Bill Simmons Twitter Suspension: ESPN.com Writer Reportedly Suspended For Two Weeks

ESPN has punished Bill Simmons for writing tweets critical of Boston sports radio station WEEI. ESPN.com editor-in-chief Rob King wrote a blog post to confirm the news, writing that "we've taken appropriate measures."

ESPN Radio and WEEI announced a partnership on October 7, and Simmons has criticized the Boston station on his Twitter account at least twice since then. On October 26, Simmons tweeted: "WEEI's 'The Big Show' was apparently ripping me today. Good to get feedback from 2 washed-up athletes and a 60 yr-old fat guy with no neck."

On November 10, Simmons knocked WEEI once more: "Hey WEEI: You were wrong, I did a Boston interview today. With your competition. Rather give them ratings over deceitful scumbags like you."

While King's post does not specify the terms of the punishment, The Big Lead reports that Simmons told a fan at a book signing that he had been suspended from Twitter for two weeks, with an exception for tweets about his book tour.

Comments

[rmct]

I listen to the big show. I like the Big show on WEEI. They say worst than what Bill Simmons says. Come on ABC stop the censorship

[opprobrious]

Suspending someone's Twitter account for two weeks? Is that like grounding your kid for missing their curfew?

[DylanOwen]

Ok he gets suspended for defending himself from these guys... but nothing happens to them for attacking him?

[Brandon Cruz]

totally and anyways he's known as a guy who says whatever's on his mind that's why people like him and ESPN hired him

[bookon]

I moved from the Boston area in the mid-nineties and used to listen to WEEI all the time when I lived there. I go back regularly and the whole station has gone to pot. Odd how as the teams got better, the sports talk got worse.

[John Zorabedian]

The morning show on WEEI could pass for a Rush Limbaugh syndication - nothing but right winger paranoia and hate.

[Okieborn]

One might say WEEI is so unfair that even I see the shame !!!

[marchamlin]

Twitter is for re-tards

[FantasticFourFan]

The guy is entitled ot his opinon. Can they even legally do that?

[marchamlin]

Yes, legally they can.

[ibivi]

Many employers have rules against speaking or writing about them which make them look bad in public. He should read the fine print of his contract.

[MrGovtCheese]

Suspended from Twitter for two weeks as punishment? Hmmm, I don't have a Twitter account. I'm I really missing something?

[Ari Winkleman]

WEEI: the same guys who want Curt Schilling to run for Senator....

Good job Bill! I actually replied to one of those tweets giving praise.

[jasonfebery]

I think those tweets are quite funny, personally.

http://jasonfebery.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/fear-tactics/

[Vishous]

Rock on Bill. I couldn't agree with you more. I can't stand listening to WEEI. They spend so much time spewing right wing nonsense that I stopped listening to them a long time ago. I'm a huge sports fan and I' so grateful I can listen to 98.5 the Sports Hub now. Bill Simmons is a must read every week. Keep up the great work and keep speaking the truth.

[JimR]

I used to like reading Simmons. But he's become a real whiney little girl, a la Shaughnessy.

[balancedsolution]

the horrah!

unable to tweet?

how horrible!

[sb250guy]

You've got that right.

[LeonBNJ]

I believe that ESPN-Disney has a strict contractional policy that does not allow for critizism of ESPN or other network's on air personal including ESPN and other networks (tv and radio) play-by-play announcers or other commentators. He apparently stepped over that line and is penalized for that transgression.

[Rudderman]

I still remember listening to WEEI the day after Palin's speech at the RNC convention. They were stepping all over each other with their glowing praise. I knew they were largely a bunch of blowhards. I just never realized they were a bunch of total right wing blowhards as well.
I don't think people outside of MA realize how many raging, liberal-hating conservatives we're stuck with up here in the Northeast.

[JimR]

That had to be the morning show. Yeah, Dennis and Callahan are pretty far right.