Deadspin: ESPN laying off hundreds today

Wow - if that's true, that's a stunner.

 

Deadspin, and Schwab's Facebook, reporting same: http://deadspin.com/howie-schwab-among-the-layoffs-at-espn-update-512963162. Per Deadspin: Five open production department positions won't be filled, and ESPN News' Highlight Express is gone.

 

Why is that a stunner? Longevity means nothing anymore, and if you're not part of the core lineup, you might be toast.

 

That's a huge surprise to me, because Schwab was for many years Dick Vitale's personal stat guy (and he took care of Vitale's columns on ESPN.com). Not sure if that had changed recently, though.

 

That would explain this photo posted on Deadspin.

 

http://deadspin.com/gary-hoenig-a-founding-editor-of-espn-the-mag-has-bee-513013691

 

Count me as one person who will miss Highlight Express (SC w/o the bs).

 

If true, wow.

 

Make that two. But that show did not "Embrace Debate!" and thus, it must go.

The biggest fountain of facts I've ever met is laid off. Meanwhile, Skip Bayless, who never met a rumor he couldn't turn into a cash windfall, stays. This tells you all one needs to know about what is valued at the self-proclaimed "Worldwide Leader."

 

It's not the longevity. I've heard a number of on-air football people at ESPN go on at length about how amazing Schwab was, and how valuable he was in preparation for their football coverage. He was held in very high esteem by people central to their centerpiece broadcasts. It seems like a very odd place to make a cut.

 

He made a lot of money. That's why he was targeted.

 

How much?

All these powerful people praising Schwab so figure out a way to hire him or if he is so valuable, he should start a consulting business and charge Vitale and the others for his knowledge.