Behind the Line

Bill Simmons talked about the Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols fallout on his podcast on The Ringer a few days ago. Bill Simmons proceeded to blast ESPN for mishandling the situation...and firing Rachel Nichols.

He also made interesting points on the overall decline of ESPN since 2012. We react to Bill Simmons commentary on Rachel Nichols...and compare her firing to how ESPN fired Bill Simmons in 2015.

We also dive deeper into his points on the decline of ESPN...and compare the network to the similar declines of WWE and MTV.

ESPN executives are pointing the blame to everyone but themselves for putting Bishop Sycamore on national television Sunday afternoon in a game against IMG Academy. ESPN blamed former Bishop Sycamore head coach Roy Johnson. ESPN blamed Paragon Marketing.

However...ESPN is 100% to blame for this debacle. We explain why ESPN policy to use the woke agenda to make decisions is the reason Bishop Sycamore found its way onto national television. 

We also blast ESPN for refusing to acknowledge their own mistake...and instead deflecting blame. We explain how this destroys any remaining credibility ESPN had with over half the American population.

Maria Taylor attempted to sell her integrity to the woke agenda. She spent last summer promoting propaganda for ESPN...and denigrating the reputation of Drew Brees in the process. Maria Taylor tried to ruin Drew Brees' image...much like she ruined the reputation and career of Rachel Nichols.

All seems to be forgiven now...as Drew Brees and Maria Taylor posted a friendly picture to social media Sunday night while covering the NFL Preseason for NBC. 

We explain how this exposes Maria Taylor as a fraud. We also express our disappointment in Drew Brees...and explain how he has been silenced by the woke agenda since the backlash he received last summer.

Trent Dilfer is being roundly criticized for an incident that took place Friday night. Trent Dilfer is the head coach of Lipscomb Academy in Tennessee. Beau Dawson...son of former NFL kicker Phil Dawson...is on the team.

There was an altercation between Trent Dilfer and Beau Dawson...and it was caught on film. The clip went viral...and Trent Dilfer was forced to apologize for his actions. 

We react to the video clip...and explain why Trent Dilfer was right in the way he handled Beau Dawson. We explain how teenage boys don't respond to being pampered...but respond to force. It's unhealthy to remove a coach's responsibility to discipline his players.

Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are in the midst of making a decision at the quarterback position. Kyle Shanahan has to choose between Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance...or make the decision to play them both.

Max Kellerman was discussing this situation on First Take this morning...and he made an analogy to the board game Chess. During the analogy...he insinuated Chess is discriminatory because the white pieces go first.

We react to another ridiculous comment from Max Kellerman...and explain how no matter how woke he is...Max Kellerman still isn't respected at ESPN.

The New York Mets are in the midst of a late season collapse. The Mets were leading the NL East most of the season...but find themselves third in the division with only one month left in the regular season. 

The Mets are in a slump...and fans aren't happy about it. Javy Baez has struggled since the Mets acquired him from the Chicago Cubs. Mets fans have booed him and the rest of the team relentlessly throughout this slump.

Sunday afternoon...Javy Baez and other players lashed out at the fans. We react to what happened Sunday...and to the press conference Javy Baez gave the media after the game. We also react to comments from Marcus Stroman...and explain how both players are examples of the soft modern athlete.

Every year before college football season kicks off...ESPN features the top high school football programs in the country. Tim Tebow was featured several times while he was in high school. The purpose is to showcase Division 1 caliber football players nationally on ESPN...to introduce them to the country for the next college football season.

This year...ESPN chose IMG Academy and Bishop Sycamore. The head coach of Bishop Sycamore told ESPN his team was loaded with D1 talent...so ESPN put them on the air. The game was a DISASTER.

ESPN admitted on-air they were duped by Bishop Sycamore. We react to this on-air admission...and explain that ESPN knew Bishop Sycamore was outmatched. We give our theory as to why ESPN moved forward with the decision to feature Bishop Sycamore on national television.

Last summer...the main focus of the woke agenda was the removal of historic statues across America. They claimed these statues were triggers to minorities. In 2021...they're replacing the historical statues with murals of their heroes.

Megan Rapinoe is being honored in Minnesota with a mural of herself. The man behind the mural called Megan Rapinoe an icon in America...and completed the mural so all wokers could come worship Megan Rapinoe.

We refute the claim that Megan Rapinoe is an icon...and explain how even though she is an accomplished soccer player...Megan Rapinoe can't be considered an icon in sports.

For years...we've heard from people like Jemele Hill and Stephen A Smith that there is bias in the NFL when it comes to quarterbacks. Jemele Hill and Stephen A Smith like to claim the NFL is against promoting black quarterbacks specifically.

Sean Payton disproved this notion in New Orleans when he handed the Saints quarterback role to Jameis Winston. We explain how the Saints position was made for Taysom Hill to succeed Drew Brees...and how Sean Payton giving the role to Jameis Winston proves there is no bias in the NFL.

Stephen A Smith is clearly running ESPN. He was able to influence executives to remove Max Kellerman from First Take. Now...he is reportedly putting together a dream team of hosts for First Take...and analysts for ESPN NBA coverage.

There seems to be something missing from the dream team of Stephen A Smith. We reveal the missing component...and explain how this is another example of hypocrisy from Stephen A Smith.

We explain that it's not a problem if Stephen A Smith wants to turn ESPN into BET. The problem comes with the hypocrisy.