ESP'iN cuts

[the Blades]

Looks like Uconn's Dan Orlovsky survived .....
" ESPN is laying off some of its biggest stars, including Jeff Van Gundy, Max Kellerman, Keyshawn Johnson, Suzy Kolber, and Jalen Rose.....were also joined by “NFL Countdown” analysts Matt Hasselbeck and Steve Young, NFL draft expert Todd McShay, college basketball analyst LaPhonso Ellis"

https://nypost.com/2023/06/30/espn-laying-off-top-talent-to-save-millions/

 

[TripleDribbleMan]

This layoff is a classic "trim the fat" excision of payroll, although a couple of those people are really good at what they do. We of course don't know what ESPN's revenues are, but one wonders what the thinking was that went into lavishing these contracts on these people in the first place. You offer a contract to an employee based on what you can pay. I kind of feel bad for Suzy Kolber because she has been with ESPN for a very long time, endured an attempted kiss by a drunken Joe Namath in a live ESPN sideline interview 20 years ago as a younger woman, and now is likely being axed for a younger, cheaper and hotter sideline reporter. It's not really fair as she is a good reporter, and her parting comments were charitable in light of this likely reality.

 

[the Blades]

This is just the beginning, wait until AI takes over and there's just holograms of Chris Berman talking sports.
A good friend and former employee/manager who worked for my company, is now with ESPN.com and made the latest rounds of cuts. He says he knows AI and its unlimited capabilities are just a matter of time. Alot of people in this world better learn some skills that AI can't take over or work that can't be shipped overseas for cheaper labor.... because the singularity is coming and it ain't that far off.