I've always thought Simmons was interesting, but I came to respect him much more as a talent gatherer than for his own talent. His columns are okay, but I was never a huge fan. I enjoy his podcasts if he has the right guest. But, Grantland and 30-for-30 are the best things ESPN turned out in a long damn time. I read Grantland almost every day. That's one of my favorite sites on the entire net. And there were very few 30-for-30s that I didn't end up watching multiple times. So, I don't care that Simmons isn't going to be on television on ESPN or writing those long-winded email response columns for them anymore, but I do hope a big media conglomerate continues to let him put me on to new talent...and if it means I sometimes have to deal with his whiny voice and Boston homerism that's fine by me.