And ESPN Just Shut Down Grantland
Effective immediately we are suspending the publication of Grantland. After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise.
Grantland distinguished itself with quality writing, smart ideas, original thinking and fun. We are grateful to those who made it so. Bill Simmons was passionately committed to the site and proved to be an outstanding editor with a real eye for talent. Thanks to all the other writers, editors and staff who worked very hard to create content with an identifiable sensibility and consistent intelligence and quality. We also extend our thanks to Chris Connelly who stepped in to help us maintain the site these past five months as he returns to his prior role.
Despite this change, the legacy of smart long-form sports story-telling and innovative short form video content will continue, finding a home on many of our other ESPN platforms.
Rough media day.
Jim: Grantland gave a platform to tons of talented sports and pop culture writers, from Zach Lowe to Shea Serrano, who will likely end up in great but varying places. ESPN says it will continue to be dedicated to long-form sports writing, but I bet Fox Sports 1 has got their cross-hairs on a bunch of those writers right about now.