After comments made on his show on Thursday regarding baseball players from the Dominican Republic that drew the ire of Major League Baseball and its players association, ESPN has expedited Colin Cowherd’s departure from the company.
A brief statement by the company read:
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.
While Cowherd was under contract to ESPN for a few more months, Sports Business Journal reporter John Ourand tweeted that his last show on ESPN Radio was set to be Friday, July 31.
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.
— John Ourand (@Ourand_Puck) July 24, 2015
Original Report 7/16: The exodus of high profile talent this summer from ESPN will continue as Colin Cowherd joins Bill Simmons and Keith Olbermann in leaving the network when his contract expires later this year.
TheBigLead reports that Cowherd is on his way to Fox Sports where he will have primarily a television role, but also a radio show that could potentially air on a combination DirecTV/Fox Sports Radio platform like Dan Patrick or SiriusXM.
Statement from ESPN President John Skipper:
“We’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial run with Colin for over a decade. He came to national prominence on ESPN with his unique perspective on sports and society. Endings also bring new beginnings, for ESPN and Colin, and we thank him and wish him the best.”
Cowherd has anchored the 10am-1pm Eastern time slot on ESPN Radio since 2003 when he replaced Tony Kornheiser. Previously he was a television sportscaster in Tampa and hosted an afternoon and then mornings at KFXX Portland. Beginning in 2009 he took on an expanded role on ESPN television first as co-host of SportsNation
Joseph_Gallant
I thought Colin Cowherd’s contract with ESPN was to run out at month’s end (July 31st) and that this past Friday, July 24th, was to have been his final day on-air at ESPN and ESPN Radio.
While there are fill-in hosts for his 10 A.M.-1 P.M. (Eastern) slot this week, given that ESPN parent Disney is under pressure to cut costs, I could see the shows of Ryen Russillo and Dan LeBatard each expanded by an hour, and George Sedano’s show expanded by two hours so the new daytime/early evening schedule could be:
6-10 A.M. Eastern: Mike Golik/Mike Greenberg (“Mike ‘n Mike”)
10 A.M.-2 P.M. Eastern: Ryen Russillo
2-6 P.M. Eastern: Dan LeBatard
6-10 P.M. Eastern: George Sedano
In theory, Bormani Jones’ show (currently 9-11 P.M. Eastern time) could also be eliminated with Freddie Coleman (currently 11 P.M.-2 A.M. Eastern) getting an additional hour so the latter’s show would run from 10 P.M.-2 A.M. Eastern time.
Yes, some hosts and producers would work longer hours, but ESPN Radio could eliminate two weekday shows and the shows’ related expenses. And that will make the beancounters and institutional shareholders who have Disney stock very happy.