Whoa: ESPN shuts down Grantland

The internet isn’t generally known for its depth or skillful writing, which is what always made Grantland so interesting. It was a place where smart sports fans could find great reporting and excellent wordsmithing, a place where stories were about more than Xs and Os.

Now it’s just a memory.

ESPN has shut down the site, effective immediately, months after founder Bill Simmons was let go from the network.

On Friday, the network released a statement announcing the decision.

“After careful consideration, we have decided to direct our time and energy going forward to projects that we believe will have a broader and more significant impact across our enterprise,” the statement said. “Grantland distinguished itself with quality writing, smart ideas, original thinking and fun. We are grateful to those who made it so.”

Not surprisingly, Simmons was upset, taking to Twitter to voice his unhappiness with the decision.

“I loved everyone I worked with at G and loved what we built. Watching good/kind/talented people get treated so callously = simply appalling,” he tweeted.

The suddenness of the move is surprising, but ESPN clearly was not sure what to do with the site after Simmons left in May, when the network decided not to renew his contract.

The network has instituted layoffs and let go other high-profile talents, including Colin Cowherd and Keith Olbermann, amidst a recent decline in subscribers.

Tags: bill simmons, cable, espn, grantland, grantland closing, grantland shut down