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By Michael Gallagher
Sports Content Coordinator
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ESPN continues to find new ways to end up with egg on its face.
The company came under fire weeks ago when it informed analyst Ryan Clark that he was being laid off while he was in the middle of a show live on air (he was actually told during a commercial break and didn’t finish the final 10 minutes of the program).
Then the network released beloved analyst Damien Woody, who had been with ESPN for 15 years and still had another year left on his contract.
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Then former NFL linebacker Bart Scott revealed during an appearance on “The Joint Venture Show” with Lil Wayne and Craig Carton that when he was informed he was being let go that ESPN told him minutes before his “Bart & Carlin” show on ESPN radio.
“I was going in to my radio show and they called me and was like, ‘Hey, just to let you know — wish we could do it in person.’ Like, no you don’t [expletive],” Scott said. “They were like, ‘We’re not going to renew you.’ My contract is expiring in September, so like, I found out that way. It’s part of the business, you know what I mean. You understand the balance, and I don’t know what they had to when they trimmed the fat.
“I had never been there where my contract was expiring because usually when it’s in gear, I get renewed. But it’s what it is. Sometimes losing your job can be some of the biggest blessings.”
Though Scott said he had no ill will about the situation and that he genuinely enjoyed his time with the company, that didn’t stop fans from raking “the worldwide leader” over the coals on social media for the tactless ways they have been laying off their on-air talents.
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“Definitely a crappy way to handle business but that’s the way things be now,” one fan replied.
“ESPN really has a terrible reputation of how they let people go,” another noted.
“Perfect attitude. Shame on ESPN for not having the balls to handle business correctly,” a third fan wrote.
“ESPN is ruthless,” remarked one user.
“ESPN some scumbags,” another user scoffed.
“Bart Scott—Class act with a winning mindset. ESPN—A dying network,” another fan stated.
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