¡COLIN!

[Vinho Tinto]

Confirmed by John Skipper.
 
I wonder if he will replace Mike Francesa on FS1. I expect he will host some NFL show like he did for ESPN.

 

[Harry Hooper]

As noted in the ESPN thread, the WWL is on a major drive to cut expenses.

 

[Luis Taint]

If they need to cut costs, Jemel Hill would be a welcome member of the unemployment line.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Now I have to ignore him on another network

 

[Sportsbstn]

Jeez, the ship is sinking at the WWL.

 

[C4CRVT]

I don't hate Colin as much as I used to. I think he has his good moments but overall he's kind of a dick and tends to cut people off and just yell whatever point he's trying to make over and over, insinuating that whoever might disagree with his view is an idiot.
 
I'm not sure who might replace him for the mid-day but it shouldn't be too hard to find someone better. Then again, there's probably a chance that it will be worse.

 

[WenZink]

I don't hate Colin as much as I used to. I think he has his good moments but overall he's kind of a dick and tends to cut people off and just yell whatever point he's trying to make over and over, insinuating that whoever might disagree with his view is an idiot.
 
I'm not sure who might replace him for the mid-day but it shouldn't be too hard to find someone better. Then again, there's probably a chance that it will be worse.

I actually got a kick out of Colin, when he was first on radio, and before he was on TV.  I thought he was some old 70 year old crank, just pining for the good old days.  Nothing much to add to the conversation, but it was fun to listen to once in a while.  But when I saw him on TV, I realized he was just a middle-aged idiot.  No excuse!

 

[smokin joe wood]

Jeez, the ship is sinking at the WWL.

 
Cord cutting combined with a ridiculous increase in rights fees will do that to a budget. They will re-correct and be just fine.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

If they need to cut costs, Jemel Hill would be a welcome member of the unemployment line.

 
I disliked her in the past but I've come around.  I think she's really good with Michael Smith on the His and Hers Show/Podcast.  
 
I can't stand Cowherd, however.  I don't get his appeal at all.  It's not his opinions - he just strikes me as a smug jerk.  
 

 

[Vinho Tinto]

I'm not sure who might replace him for the mid-day but it shouldn't be too hard to find someone better. Then again, there's probably a chance that it will be worse.

 
I would assume that his replacement will be worse. There are two negatives to that show: First, it's always harder to do a national sports show. Local shows can get more passionate callers, guests the listeners care about, and allow a good host(s) to dig into a story of the day with more depth. National is just a format for little more than hot takes. Second, no successful radio host dreams of doing a midday show. Even Jay Mohr does afternoon drive. In the best case scenario, they take a chance and hit on a lesser name; but big networks are risk averse so you are more likely to get a harmless chuckle head who is good at sticking to the script.
 
I'm expecting a SportsCenter personality like Jonathan Coachman or Max Bretos to get a look.

 

[Detts]

Can't stand him.  He only takes calls so he can make fun of people, and he repeats himself over and over and over and over again.
 
His whole persona is a shtick, like CHB.
 

 

[genoasalami]

FWIW ...and I am sure it is not much, I used to work with Colin in Tampa at the local FOX affiliate in the early 90s. I've stayed in touch with him over the years and will say this about him. He's a solid guy.  Fun guy to have a drink with and shoot the shit about sports, life, money, what not. I am sure he can rub people the wrong way, but if you are going to be successful in media you can't be melba toast. I'm proud of his success. 

 

[nattysez]

I'd be very surprised if he doesn't start making appearances on Fox News a la Adam Corolla.  It seems like a natural fit.

 

[Traut]

FWIW ...and I am sure it is not much, I used to work with Colin in Tampa at the local FOX affiliate in the early 90s. I've stayed in touch with him over the years and will say this about him. He's a solid guy.  Fun guy to have a drink with and shoot the shit about sports, life, money, what not. I am sure he can rub people the wrong way, but if you are going to be successful in media you can't be melba toast. I'm proud of his success. 
 

 
I like Cowherd. And in many respects he has the toughest on air job at ESPN. Having a solo show that is 3 hours in length - 5 days a week - 49 weeks a year is a tough gig. Tough to keep that up for 10 years on ESPN. And ESPN will more than likely have to replace him with 2 or 3 hosts. 
 
 
I've never met him but I know folks who know him in West Hartford. He's regarded as being a nice and down to earth guy. Not true of all ESPN "talent". 

 

[Plantiers Wart]

I know him a bit from town.  His daughter is a year older than mine and they have played soccer together.  He's a good guy off air, pretty funny and willing to chat on the sidelines.  Don't get to hear his show much as I have a job.....

 

[DJnVa]

 
Cord cutting combined with a ridiculous increase in rights fees will do that to a budget. They will re-correct and be just fine.

 
It's not that easy. They owe lots of money for rights, and the cable industry may be the next bubble to burst, which would leave their revenue stream severely hampered.
 

 

[MuzzyField]

 
It's not that easy. They owe lots of money for rights, and the cable industry may be the next bubble to burst, which would leave their revenue stream severely hampered.
 

Most of the rights contracts are relatively new and extend out many years, it will be fun to see how the economics evolve.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

I actually got a kick out of Colin, when he was first on radio, and before he was on TV.  I thought he was some old 70 year old crank, just pining for the good old days.

Me too (this was years ago)!  Then he made some reference to his age or I saw him on TV or on the internet, and was shocked at his real age.

 

[Rod Becks Mullet]

Most of the rights contracts are relatively new and extend out many years, it will be fun to see how the economics evolve.

 
You'll start to see more sub licenses, such as this one.  ESPN keeps the meat of whatever deals they sign, other networks pay smaller fees to piggyback that programming to offset some costs.  

 

[ZP1]

Cowherd is a moron.  I don't think it was anywhere on display as much as what happened recently here - 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzL21gHwt1I
 
Of course, the punchline to his rant is that no one would ever actually ask Cowherd to cover an eSports event because he wouldn't have the faintest idea of what was going on.  Whatever one may think of the concept of eSports,  we're quickly entering an age where the money involved is approaching true professional levels (see: http://www.vg247.com/2015/07/15/dota-2-international-2015-16-5-million/)  and associated viewership is growing at a phenomenal rate.  For someone to blindly attack that and use 80s/90s-era nerd bashing stereotypes shows just how out of touch Cowherd really is.  

 

[jcd0805]

He is terrible.  I generally don't hate on the ESPN personalities as much as others seem to but HE.IS.THE.WORST.  Smarmy dickhead know it all who can't wait to let everyone know how dumb they are compared to him, AWFUL.  Kudos to ESPN for getting rid of this joke. 

 

[Shore Thing]

Cowherd is a moron.  I don't think it was anywhere on display as much as what happened recently here - 
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzL21gHwt1I
 
Of course, the punchline to his rant is that no one would ever actually ask Cowherd to cover an eSports event because he wouldn't have the faintest idea of what was going on.  Whatever one may think of the concept of eSports,  we're quickly entering an age where the money involved is approaching true professional levels (see: http://www.vg247.com/2015/07/15/dota-2-international-2015-16-5-million/)  and associated viewership is growing at a phenomenal rate.  For someone to blindly attack that and use 80s/90s-era nerd bashing stereotypes shows just how out of touch Cowherd really is.  

Thanks for posting that.  Always thought he was pretty entertaining albeit quite smug.  But that rant had nothing to do with him being a moron.  It probably spoke more to his listenership.  I connected with it, but I guess if you're a gamer, you would be offended. 

 

[jtn46]

I don't think that's too bad and I used to watch a lot of eSports stuff, because he's not really saying it shouldn't be on ESPN, he's just saying if it is, he's not going to attempt to analyze it, and he won't, both because he's not going to work there, and because he wouldn't be able to add anything. The larger argument was already hashed out when ESPN started broadcasting poker, and I guess we could call him a hypocrite if he never took a similar shot at poker, but I'm really not interested in doing that research because it would mean listening to more Colin Cowherd.

 

[cromulence]

The John Wall stuff was, to me, his lowest moment and something I can't let go of. That shit was racist as hell, whether he wants to admit it or not.

 

[Patriot_Reign]

maybe he'll team up with Dan Patrick

 

[ZP1]

Thanks for posting that.  Always thought he was pretty entertaining albeit quite smug.  But that rant had nothing to do with him being a moron.  It probably spoke more to his listenership.  I connected with it, but I guess if you're a gamer, you would be offended. 

 
It's not really about being offended or non-offended. It's more about how incredibly and woefully out of touch his rant was without him even realizing it.  The bulk of the rant was throwing out literally 20 year old stereotypes, while completely ignoring the fact that eSports (and the watching of games in general) is now a billion dollar industry.  It was basically the equivalent of watching someone go on a TV rant in the mid-90s about how the internet is a fad and would never be viable for anything but "nerd stuff".  
 
If he's that uninformed on a topic like eSports (where it was super obvious),  how uninformed is he on other issues where it's easier to cover up one's ignorance? It just exposes the fact that he really doesn't do much research on the things he talks about. 

 

[WayBackVazquez]

It's not really about being offended or non-offended. It's more about how incredibly and woefully out of touch his rant was without him even realizing it.  The bulk of the rant was throwing out literally 20 year old stereotypes, while completely ignoring the fact that eSports (and the watching of games in general) is now a billion dollar industry.  It was basically the equivalent of watching someone go on a TV rant in the mid-90s about how the internet is a fad and would never be viable for anything but "nerd stuff".  
 
If he's that uninformed on a topic like eSports (where it was super obvious),  how uninformed is he on other issues where it's easier to cover up one's ignorance? It just exposes the fact that he really doesn't do much research on the things he talks about.

Lighten up, Francis. There are lots of billion dollar industries that I don't want to watch on TV under the auspices of being "sports." I don't think Colin is woefully out of touch at all. I think he's probably very in touch with his audience (not me, btw; he's usually third choice behind NPR and Dan Patrick on my morning drive), and knows the great majority of them don't want to watch college kids playing video games on TV, either.

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

This is some racist bullshit: http://thebiglead.com/2015/07/23/jose-bautista-heard-colin-cowherds-comments-on-dominicans-wants-an-explanation/

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Well, since we recently labeled Haitians a race around here, I guess it's only fair to pay the same respect to the other half of the island. At least he wasn't being an infrastructurist.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

Well, since we recently labeled Haitians a race around here, I guess it's only fair to pay the same respect to the other half of the island. At least he wasn't being an infrastructurist.

Never mind, comprehension issues

 

[MarcSullivaFan]

Well, since we recently labeled Haitians a race around here, I guess it's only fair to pay the same respect to the other half of the island. At least he wasn't being an infrastructurist.

Fair enough. Bad choice of words. I'll revise to say offensive stereotyping based on national origin with racist undertones. Shitty any way you slice it.

 

[rembrat]

Fuck that guy.

 

[Corsi]

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale  1m1 minute ago
MLB puts out statement condemning Colin Cowherd's remarks and demands apology to all Dominican Republican players

 

[DJnVa]

Maybe both ESPN and Fox Sports can fire him together.

 

[soxhop411]

“@espnmikes: Colin Cowherd’s comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees. Colin will no longer appear on ESPN.”

“@Ourand_SBJ: A source tells SBJ that Colin Cowherd's last day was supposed to be next Friday. The current scandal made ESPN move the date up to today.”

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

“@espnmikes: Colin Cowherd’s comments over the past two days do not reflect the values of ESPN or our employees. Colin will no longer appear on ESPN.”

“@Ourand_SBJ: A source tells SBJ that Colin Cowherd's last day was supposed to be next Friday. The current scandal made ESPN move the date up to today.”

 
One of the least surprising developments ever.

 

[soxhop411]

“@jasonrmcintyre: LeBatard on PTI on Cowherd: "MLB has listened to the angry twitter mob." Insightful stuff from LeBatard.”

 

[axx]

Meh, people are so hyper sensitive these days. I don't think he's implying that all DR players are dumb at all.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

The irony is his main point is spot on.  Baseball isn't an overly complex sport compared to others.  Baseball writers could have an intelligent talk with a manager but 99% of NFL reporters couldn't hold their own in an X and O conversation with a football coach.  So why the hell did he bring Dominican Republicans?  Simply to say, "Even these idiots can understand baseball".  
 
I can't see how it can viewed any other way than racist.  

 

[Valek123]

Totally predictable over reaction, I listened to both Thursdays and Fridays shows driving to Boston and back and it's just nuts. It was a moronic point in all, but the reaction is crazy, and this from someone who dislikes him greatly. Hypersensitivity comes to mind.

 

[Valek123]

 
I can't see how it can viewed any other way than racist.  

Racist? He picked the Dominican Republic due to horrific education record, not their skin pigment. I didn't get a racist vibe from his comments either day, I can't believe I'm defending this moron but it certainly didn't sound racist to me. Stupid and idiotic yes, but racist?

 

[DJnVa]

Meh, people are so hyper sensitive these days. I don't think he's implying that all DR players are dumb at all.

 
What was he implying?

 

[Cellar-Door]

I get what he was trying to say, and in the context of the full piece it is dumb, but I really wouldn't say it is racist.
He was trying to make the point that Baseball is mostly an experience learned skill set rather than a more academic skill set.
He picked the Dominican because it produces an abnormally high number of baseball players for its population, and has notoriously terrible education systems.

 

[nattysez]

Do you really think MLB would've released a statement if what he said wasn't plainly racist?  Are they really in the business of stirring things up that way?
 
He essentially said "Baseball is a simple sport that relies on instincts, so much so that Dominicans can dominate the sport."  That statement (a) is just a variation on the "he's a great athlete, so he doesn't work hard to be a great player" b.s. that black athletes have endured forever and (b) is inarguably prejudiced since it classifies an entire group of people as having a particular attribute (being great baseball players without needing to be smart).
 
He immediately realized he'd just said an incredibly bigoted thing and quickly worked to backfill some context by talking about his expertise regarding the Dominican education system.  Unfortunately for Cowherd, one does not follow from the other.  When he says that baseball requires no intelligence, that's a statement about innate intelligence -- it has nothing to do with schooling.  The schooling stuff was a cover-up for his bigoted statement. 

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

I'm the last guy to overreact to this shit.  I think too many people are overly sensitive and jump to conclusions because we love to be OUTRAGED!!! by anything.  That said, how is this not blatant racism?  It was, "This game is so simple, even those dummies can play it".  Then, as nattysez says, he backtracked and made it about their education system (he even brought in four reports ranking the DR schools).  That is such bullshit.  Academic education is irrelevant to baseball smarts.  
 
Cowherd's point was simple, "those guys" are dumb and they even understand the game.  I find these comments disgusting and indefensible.  

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

It's not racist because Dominican is not a race. Words have, like, definitions and stuff. It's certainly offensive and was a stupid comment, but no, it's not racist. Skewer him as he deserves but choose a different word. Consult a dictionary if necessary.

 

[rembrat]

Meh, people are so hyper sensitive these days. I don't think he's implying that all DR players are dumb at all.

 
Hey, get fucked.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

It's not racist because Dominican is not a race. Words have, like, definitions and stuff. It's certainly offensive and was a stupid comment, but no, it's not racist. Skewer him as he deserves but choose a different word. Consult a dictionary if necessary.

 
I have a feeling he would have included Venezuela, Panama, etc if they made up a higher percentage of the MLB.  But that's not fair for me to jump to that conclusion I guess.  You make a good point, PP.  Xenophobic might be better than racist.  But still offensive and condescending.  He should have made a true apology instead of one of those, "If I offended anyone who took it the wrong way..."

 

[BoredViewer]

This is some racist bullshit: http://thebiglead.com/2015/07/23/jose-bautista-heard-colin-cowherds-comments-on-dominicans-wants-an-explanation/

 
That's what passes for "racism" these days?
 
We're literally reaching the point that if a white person talks about someone that isn't white and anyone doesn't like what the white person said... the white person is racist.
 
If anything, what I took from that link is that Jose Bautista can't maintain comprehension beyond a few phrases and instead decides to bully and threaten a guy that says something he doesn't like.

 

[E5 Yaz]

It was bigoted, based on his stereotypical opinion of people from the D.R.
 
It's not difficult to understand, folks.