It's always been that way. When Simmons was suspended Brian Koppelman wrote about how years earlier he co-wrote a project for ESPN about a fixed college game. Everyone said how much they loved it, told them to get ready to start the project the next day. They show up the next day..... ESPN had sent the pilot script to the NCAA, who told them no, and that was that, project over. Just like how they dropped out of a co-production of a concussion documentary with PBS because the NFL didn't want it to get press.Nick Kaufman said:
If that's the case, then this speaks volumes, not for Simmons, but for the inter tangled relationships between leagues and broadcasters.
http://briankoppelman.com/2014/09/29/on-the-bill-simmons-situation/