A lot of people wondered Simmons was on a “paid vacation” or if his suspension was unpaid. We have the answer now thanks Sports Business Daily. Simmons was suspended without pay after daring ESPN to do just that. Simmons makes a lot of money, so it isn’t going to put too much of a dent in his wallet, but it tells you that ESPN didn’t just give him a slap on the wrist.
It is longest suspension in ESPN history and with Simmons contract coming up next year and it makes you wonder how tenuous those negotiations will be. Simmons needs ESPN and ESPN needs Simmons, so in the end a deal will probably be reached unless someone decides to do a double dare.
Some believe the entire thing was orchestrated by ESPN and Simmons for publicity, I don’t think that is the case, but it has made Simmons out to be a bit of a martyr to his already crazed fanbase.