Bob Ley has always been honest on the air and off it when his now-former colleagues at ESPN were laid off, paying tribute to them on Outside the Lines.
Now that Ley is no longer with the network, having retired in 2019, he’s honest once again on Twitter as layoffs have once again hit ESPN.
“Trying to remain objective and unemotional as I learn of the ESPN team members laid off today,” he wrote on Thursday, as some of his former colleagues revealed they had lost their jobs. “Not possible. Not as I see countless decades of journalistic experience, and expertise jettisoned. Just when we need it most. Enjoy the DIS stock price and your NFL football.”
Trying to remain objective and unemotional as I learn of the @espn team members laid off today. Not possible. Not as I see countless decades of journalistic experience, and expertise jettisoned. Just when we need it most. Enjoy the DIS stock price and your NFL football.
— Bob Ley (@BobLeyESPN) November 5, 2020
Among those who had lost their jobs was longtime college football writer Ivan Maisel:
ESPN just sent out this note from Chairman Jimmy Pitaro. https://t.co/0TKjSuJ07L pic.twitter.com/qTlK6MBbjo
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) November 5, 2020
I came to work at ESPN 18 years ago today, on Nov. 5, 2002, as the first college football writer at https://t.co/01M4kGwztH. On the day that my employment became an adult, ESPN informed me that upon expiration of my contract on Jan. 31, I will no longer be working here. 1/
— Ivan Maisel (@Ivan_Maisel) November 5, 2020
I'm sorry to report that I was one of the hundreds of people who lost their job at ESPN today. I have nothing but affection for everyone I worked with there the past 10 years. If anyone needs a tireless editor who's passionate about storytelling, reach me at: wenger.ty@gmail.com.
— Ty Wenger (@TyWenger) November 5, 2020
Sad to say I am one of those caught in ESPN’s cuts today. Could not be more thankful to have had the chance to work with some incredible people. Got to live my dream for a few years and do some of the best work of my career. Still have some stuff coming before I’m done, too.
— Chris Peters (@chrismpeters) November 5, 2020
I'm sorry about all of the vitriol over the ESPN layoffs on Twitter today. I'm one of the people who lost my job. I worked there more than 22 years. I'm luckier than most. A lot of good people are losing their jobs. It's nothing to celebrate. It's a very sad day in Bristol.
— Elida Witthoeft (@elidawitthoeft) November 5, 2020
In 1981, I wrote a sidebar at a @Phillies game— my first baseball byline. Wanted to reach a 40th season of coverage, but heck, if 39 was good enough for Campy, it’s good enough for me. I thank @ESPN & the amazing friends/family there for an extraordinary 13 years. I 💖 you all.
— Claire Smith ⚾️ (@MzCSmith) November 6, 2020
