ESPN MASS LAYOFFS: The Shocking Shake-Up Rocking Sports Media

[00:00:00]Greetings and salutations, my beautiful people.

[00:00:04]Welcome to Millio Duran's place where I talk about and display various things.

[00:00:11]Happy, happy, happy Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026.

[00:00:19]Times is flying. I said times. Time is flying. And let me tell you 2026 the year is on the backside already.

[00:00:37]Meaning we already passed the sixth month and we're on the back side of the year.

[00:00:45]See how fast time flies. This is why I always tell people be the best version of yourself.

[00:00:51]Always strive for excellence.

[00:00:54]Pray, read, educate yourself, travel the world, take care of your family, take care of your circle, save, invest. It's very important because time doesn't wait for anybody and one day it will be all over.

[00:01:12]One day it will be all over.

[00:01:16]All right?

[00:01:18]So this is very important.

[00:01:22]very important.

[00:01:25]So ESPN has made headlines these last couple of days with its mass layoffs and um a lot of people talking about it, a lot of people confused, a lot of people are in their feelings about it and um I understand.

[00:01:52]I definitely understand, but this is business.

[00:01:59]This is business.

[00:02:01]And unfortunately, when it comes down to business, a lot of people lose their jobs because unfortunately, nothing trumps the bottom line, which is the money.

[00:02:22]So ESPN initiated a major wave of mass layoffs targeting prominent longstanding onair personalities and behind the scenes staff.

[00:02:38]So, the reason why this has happened obviously is because ESPN is trying to free up some money.

[00:02:52]And I don't know, a lot of people will say, "Well, why are they trying to free up some money?" I don't know. Maybe they trying to create a new show. Maybe they trying to cut back on their budget this year.

[00:03:07]maybe um they want to give other people's raises and bonuses.

[00:03:13]So, in order for a business to save money or make a little bit more money, they have to lay people off. And it sucks. It really does suck. You know, being fired sucks. I've been fired before. So it's not a pleasant feeling but you have to understand it's more business than personal right. So us as human beings we need to understand when the job lays you off nine times out of 10 it's business related. It comes down to the money.

[00:03:55]Okay? We're not talking about people who get fired because they cussing at work and somebody says the hat screams low class.

[00:04:08]Okay. Well, thank you for your comment.

[00:04:10]Um, I don't care if you think it's low class. But anyway, so the individuals that got laid off, Ryan Clark, which is a popular NFL analyst who has reportedly informed of his termination during a commercial break while hosting NFL Live.

[00:04:32]You know, that right there is crazy that Ryan Clark got fired on air.

[00:04:45]I try to put myself in these situations.

[00:04:47]It's like, man, fire somebody during the show.

[00:04:52]That's pretty It's not professional, but unfortunately, when it comes down to these corporations, if they going to fire you, they're going to fire you.

[00:05:07]They going to fire you on your day off.

[00:05:09]They're going to fire you by email.

[00:05:11]They're going to fire you by text message. They going to fire you on the job. They going to f shoot. It is what it is. When I was working, contract work. I came into work that day and um this is why I was like, you know what? I need to just focus on my businesses. I came into work that day and um I was conducting some work and HR called me around 3:00. I think work ends at 4. And they informed me that they were letting me go. And I was like, "Huh?" And they was like, "Oh, well, the reason why we letting you go is blah blah blah."

[00:05:52]And I was just like, "Okay." I mean, I didn't fight it. I didn't dispute it. I didn't argue.

[00:06:00]I said, "Okay, have a great day." And I packed up my bags, packed up my office, and I left. And then I said to myself, "You know what? I'mma just start focusing on my businesses, man.

[00:06:15]Because when you work for a corporation, you're expendable. The corporation doesn't love you. They love your work to make them money. That's the bottom line, the money. So, I had to understand, you know what, man? Instead of me trading in my time for money, I'll rather use my time on myself because I'm in a great situation where I don't have to work for anybody, right? I have my own businesses, I have my investments, I have my savings, and I could focus on me.

[00:06:57]And this is a blessing and a great situation that I'm in because I sacrificed 22 years in the service.

[00:07:07]And by sacrificing 22 years in the service, it allowed me to focus on me now where I don't have to work for any corporation. I don't have to work for anybody. So, I'm in a great situation.

[00:07:22]And I'm blessed because there's a lot of people out here who still have to wake up early in the morning and punch the clock and work for somebody. And I don't have to do that. I could work for myself. If I want to wake up at 11:30 and turn on my computer and conduct some work for 3 hours and then go work out, I could do that. And most people don't have that luxury. So, it's a blessing.

[00:07:46]And I thank God every single day that I can do that. So Cam Newton also a person that got fired, former NFL MVP and also on first take here and there. Okay, we had uh David Lloyd and what's her name? Miss Bell, Stephanie Bell, longtime sports center anchor and pioneer medical injury expert. Okay, Bart Scott, he got let go.

[00:08:20]ESPN New York radio host and studio analyst. I'm a big Bart Scott fan because I am a New York Jets fan. So, you know, Bart Scott was on the New York Jets, I believe, from I want to say what, 2008 to 2012, I guess, during those times with Rex Ryan was the coach and the Jets had a great defense and the number one rushing attack. You had Mark Sanchez, you had um San Antonio Holmes, um Shawn Green was the running back.

[00:08:56]Great Jets teams back in those days.

[00:08:58]back-to-back AFC Championship appearances. It was great to be a Jets fan back then. So, shout out to Bart Scott. Okay. Um, Charles Davis. Wow.

[00:09:10]They let him go, too. That's surprising.

[00:09:12]Charles Davis. Wow. That is something else.

[00:09:18]Wow. So, why did this happen? So, according to reports, ESPN president uh Jimmy is his name is Petero Petaro, sorry if I messed his name up, the reductions are due to corporate restructuring and job redundancies.

[00:09:42]So once again, once again, anywhere to save a dollar, I tell this to people all the time, you will never ever trump the bottom line.

[00:09:53]The bottom line is the bottom line, which is the money. And that's why it's called the bottom line. All right?

[00:10:00]Nobody trumps the bottom line. When you on your job, any job, if your position is important and if your position makes money, if your position is important, and if your position makes money, the job will keep you.

[00:10:33]Okay, the job will keep you.

[00:10:38]If your position is not important and your position is not helping the company make money, trust me, a layoff is coming down the pipeline.

[00:10:49]Anywhere a corporation can save a penny, they'll do it because it's always about the money. All right? Always. Don't fall victim to all the we care about you and your family. We love you. That's just lip service, man. All right. That's just something they read on a on a memo paper and they be like, "Oh, okay. Remember, don't forget to say we support you and you know, we we we love your family and thank you for all the hard work." That's just they just reading that off the damn memo, right? I used to think about that with the military, right? Oh, we love you.

[00:11:31]Blah blah blah. At the end of the day, it's a business. Now, don't get me wrong. I love my country. I love my brothers and sisters that wear the uniform. I served with a lot of people.

[00:11:43]People didn't come back home, right? So, that's my personal love.

[00:11:51]Now, there was a bunch of commanders and generals and fullbirds that used to stand up in front of us and talk that talk.

[00:12:00]Were they telling the truth? I don't know. But me personally, I know everything is a business. So, I don't take it personally. In my younger days, sure I did because I didn't have the mentality. I thought people really did care. But it's business. Everything is business. That's why the money trumps everything. It's the bottom line. That's why it's called the bottom line, ladies and gentlemen.

[00:12:30]All right.

[00:12:32]So, this is why these layoffs happen.

[00:12:34]All right. The president, Mr. Jimmy, said, "Hey, listen, man. Reductions are due to corporate restructuring.

[00:12:43]They trying to save money."

[00:12:46]All right? And they notice that there's job redundancy. That means a lot of people doing the same job. If it takes two people to do this job, why do I have 10 people doing the same job? I'mma keep two and I'mma lay off eight.

[00:13:04]That's how it is.

[00:13:06]Economics, money.

[00:13:10]That's why it's always important to have multiple things going on in your life.

[00:13:17]So if plan A doesn't work, you always have plan B, C, D, and E.

[00:13:23]That's why it's always important to have more than one job, more than one source of income. But a lot of people don't understand that. Or they're lazy and they're like, "Man, I ain't working three jobs. Why not? You ain't doing else. There ain't nothing else to do. Make money, go home." Well, you know, I got to hit the streets and I got You ain't got to do none of that.

[00:13:49]Work 17 hours a day.

[00:13:53]and go home.

[00:13:57]Period.

[00:13:59]Well, I got a family. Well, you shouldn't have had created a family if you know you ain't got no money.

[00:14:06]We going to save that for another day.

[00:14:08]So anyway, earlier in 2024, ESPN completed a multi-billion dollar deal to absorb the NFL network and other league media assets in exchange for giving the NFL a 10% equity stake in ESPN.

[00:14:28]Come on, man. You see what I'm saying? A multi-billion dollar deal.

[00:14:35]These dudes is making money.

[00:14:39]Nobody is going to trump the business.

[00:14:43]Nobody.

[00:14:45]Nobody.

[00:14:48]Those four letters EPN.

[00:14:53]In the president's mind, that's all that matters.

[00:14:59]It's about the money. Don't ever ever get it twisted that you think these people love you. No.

[00:15:12]Keep making me money and I'mma love you.

[00:15:14]Sure.

[00:15:16]You not making me no money. Here's your pink slip. Thank you.

[00:15:22]God bless.

[00:15:25]And you know they ain't got no problem having you no pink slip. It could be Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's, July 4th coming up. You about to take vacation, all that stuff, right? Here's your pink slip. Damn. Um, Mr. President, sir, uh, you know Christmas is coming up. Yeah, I know.

[00:15:48]Here's your pink slip, though. Tell the wife and the kids I said Merry Christmas.

[00:15:57]You'll be like, "Damn.

[00:16:00]Damn, man. That is terrible." Oh my goodness. That is terrible.

[00:16:07]Hey man, welcome to corporate America, man.

[00:16:12]Welcome to corporate America. So, a lot of people don't know this, but all those individuals I named, right? Um, Cam Newton, Charles Davis, David Lloyd, um, what's her name? Stefani Bell, Bart Scott, all got laid off. But the main person everybody knows is Ryan Clark. And I shouldn't say knows, but the main person they talk about is Ryan Clark because his firing or his layoff came on air.

[00:16:56]And so people talking about that because they're like, "Damn, dog. They could have like they could have waited till the show was over." True, they could have, but these people don't care, man.

[00:17:09]That just tells you how they really don't care.

[00:17:13]I'm telling you, make me my money and shut up.

[00:17:19]That's it. And when we have to make some budget cuts and we notice that we could survive without you, we going to give you that pink slip. Now, I'm pretty sure Mr. um Ryan Clark is doing well for himself. He has his other show to pivot. former football player. I'm assuming he knows how to handle finances. I'm pretty sure he saved his money from his football career making moves. So, nothing but blessings and love for that gentleman.

[00:17:53]But it does suck to know that a corporation would fire you while you on the job.

[00:18:05]And like I said, that happened to me.

[00:18:09]They knew they was going to let me go.

[00:18:11]And I came in to work that day. I think it was like a Thursday or a Friday. I came in to work that day. And um I clocked in, you know, and I'm on the computer in my office. I'm doing work.

[00:18:24]Like I said, I was doing contract work.

[00:18:27]Um I got my degree in logistics. So, I'm over here processing work orders, processing um paperwork, creating spreadsheets, all that type of stuff. And you know, it was a normal day. You know, I'm working.

[00:18:44]Cool. Man, don't call me like around 3:00.

[00:18:50]Answer the phone. Hello.

[00:18:53]Is this Mr. Duran? Yeah, it's Mr. Duran.

[00:18:56]Who? Hello. Yeah, this is so and so from the HR department. I'm like I put the phone down. I said, "Oh, boy." You know, when HR calls you, nine times out of 10, it ain't good. So, I was like, "Um, yes, ma'am. Yeah, we're calling to inform you. Um, we're going to let you go. Um, Miss so and so is going to meet you by your office door. Just handle your badge, yada yada yada." I said, "Okay, thank you. Have a great day." I ain't why and what the f and ah. No. I said, "Oh, okay." Because they already made up in their mind. So why argue, you know, why go back and forth? They already made up their mind. Today is my last day.

[00:19:42]Okay. Thank you so much. Have a great day. And I packed up my office, put all my stuff in a box, took my degree off the wall and my retirement uh certification from the military off the wall and different pictures and awards and my degrees off the wall, loaded up in my car and I left and that was it. I didn't fuss, I didn't complain, whatever. But that just told me that it's business and the bottom line will never ever be trumped, which is the money. All right? And if you don't fall within their guidelines and policies, they're going to let you go.

[00:20:27]That's just life. That's what happens.

[00:20:31]So, it's important to have a plan B, C, D, and E. Multiple incomes. Not one, not two, maybe three, but that's the minimum. You should have at least five.

[00:20:46]I'm trying to tell you, man. Better have you five sources of income. Your own business, a job that you punch in the clock, your investments should be making you some money, another side hustle.

[00:21:00]Like, it's about making this money.

[00:21:03]Period. You should either be working or working out. But the key word is work.

[00:21:11]Those two things should be always going on. Working and working out every day.

[00:21:18]No day off. Even when you're on vacation, you better be working and working out. Man, I don't do that during vacation. Okay. Whatever. Don't complain about your life. So, let's move on.

[00:21:33]The reason why Ryan Clark got so much attention, like I said, he was fired during mid broadcast.

[00:21:44]So what did he do? He walked off the show.

[00:21:50]He walked off the show.

[00:21:56]They said, "My man Ryan Clark walked off the show, man." But this is the kicker, man. This is according to reports. So, I don't know if this is true or not. So, they saying the reason for all these budget cuts is not only because people were doing the same job and they trying to free up some money, but they said they was going to give Pat McAfee a massive increase in pay.

[00:22:25]They said 60 million plus annual contract extension for host Pat McAfee.

[00:22:33]So they let go of all these other people so they could give Pat McAfee a bump in his salary. What did I just say to you on this live stream? When you make the company more money, they going to keep you.

[00:22:51]other people who ain't making that money for the company, they gonna release you.

[00:22:57]It's business, right? If I'm not making my money for the company and then you got Mr. Pat McAfee over here making crazy numbers and my numbers is like okay the mediocre and they looking at the revenue and they like yo Pat McAfee is making us about 100 million and Millio only making us about 2 million.

[00:23:28]How much we paying Ailio? Yeah, we paying him about 10 million. Yeah, let's get rid of his ass. We'll um give Pat McAfee Emilios 10 million.

[00:23:40]That's what they did. It's business.

[00:23:43]It's business. Does it suck? Sure. But that's life. You know what sucks? If you was born with AIDS, that sucks. Okay, that sucks. Getting laid off. People get laid off every day. B, that's my uh inner camera on from Paid for. People get shot every day, be people get laid off every day, be all right. It is what it is. But guess what? If you was a baby and you was born with AIDS, now that sucks. All right, man. Just keeping it a thousand with y'all, man.

[00:24:19]Some of y'all, you know, y'all too emotional. It's still You still going to be like, "But that's not fair." I know.

[00:24:26]Tell that to the child going with AIDS.

[00:24:28]Tell that to that child. So, I just wanted to come on here live and say listen y'all.

[00:24:40]Was it done grimy? Sure. But money is number one. Never forget that we live in a capitalistic society.

[00:24:55]Money rules.

[00:24:58]Okay?

[00:25:00]They don't care about your children.

[00:25:02]They don't care about your wife. They don't care about your husband. They don't care that you have an expensive car that you have to pay for. They don't care that you have a big ass house and you got mortgage you have to pay for.

[00:25:15]They don't care that Christmas is coming up. They don't care that Thanksgiving is around the corner. They don't care if it's your anniversary coming up. They don't care if your wife is pregnant and a child is coming. They don't care about Fourth of July. They don't care that Father's Day is right around the corner.

[00:25:31]If you not making no money for the business, here's your pink slip and have a spectacular day.

[00:25:43]Period.

[00:25:46]So, it sucks, but I see why ESPN did it. They got to make some room to pay they superstar.

[00:26:00]You know what I'm saying? Old Pat, you know what I'm saying? They got to pay Pat.

[00:26:06]Pat is bringing in the money.

[00:26:10]He's bringing in the revenue.

[00:26:14]We got to give him a bonus.

[00:26:16]Pat is making us money.

[00:26:21]All right. He's making us money.

[00:26:24]I'm telling you, man. What's my man's name that got let go? I'm so bad with pronunciation.

[00:26:31]Carl, what is it? Carl um Re Ravich, right? He's a legendary baseball broadcaster.

[00:26:41]They let him go. He been working for them for 33 years.

[00:26:49]33 years.

[00:26:56]I'm reading it right now. 33 years.

[00:27:06]Here's your pink slip, sir. Thank you for everything you've done, Carl. We appreciate you and love you. Really?

[00:27:15]Then why am I being laid off if you appreciate me and you love me? Well, we have to utilize your money to pay Pat McAfee because he's I mean, his numbers is going up. Yours uh ain't really going up, but we appreciate your loyalty.

[00:27:37]And I'm pretty sure maybe they might have gave him a little bonus or his retirement cuz 33 years, man, that's a long time for Carl, man. What is his name? Carl Reich. Ravich. I think it's Carl Ravich, right? He's a baseball broadcaster.

[00:27:58]And he's been with the network for 33 years. That's a long time, ladies and gentlemen. Some people can't even work for two years. He worked for 33. Okay.

[00:28:11]It is what it is, man. It is what it is.

[00:28:16]So ESPN and Disney cut around 7,000 jobs across his portfolio cuz you already know Disney owns ESPN.

[00:28:29]7,000 jobs gone.

[00:28:42]Everybody's expendable, man.

[00:28:45]That's why it's very important, ladies and gentlemen, when you come to work or when you go to work and you clock in, you better make sure that you are asset.

[00:28:58]You better make sure that you doing everything in your power to make sure the company is making money. Because if they see that you ain't making us no money, you going to get that email and you going you going to pull it up.

[00:29:16]You going to be like, "What is this I'm reading?" OH, I GOT fired by email.

[00:29:30]What the hell? How you fire me by email?

[00:29:37]Come on y'all. Or you going to get that call from the HR department.

[00:29:44]Mr. Durant, how can I help you? Hey, Mr. Duran. This is um Lisa from the HR department. How you doing, sir?

[00:29:52]Um I'm I'm okay.

[00:29:56]Yeah, we're here to inform you. um you know, we're going through some uh layoffs and uh your name was uh one of the individuals. Um you know, very unfortunate. We're very sorry that we're going to have to lay you off, but um you know, thank you for everything you've done for the company. We wish you nothing but the best. Okay, sir.

[00:30:18]Um okay, man. You know, that's how that's how that's how the phone call goes. You know, it's it's polit politically correct. I have a hard time saying that word. Excuse me. So, that's how it goes, right? It's like, "Hey, how you doing? This is Lisa from the HR department." They all happy and cheery and on the phone. And it's like, "Why are you so happy and cheery on the phone? You about to tell me some bad news." But listen, they professional, right? I'm sure it's in their policy. Listen, when you about to fire somebody, be happy and cheery. Hey, this is Lisa. Hey, how you doing, sir?

[00:30:57]Um, I'm calling to inform you that today is your last day, sir. We're going to have to let you go due to some uh budget cuts. You know, thank you for everything you've done. Nothing but the best on your future um endures, right? Is that how you pronounce that word? Your future adventures. I'll say that word. I'm bad with words, right?

[00:31:19]That's They all cheery and happy and and they fired you over the phone and you mad, right? You like, "What?"

[00:31:27]And see, that's why most people they stop with phone calls. Now they just send you a text message or email cuz a lot of people y'all take it personal.

[00:31:37]It's business. But y'all be in your feelings when y'all get fired and you're like, "I'mma burn this mother down if I ain't got no job. No got no job." You know, disgruntled. That's why they send you emails now. So when you you go on your email to check your email, you be like, "What is this? I got fired.

[00:31:55]Why they ain't call me?" Well, the reason why they ain't call you is because they know you a very emotional individual and you probably going to crash out. So they're just going to send you the email and make sure security is right there after you read the email so you could turn in your badge and get off the premises.

[00:32:18]I'm just being honest. That's why a lot of corporations, they either call you or send you a email or maybe send you a text when you get hold. Hey, don't even worry about coming in tomorrow, man. You fired. All right. Thank you for everything you done. Matter of fact, somebody else will pack up your office and mail you your stuff. Thank you so much. God bless. Good luck on your future.

[00:32:44]And then you got to look at your wife and be like, "Be I just got fired." What you mean?

[00:32:52]How we going to take care of the children?

[00:32:58]It's not funny. But that's how they That's how they be firing folks nowadays, man. They send your ass an email. You be like, "Damn, you couldn't even speak to me face to face?" Nah, cuz nine times out of 10 you might crash out and try to punch me in the face. So I'mma just send you a text message and fire your ass at 8:00 p.m. and you could you you with your wife so you could just yell at your wife. I'mma be home in my mansion. That's how they do, folks. I'm just being honest, y'all. So once again, man, ESPN mass layoffs. Mass mass mass layoffs man. Ryan Clark, Cam Newton, Carl Vich, is it Carl Vich? I keep messing up that gentleman's name. Bart Scott. Oh my god. Charles Davis, David Lloyd. Like, they are freeing up the money, ladies and gentlemen. They are freeing up the money. And then they said they going to give all that money to Mr. Pat McAfee. Round of applause for Pat McAfee.

[00:34:05]Round of applause for Pat McAfee.

[00:34:08]My lord.

[00:34:10]He played football. He was known as a punter. A punter, ladies and gentlemen.

[00:34:16]And he retired from the football NFL league. Started doing podcast in his house or his garage. Now look at him now about to sign a 60 plus million dollar contract extension because people love his charisma, his charm, his energy, right? They love him.

[00:34:37]I love Pat. He's exciting.

[00:34:42]Hey man, we going to have to keep Pat McAfee. This is what they was talking off. We got to keep them. What we going to do? Uh yo, we going to get rid of all these other people, man. They ain't making us no money. All right, Tel Ryan, we got to let him go. Cam Newton, yeah, we could let him go. All right, David Lloyd, we'll let him go. Bart Scott, see you later. Uh, what's her name? Stefani Bell, goodbye. Um, Charles Davis, yeah, he could go. Even Tom, what's his name?

[00:35:11]Tom. Um, Pelissiaro. Pissurro.

[00:35:16]He could get out of here. He ain't making us no money. Carl, I know you listen, Carl. I know you was with us for 33 years, but yeah, don't come back. And so the bottom line is the bottom line. Please, y'all remember this.

[00:35:35]You don't trump the business.

[00:35:38]All right?

[00:35:41]It's not personal.

[00:35:43]It's always about money.

[00:35:46]And when you're not making no money for the company, you going to get a pink slip. You going to get a call from the HR department. You going to get a email.

[00:35:54]You going to get a text message.

[00:35:58]All right? Don't just go to work doing mediocre crap. If you not making the company relevant and money, you going to get fired.

[00:36:12]All right, y'all. Keep playing. I'm I'mma read about y'all in the news. See, I I'm in a great situation, man. I don't have to clock in and out. I put in my work for 22 years. I retired and I set myself up during my work. So, I have my investment. I got my businesses. So, when you trade your time for money, this is what happens, man. I'm just being honest, you know? I don't care about how people feel. I'm just here to tell you what it is. And if you're not productive on the job, they gonna fire your ass. Period.

[00:36:49]Make us money or get out of our way. All right. All right. I appreciate y'all.

[00:36:56]Love y'all. Thank y'all for tuning into my live stream. I'll be back on live later on today. All right. With the word uh and reading of affirmation and another topic to discuss. Thank you so much. Like, share, and subscribe. Leave a comment. I will comment back. All right, enjoy the rest of your day. Happy Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026.

[00:37:22]I appreciate y'all. I love y'all.

[00:37:24]Salute.