Chiefs Keith Olbermann wants back in at ESPN - Page 2

FloridaMan88 · 03-04-2013, 12:55 PM

Must be getting desperate for a job, considering he nuclear bombed his bridges to ESPN when he left.

Olbermann and Dan Patrick were the best host duo on Sportscenter back in the day.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/sp...spn.html?_r=1&

Olbermann Angling for Return to ESPN

By JAMES ANDREW MILLER

Published: March 3, 2013

Keith Olbermann was in Los Angeles on Friday being deposed for a reported $70 million lawsuit he filed against his most recent employer, Current TV, with the trial expected to begin in May. Whether the court rules in favor of Olbermann or the network, the verdict will put an official end to a one-year stint at Current that was supposed to last at least five.

But as one door closes, another has been quietly approached. At various times over the last year, Olbermann and his representatives have expressed interest in his return to the employer that made him famous: ESPN.

Olbermann’s expressions of interest included dinner at New York’s Four Seasons Restaurant with John Skipper, ESPN’s president.

“Keith Olbermann, both personally and through a couple people I know, reached out to say, ‘Gee, I would love to have dinner,’ ” Skipper said. “I agreed to dinner with Keith because I assumed he’d be provocative and witty and fun to have dinner with, and he was indeed lots of fun. We talked sports and politics, and we had a nice chat. He is very interesting.

“Clearly he was looking to see if there was an entry point to come back.”

Olbermann declined to discuss the details of the conversation.

“I had the privilege to spend some time with John Skipper,” he said. “His vision and charm were readily apparent, and judging by his leadership, his family name was prophetic.”

In the months since that dinner, Olbermann’s representatives have campaigned at ESPN for possible opportunities, according to a senior executive at the network and someone directly involved with Olbermann’s efforts. Both people asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions.

Olbermann worked at ESPN from 1992 to 1997. A pivotal force in starting ESPN Radio, he became best known as one of the most prominent and popular anchors in the network’s history, co-hosting “SportsCenter” with Dan Patrick. Olbermann briefly left Patrick’s side to help start ESPN2 but soon returned to ESPN. There, he and Patrick reunited and continued hosting the 11 p.m. “SportsCenter” until his contract expired in 1997. Olbermann opted to leave sports altogether and signed on for a politically themed talk show on MSNBC.

Some at ESPN were glad to see him go; he was considered the network’s most controversial personality. Olbermann’s encyclopedic knowledge of sports was not disputed, nor were his writing skills or on-air talent. But over time, he managed to alienate a sizable group in the company, who found him exasperating to work with.

Patrick said he would not be surprised if Olbermann returned to ESPN.

“You can never say never,” said Patrick, who now hosts NBC’s “Football Night in America,” as well as a popular syndicated sports-talk show. “What I can say is that if he does return, I won’t be back there with him doing ‘SportsCenter,’ I can promise you that.”

For now, Skipper indicated that a return for Olbermann was not imminent.

“After the dinner, at that point, there was no real appropriate place for Keith to come back, nor did I feel like I was prepared to bring him back,” Skipper said.

“We don’t have a policy that says we won’t bring somebody back. We’re running a great business, and when we think we can get quality content, there’s no such thing as a condemned list. That said, this is not an easy place to get back into. There are not that many successful examples of people who have come back, in part because it’s like water filling a vacuum. When somebody leaves, somebody else fills their place.”

**Dave Lane** · 03-04-2013, 09:12 PM

I love Keith, brilliant guy but yeah he's kinda crapped the nest in too many spots.

**Ming the Merciless** · 03-04-2013, 09:44 PM

**** him, i dont want to watch partisan pieces of shit - from either side - when i am trying to relax

GloryDayz · 03-04-2013, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I think we should let Olbermann and Rush Limbaugh do Monday Night Football together. That would be a hoot.

This would be the only way I'd watch anything that mother****er is shown on. My God, doesn't he realize he's washed-up, ruined.... He's an asshole of epic proportion and sucks baby donkey dicks!

Tombstone RJ · 03-04-2013, 10:00 PM

Olbermann totally sucked at MSNBC and that is saying something! I'd have no problem with his return to ESPN because I don't watch that either...

PunkinDrublic · 03-04-2013, 10:11 PM

That would be awesome. Olberman and Dan Patrick were the best. They need to get rid of Stu "Carlton" Scott and those ditzy women that have infected the show.

**alanm** · 03-04-2013, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

That would be awesome. Olberman and Dan Patrick were the best. They need to get rid of Stu "Carlton" Scott and those ditzy women that have infected the show.

No offense but I thought Patrick and Rich Eisen were better.

WV · 03-04-2013, 10:29 PM

Unless he can rewind time and make ESPN worth a shit again he can go **** himself.

Pasta Little Brioni · 03-05-2013, 01:31 AM

Just when you think the network can't get worse

03-05-2013, 02:08 AM

I don't think I've seen any of his work since ESPN. He was on when ESPN was actually watchable, not necessarily because of him. But I didn't hate him at the time. Since I haven't seen him since, don't really have an opinion on it.

warpaint* · 03-05-2013, 05:23 AM

Ya he's really liberal. The bigger reason I wouldn't watch than that (I mean if we eliminate all media members that are liberal from what we're willing to watch just turn off your TV set) is that he's such a smug douchebag. A jerk of the highest order.

USArmyParatrooper · 03-05-2013, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I think we should let Olbermann and Rush Limbaugh do Monday Night Football together. That would be a hoot.

Best idea ever. I'm not kidding, I would watch it.

GloryDayz · 03-05-2013, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WV

Unless he can rewind time and make ESPN worth a shit again he can go **** himself.

Fix MTV first please!

Thig Lyfe · 03-05-2013, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

**** him, i dont want to watch partisan pieces of shit - from either side - when i am trying to relax

He doesn't really bring up politics when he's sportscasting. So would just the fact that he has expressed opinions in the past be enough to prevent you from relaxing?

**Baby Lee** · 03-05-2013, 12:17 PM

FRRRRDDD!!!

Discuss Thrower · 03-05-2013, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thig Lyfe

He doesn't really bring up politics when he's sportscasting. So would just the fact that he has expressed opinions in the past be enough to prevent you from relaxing?

Challenge Completed.

- Rush Limbaugh circa 2000.

03-04-2013, 12:55 PM
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $3152906	Keith Olbermann wants back in at ESPN Must be getting desperate for a job, considering he nuclear bombed his bridges to ESPN when he left. Olbermann and Dan Patrick were the best host duo on Sportscenter back in the day. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/04/sp...spn.html?_r=1& Olbermann Angling for Return to ESPN By JAMES ANDREW MILLER Published: March 3, 2013 Keith Olbermann was in Los Angeles on Friday being deposed for a reported $70 million lawsuit he filed against his most recent employer, Current TV, with the trial expected to begin in May. Whether the court rules in favor of Olbermann or the network, the verdict will put an official end to a one-year stint at Current that was supposed to last at least five. But as one door closes, another has been quietly approached. At various times over the last year, Olbermann and his representatives have expressed interest in his return to the employer that made him famous: ESPN. Olbermann’s expressions of interest included dinner at New York’s Four Seasons Restaurant with John Skipper, ESPN’s president. “Keith Olbermann, both personally and through a couple people I know, reached out to say, ‘Gee, I would love to have dinner,’ ” Skipper said. “I agreed to dinner with Keith because I assumed he’d be provocative and witty and fun to have dinner with, and he was indeed lots of fun. We talked sports and politics, and we had a nice chat. He is very interesting. “Clearly he was looking to see if there was an entry point to come back.” Olbermann declined to discuss the details of the conversation. “I had the privilege to spend some time with John Skipper,” he said. “His vision and charm were readily apparent, and judging by his leadership, his family name was prophetic.” In the months since that dinner, Olbermann’s representatives have campaigned at ESPN for possible opportunities, according to a senior executive at the network and someone directly involved with Olbermann’s efforts. Both people asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions. Olbermann worked at ESPN from 1992 to 1997. A pivotal force in starting ESPN Radio, he became best known as one of the most prominent and popular anchors in the network’s history, co-hosting “SportsCenter” with Dan Patrick. Olbermann briefly left Patrick’s side to help start ESPN2 but soon returned to ESPN. There, he and Patrick reunited and continued hosting the 11 p.m. “SportsCenter” until his contract expired in 1997. Olbermann opted to leave sports altogether and signed on for a politically themed talk show on MSNBC. Some at ESPN were glad to see him go; he was considered the network’s most controversial personality. Olbermann’s encyclopedic knowledge of sports was not disputed, nor were his writing skills or on-air talent. But over time, he managed to alienate a sizable group in the company, who found him exasperating to work with. Patrick said he would not be surprised if Olbermann returned to ESPN. “You can never say never,” said Patrick, who now hosts NBC’s “Football Night in America,” as well as a popular syndicated sports-talk show. “What I can say is that if he does return, I won’t be back there with him doing ‘SportsCenter,’ I can promise you that.” For now, Skipper indicated that a return for Olbermann was not imminent. “After the dinner, at that point, there was no real appropriate place for Keith to come back, nor did I feel like I was prepared to bring him back,” Skipper said. “We don’t have a policy that says we won’t bring somebody back. We’re running a great business, and when we think we can get quality content, there’s no such thing as a condemned list. That said, this is not an easy place to get back into. There are not that many successful examples of people who have come back, in part because it’s like water filling a vacuum. When somebody leaves, somebody else fills their place.”
Posts: 38,257

03-04-2013, 09:12 PM	#16
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kanab, UT, USA Casino cash: $9333275 VARSITY	I love Keith, brilliant guy but yeah he's kinda crapped the nest in too many spots. __________________ Thanks, Trump for the civics lesson. We are learning so much about RICO, espionage, sedition, impeachment, the 25th Amendment, order of succession, nepotism, separation of powers, 1st Amendment, obstruction of justice, the emoluments clause, conflicts of interest, collusion, sanctions, oligarchs, money laundering and so much more.
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03-04-2013, 09:44 PM	#17
Ming the Merciless Emporer of Mongo Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Milky Way Casino cash: $2947556	** him, i dont want to watch partisan pieces of shit - from either side - when i am trying to relax __________________ ---- 2018 Adopt-A-Chief : Chris Conley 2017 Adopt-A-Chief : FRANK ZOMBO Click here-->The Holy Chiefsplanet Lexicon ***
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03-04-2013, 10:00 PM	#19
Tombstone RJ Broncos' Fan Extraordinaire! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver Casino cash: $10012184	Olbermann totally sucked at MSNBC and that is saying something! I'd have no problem with his return to ESPN because I don't watch that either... __________________ ORANGE COLORED GLASSES ARE ALWAYS ON!
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03-04-2013, 10:11 PM	#20
PunkinDrublic Stay down bitch! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Plano, TX Casino cash: $6430670	That would be awesome. Olberman and Dan Patrick were the best. They need to get rid of Stu "Carlton" Scott and those ditzy women that have infected the show. __________________ Disappointing my parents since 1976
Posts: 9,154

03-04-2013, 10:29 PM	#22
WV Veteran Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: In the Holler Casino cash: $10004950	Unless he can rewind time and make ESPN worth a shit again he can go **** himself.
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03-05-2013, 01:31 AM	#23
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3968880	Just when you think the network can't get worse __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
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03-05-2013, 02:08 AM	#24
Phobia Guest Casino cash: $	I don't think I've seen any of his work since ESPN. He was on when ESPN was actually watchable, not necessarily because of him. But I didn't hate him at the time. Since I haven't seen him since, don't really have an opinion on it.
Posts: n/a

03-05-2013, 05:23 AM	#25
warpaint* Facts are stubborn things. Join Date: Dec 2008 Casino cash: $7054900	Ya he's really liberal. The bigger reason I wouldn't watch than that (I mean if we eliminate all media members that are liberal from what we're willing to watch just turn off your TV set) is that he's such a smug douchebag. A jerk of the highest order. __________________
Posts: 1,575

03-05-2013, 12:17 PM	#29
Baby Lee Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $6838598	FRRRRDDD!!! __________________ We need the kind of courage that can withstand the subtle corruption of the cynics - E.W.
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