Deadspin
If Bill Simmons seems grouchier in his MVP column today, or in his podcast later this week, you'll have to forgive him. He was scheduled to have Sen. Barack Obama as a guest, but, for reasons that haven't quite made themselves clear, ESPN canceled the appearance. Obama was all ready to go, but the network pulled the plug.
No word from Simmons yet — we contacted him, but it's the West Coast, and we doubt he's awake yet — but ESPN's explanation makes little sense.
But ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz told us: "It's absolutely not an issue about any one candidate. Our position is that when they're down to the final two candidates, we'll look for options to interview each accordingly. Fans don't expect political coverage on our air. We did Kerry and Bush on ESPN. Separate one-on-ones that were sports related."
We're not quite sure we agree with Rush & Malloy on this, who make a big show of pointing out that George Bodenheimer gave $1,000 to John McCain. After all, John Papanek gave to Obama, and Bodenheimer also donated $1,000 to now-Obama supporter Chris Dodd.
We think it's more a matter of pulling rank. Some online guy is gonna have Sen. Obama as a guest on his PODCAST? What the hell's a podcast? Better to wait until Stu Scott can talk to him about Carolina hoops after the convention. Why waste the access on a podcast?
That's our theory, anyway. As Rush & Malloy quote a source:
"They landed the hottest politician in 50 years, and they couldn't even see the interview through? This is insanity."
If you'll excuse him, Bill Simmons will now set himself on fire.
Barack Obama Is Game, ESPN Isn't [New York Daily News]
Comments
**SIGH** When did Martin Lawrence win the Heisman?
That picture alone makes him a lock for the League of Dorks.
Nice Charles Woodson impression. Can Obama return kicks?
Obama is just not Now enough.
Surefire first round pick, from the looks of it.
At least we know that picture wasn't taken in Peyton Manning's office.
There's no way that stiffarm shakes a DB's tackle.
Is that his bowling stance?
So is he in the office of a Texas A&M fan?
I wonder if Simmons is bitter?
In related news, Dennis Kucinich backed out of doing Kige Ramsey's YouTube show.
Al Davis just signed him to a 5-year, $66 million deal.
But where does Obama between Hench, J-Bug, and Jacko on their gambling weekends?
What's his 40-time?
Doesn't ESPN have a long history of backing out of deals with black guys and giving half baked explanations as to why they did so?
I hear he took a picture of Li'l Barack with his cell phone.
They landed the hottest politician in 50 years
That's only until Nancy Pelosi gets her boob job.
Yep, those are his podcast guests.
I can't wait for the ombudperson's column on this.
Now I'll never know what Obama thinks about Simmons' West Coast AL-only fantasy team. How am I supposed to judge this man's views now?
Simmons just wanted to ask him about how Obama's campaign relates to the Karate Kid since Hilary already used Rocky.
@ArkansasFred: Yeah, that story about Obama secretly converting to Islam in a Boston Market parking lot is a total internet myth.
ESPN apparently wants to make sure 25% of Deadspin readers keep watching.
Big mistake, ESPN. The Basketball Jones episode where they interviewed Stephen Harper was nominated for a Golden Syrup (the Canadian award for excellence in broadcasting).
fake Obama-is-high internal monologue on KSK?
@Secret Identity:
Is she going to look anything like Angela Merkel?
[img.dailymail.co.uk]
Somehow this is related to the settlement of Harold Reynold's lawsuit.
Now we'll never know Obama's position on the latest Real World gauntlet challenge.
McCain's campaign was forced to delete recipes from its Web site that had been labeled "Favorite McCain Family Recipes." But they'd been cribbed measure for measure from Rachael Ray's recipes posted on the Food Network Web site.
i smell congressional investigation!
@stealofthedraft:
Pelosi could go all Belinda Stronach on us and start dating hockey players.
ESPN votes 'disapprove'...
@UkraineNotWeak: +1
@supermike5alive: Can you imagine if Obama had done something like that? Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly would have such raging hate-boners you could see them from space.
@shea_guevara: I would be shocked to find out that any of the three candidates knows enough HTML to put anything on their own websites.
@supermike5alive: I bet the McCain family couldn't make that shit in 30 minutes, either.
@shea_guevara:
Rush thinks Obama would be an OK president, but a terrible quarterback.
@shea_guevara: Bill O'Reilly has a hate priaprism.
It's probably for the best. Obama once got in a fist fight with Pat Morita.
74% of me feels that Simmons got hosed in this whole thing, whereas 26% of me thinks that he is the worst thing to happen to sports since the Munich Olympics.
Ok, Will, your move. Grab Obama, have the Balls do the interview, and await your appointment as press seretary.
How black can Obama truly be? He's clearly doing "The White Man Overbite" in the photo above.
@shea_guevara: thank you for that mental image.
WILL "THE EDITOR OF THIS SITE" LEITCH- YOU SHOULD CONTACT OBAMA'S PEOPLE! HE'D DO AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU!
[my.barackobama.com]
@UkraineNotWeak: I like to call it "the Clinton."
@LostinTheOffice: I now have a mental image of McCain sitting at a keyboard, getting really pissed off 'cause he can't close a tag.
"Why's it still all slanty, goddammit!"
The Big Lead will probably swoop in and ask Obama if he prefers Sunkist or Mountain Drew
@shea_guevara: We all know how he hates slants.
Is Barack trying to do the Heisman? or does he have a little Captain Morgan in him?
@supermike5alive:
I'm sure he's been to Mattoon. Will and he can talk about that.
@shea_guevara: I bet McCain uses the term slanty more often than any of us think.
C'mon, Senator! Just an autograph! It's for my kid!
Clearly, ESPN is concerned about alienating viewers that cling to guns, religion and anti-immigration.
@Weed Against Speed: Yeah, what you said.
ESPN has a strict "one darkie per day" policy on its website, and Jay Harris is on the pop-up video today.
Better luck tomorrow, Senator.
ESPN doesn't understand audio interviews unless it involves the fat one and the effeminate one.
Yep...these are my delegates.
@ArkansasFred: No, no... you are thinking of the South.
@The Teufel Shuffle:
NASCAR fans?
It's times like these that I wish Chris Farley was still alive.
"You...you...rem...remember when you decided to run for President? That was awesome!"
@supermike5alive: Those recipes were a crucial element in the peace process in Northern Ireland.
Obama is holding out for the Budweiser Hot Seat
@The Teufel Shuffle:
That's who fills up their comment boards.
@shea_guevara:
I imagine McCain forcing the press corps on the Straight Talk Express to use teletype machines.
So, do we still approve of the Bill Simmons now? And when's the Norby! Media Approval Rating?