J-A-I-L-O

Costas is right—-it is a cynical exploitation/tabloid play, calculated to get the speech shared on BuzzFeed and Facebook and Twitter and Gawker Media’s array of sites. PR’s doing its job.

ESPN has used the “Arthur Ashe Award” effectively twice. Once for Jim Valvano, once for Stuart Scott. Market’s just a little tight…

I agree with you, and I think it’s a shame that Deadspin has become a place for performative sanctimony, where one has to preface and apologize for having a different perspective, even if it’s both reasonable and not offensive (like yours).

I don’t know Tom, I mean. I am afraid here at Deadspin to say what I think without repercussion. I mean, I get the ESPYs are just famewhoring anyways. I do think reasonable people (not necessarily just Bob Costas) have legit hesitations about hoisting Caitlyn up so unequivocally. I’m sorry :(

He clearly has his detractors, but I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if he goes on to be very successful on his own (or with his next partner). Unlike, say, Colin Blowherd, who Dan Patrick rightfully chides as needing the ESPN mother ship in order to survive, I really think Simmons could go on to do just fine…

Oh I don’t disagree - I’d guess that this was largely ESPN (in their minds) getting out ahead of this, knowing he’s leaving, doing what they can to try to control the PR/make him look bad, all of which is stupid because, whether one thinks he’s a hack or god’s gift to 10,000 word Celtics diatribes, he has a huge…

Tom, You totally aren’t in on the joke.