Law #38 in “The 48 Laws of Power” states, “think as you like, but behave like others.” ESPN’s Bill Simmons just had a lesson in that this week, as he was reportedly suspend from Twitter by ESPN. Simmons gave his opinion of a recent “First Take” episode that featured Seahawks CB Richard Sherman and Skip Bayless going at each other.
Simmons was critical of the show.
It’s amazing to me that people get so worked up about First Take. Who cares? Just don’t watch it. There are like 800 TV channels.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 8, 2013
But what bothers me about the reaction to that segment is people saying Richard Sherman “won.” Nobody won. Everyone lost. Including ESPN.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 8, 2013
Corporate rule #105 says you can’t chastise the brand in public. Calling out one of your company’s “crown jewel” programs is going to start some conversations internally. Simmons was allegedly told to lay low on Twitter for a few days and coincidentally, a preplanned absence from his ESPN NBA countdown show had him away from viewers also.
curtsy to Deadspin