Much like Wyatt Earp in Tombstone, Bill Simmons warned ESPN last week that he’s coming and hell’s coming with him. Upset with the way his former employer has banned current ESPN employees from appearing on any of his new HBO platforms, Simmons said “it’s not going to be friendly” on his podcast.
He sent over the first missiles on Tuesday following Mike & Mike’s interview with Rick Pitino on their radio program. Pitino is sitting home this year with his Louisville Cardinals basketball team due to a self-imposed ban from the postseason following an assortment of NCAA violations. While Pitino did discuss some of the issues surrounding the scandal, Simmons didn’t quite feel that Mike and/or Mike dug quite deep enough given the access they had to the embattled coach.
I hope Rick Pitino can recover from that vicious grilling that Mike and Mike gave him today.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick, your program used hookers to recruit teenagers and you're saying you're not accountable – so, um, who's winning the tournament?"
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick – you presided over an escort scandal that got your school banned from the tournament and you didn't quit. Who are your sleepers?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick, you've had two damaging scandals at Louisville and you refuse to step down – what's it like to coach against your son?"
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
Somewhere, John Skipper reached for the phone to tell Simmons he’s been suspended before realizing he can’t do that anymore.
If we had to guess we’d assume that ESPN employees have a gag order about even discussing Simmons so we don’t expect much of a response from Mike & Mike. Don’t think that’s going to stop Simmons from lobbing grenades in their general direction until one of them hits.
[FTW]
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