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Renowned author Malcolm Gladwell appeared on Bloomberg TV today and opined on the ESPN suspension of his e-mail correspondent Bill Simmons.  To no surprise, Gladwell didn’t think too highly of ESPN’s decision to suspend The Sports Guy for three weeks.

Via Romenesko:

Malcolm Gladwell tells Bloomberg TV that suspending Bill Simmons “was totally the wrong decision” by ESPN. “I thought that in the course of expressing their opinions, sports columnists are allowed to draw conclusions. Apparently not. Apparently you get suspended for that. I thought that was an embarrassingly low moment.”

That’s pretty harsh condemnation from Gladwell, but of course he’s got a dog in the fight.  It does lend credence to the idea though that if Bill Simmons were to leave ESPN, his army of Grantland contributors and famous friends would go with him.

[Romenesko]