Sports

ESPN Expert Puts Forward Bombshell Theory On John Skipper’s Resignation

Mike Windle/Getty Images for ESPN

Jena Greene Reporter
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ESPN President John Skipper shocked the world last month when he announced his very sudden decision to step down from his position. Nobody saw it coming.

Just one month prior to his announcement, Skipper had signed a three year contract extension with ESPN and — despite a rapid decline in ratings — he didn’t seem to have many enemies within the network.

ESPN host Dan Le Batard even cried after learning of Skipper’s departure.

Skipper cited substance abuse as the reason for his jarring exit, but some people aren’t convinced.

One of those people is James Andrew Miller, a journalist and a sports network expert. He wrote the deep dive book on ESPN, “Those Guys Have All The Fun,” and has a column out in the Hollywood Reporter Tuesday titled “Inside An ESPN President’s Shocking Exit (And Bob Iger’s Possible Role).”

He parses no words in his speculation.

“Well, as much as I’d like to join them in believing that, I’m sorry, but I just can’t,” he begins. “What if instead of jumping, John Skipper was pushed — and not because of any sordid story desperately being kept secret? What if the critical word in his statement wasn’t ‘addiction,’ but rather that his departure was ‘mutual’?”

He makes a good argument. Many industry bigwigs who struggle with substance abuse seek treatment without losing their job. Skipper’s been with ESPN for two decades. If this were just substance abuse, says Miller, ESPN would “get the guy immediate help and tell him not to worry about his job because it will be waiting for him. Even if he says he wants to quit, you try and talk him out of it. Alcohol and drug treatment facilities are veritable stomping grounds for corporate leaders on leave.”

Substance abuse alone should not have caused Skipper his job.

But around the same time Skipper announced his departure in December, Disney announced its plans to buy 21st Century Fox. Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed he would be staying at his post, which — according to Miller — allows him the perfect opportunity to groom somebody else to take over ESPN — and later his own position.

“Get the ESPN job, hit that pitch out of the park, and you’ve automatically earned a spot on the shortlist to follow Iger,” Miller suggests of the hiring process.

It’s an interesting theory. Plenty of people have toyed with conspiracies that Skipper was forced out but Miller’s got evidence (and likely some veritable inside sources) to back up his claims.

Nothing has been verified yet and we may never get the full story, but it certainly sheds more light on a matter Disney and ESPN would probably rather not discuss.