1300739 <p>We have internal guidelines designed to inform how we discuss the topic of sports media. These guidelines are important us, because they help maintain the credibility with which ESPN operates. <br /><br />No one knows the guidelines better than Bill Simmons, and he customarily works within these standards. He also understands, as does everyone else at ESPN, that we regard these guidelines as being equally important when participating in social media.<br /><br />While it's unfortunate -- and sometimes painful -- that not everyone outside of ESPN chooses to play by such rules, we choose to hold ourselves to higher standards. Regardless of the provocation, Bill&rsquo;s communication regarding WEEI fell short of those standards. So we&rsquo;ve taken appropriate measures.</p> true 2009-11-20T22:02:16Z 99578 -16 2009-11-24T20:50:33Z