast? Didn't HBO cancel his show?

 

[Dsyndrome]

Mark May (CFB analyst) was fired yesterday:
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/report-college-football-analyst-mark-may-laid-off-espn/

 

[TheCochese]

Mark May (CFB analyst) was fired yesterday:
https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/report-college-football-analyst-mark-may-laid-off-espn/

And not a single tear was shed.

 

[Cybit]

If he can grab Barnwell, Lowe, Stein, and Pelton, ESPN is useless to me.

Barnwell and Lowe he can't, Stein he can, might be able to get Pelton as well. The NFL coverage on Ringer has been getting better, but the NBA coverage is terrible. Also their pop-culture folks are ex-gawker level bad, ugh.

 

[Sandfox]

Unreal. Nobody in ESPN had better sources than Marc Stein. Only one in the business better than him was Woj. I guess this leaves Shelbourne & Lowe as the last guys with real sources in the league to break things.

I honestly can't remember a time when ESPN NBA didn't have Stein. So weird.

We all know Shelbourne's one source is Janie Buss(Who is close to Jeanie).

 

[Black Mamba]

Barnwell and Lowe he can't, Stein he can, might be able to get Pelton as well. The NFL coverage on Ringer has been getting better, but the NBA coverage is terrible. Also their pop-culture folks are ex-gawker level bad, ugh.

i was just stating what i have left at espn, not that lowe and barnwell could go (they just re-signed last year IIRC).

 

[Zackat]

wow at Marc Stein

 

[obijkenobi]

If he can grab Barnwell, Lowe, Stein, and Pelton, ESPN is useless to me.

Lowe and Stein would be great.

 

[UFO]

I gave up on ESPN when they split up SVP & Russillo. That was the best thing on the radio, why would you fuck it up.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Henry Abbott and Marc Stein wowowowowowow

 

[Anth0ny]

Wonder if Simmons is going to use this as a chance to grab the folks he liked from ESPN (Stein, etc)

He can make the sports journalist equivalent of giant bomb.

 

[transience]

Dirk outlasted Steiny Mo. That's nuts.

 

[cartographer]

Wonder if Simmons is going to use this as a chance to grab the folks he liked from ESPN (Stein, etc)

With what budget?

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Stein doesn't really fit with what the Ringer does unless he wants to completely change direction.

 

[Violence Jack]

Stein and Mark May?

Wow

 

[jbug617]

Stein doesn't really fit with what the Ringer does unless he wants to completely change direction.

It could be a temporary thing until Stein finds something more permanent. Give Stein a podcast to talk about Basketball or Soccer.

 

[Hasphat'sAnts]

Basketball writing wouldn't be what it is today without True Hoop.

It's up there with Baseball Prospectus

 

[Cybit]

i was just stating what i have left at espn, not that lowe and barnwell could go (they just re-signed last year IIRC).

Ahh gotcha. Yeah, Barnwell, Lowe, Pelton, Adande, Olney, and the Football Outsiders / PFF articles are pretty much the only things left for me.

With what budget?

That HBO budget. Ringer has really high salaries for the industry.

 

[Arc]

Simmons tweeted about Stein. I wouldn't be surprised if he brings him to the Ringer at some point.

 

[AstroLad]

Simmons tweeted about Stein. I wouldn't be surprised if he brings him to the Ringer at some point.

That would be amazing. Ringer would really benefit from someone like him.

 

[the_firewithin]

Stein and Mark May?

Wow

Mark may? Wow who is gonna slobber over usc now.....oh wait everybody else

 

[jbug617]

Chad Ford gone

 

[Sandfox]

Chad Ford gone

I don't know how to feel about this.

 

[Lazy vs Crazy]

Stein is the second best NBA guy in the business behind Woj. This one makes no sense. I guess ESPN only cares about the NFL.

 

[Faddy]

Getting rid of Stein is a clear indication ESPN is moving away from reporting. They will do prestige stuff like OTL but otherwise they will be running press releases and scraping teams twitter feeds.

 

[bluehat9]

Is Ryen Russillo gone? Saw Kanell is gone and had off work today and saw the show wasn't on tv.

 

[Two Words]

Amin Elhassen is probably hoping he hasn't burned too many bridges with all of his #HateHard in the NBA right about now.

 

[Bubble Metropolis]

I'm stunned that Stein is gone.

 

[slightconfuse]

Chad Ford gone too.

They are letting a lot of good people go

 

[I3rand0]

Is Ryen Russillo gone? Saw Kanell is gone and had off work today and saw the show wasn't on tv.

No he'll be back on Monday but the SAS takeover of his timeslot is inevitable.

 

[gutshot]

Getting rid of Stein is a clear indication ESPN is moving away from reporting. They will do prestige stuff like OTL but otherwise they will be running press releases and scraping teams twitter feeds.

They still have Schefter who breaks more stories than anyone else across all sports.

 

[Sandfox]

They are letting a lot of good people go

And Chad Ford.

 

[Fail State]

They still have Schefter who breaks more stories than anyone else across all sports.

And they've had him covering the NBA this year. Perhaps they've been planning this for quite some time.

 

[tiggerkiddo]

They weren't kidding about some big names getting let go, yikes.

 

[Randolph Freelander]

All the loud mouth blowhards are safe. Everyone else, not so much.

 

[Incognito]

Getting rid of Stein is a clear indication ESPN is moving away from reporting. They will do prestige stuff like OTL but otherwise they will be running press releases and scraping teams twitter feeds.

no, not true. if so, then stugotz would have been jettisoned. here's an example of some stugotz reporting:

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/c...gan-jim-harbaugh-indianapolis-colts/72675274/

...But ESPN Radio's Jon (Stugotz) Weiner flat-out said on "The Dan Le Batard Show" that Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh is going to be the next coach of the Indianapolis Colts, where Chuck Pagano is in trouble after just two games.

You know, now that Harbaugh has U-M back on top, his work in Ann Arbor apparently is done.

"I pride myself on seeing things before others see it, and I'm telling you right now, he is going to break Michigan's heart," Stugotz said. "I'm telling you, Chuck Pagano is out at Indianapolis. There is no way Jim Harbaugh is going to pass up the chance to, a.) get back in the NFL, and b.) coach Andrew Luck in the NFL.

"Jim Harbaugh, next season, will be the Colts' head coach."

 

[Face it Tiger..]

Personally I think Chad Ford was useless.

Draftexpress just outdoes him so badly.

 

[victreeb3l]

Stein's layoff was legit shocking.