Bill Simmons has been back from his three week suspension for a few days now. Relegated to Instagram pictures at the golf course for that time, one might think Simmons would come firing on all cylinders with the ESPN-branded muzzle removed.
Alas, anyone hoping for more fireworks and a Simmons-led revolution has largely been disappointed. Simmons has kept things very low-key on his Twitter page, only tweeting out links to columns, videos, and his podcast return. One wonders what he really thinks about ESPN’s silence thus far regarding Skip Bayless’ comments on Kobe Bryant.
Simmons did address his suspension on his first post-hiatus BS Report, opening the show with this brief monologue thanking supporters for all of their messages to him during the enforced absence before moving on to a conversation with Cousin Sal.
At this point, Simmons’ relationship appears to be smoothed over with his employer… at least on the surface. The network sent out a press release this morning promoting the debut of Simmons’ Grantland Basketball Show on ESPN on Thursday night. Jalen Rose, Michelle Beadle, Jeff Van Gundy, Zach Lowe, and former adversary Doc Rivers will join Simmons’ ensemble cast.
In the short-term, things are back to normal and the energy will be focused on making his new TV show a success. But as Simmons’ contract comes up next year, you can bet the speculation over his long-term future at ESPN will intensify once again.
