News ESPN offered Helwani a pay cut during contract negotiations

[svmr_db]

ESPN executive vice president Norby Williamson is a die-hard Mets fan. When the Wilpons owned the team, they made a habit of finishing second for big time free agents. While it was transparent to anyone paying attention, it allowed them to say:

We tried.

Williamson, with his Mets cap squarely pulled down tight, appears to have done just that in trying just hard enough not to retain Dana White’s nemesis, MMA insider Ariel Helwani.

On UFC, Helwani may be something akin to what Adrian Wojnarowski is on the NBA. Helwani has more than 2 million followers on social media. He is just 38 and popular with his co-workers. He would seem to be a keeper.

But, where ESPN’s business is in relation to retaining many of its on-air personalities, Helwani was worth enough to offer a pay cut. Helwani, who was in the final year of his three-year rookie contract with ESPN, made a salary that approached $500,000.

ESPN initially offered a 10-percent reduction in pay and followed up with a five-percent cut, according to sources. ESPN and Helwani said he could have stayed, but really, how could he in the prime of his career with gambling companies doling out money left and right?

See full article below

https://nypost.com/2021/06/07/ariel-helwani-pay-cut-offer-symbolizes-espns-new-reality/

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Well if he has something better in the pipeline salary wise good for him..

But if he does NOT, making around 475 Grand to talk MMA for a living..

Sounds pretty sweet Ariel..

 

[Krixes]

They had to pay Stephen A Smith somehow....

 

[The Accuser]

Thought so much when Ariel made a point of claiming, that this was "100% his decision". But good on him, I believe he can make more money somewhere else. He is the no 1 MMA journalist.

 

[potato]

Even after the pay cut, his salary would still be ridiculous. He's not even worth half of it.

 

[Pastinaca1]

Journalists are parasites basically. They are a little bit more useful than ring girls and ring announcers but still they pretty much do nothing significant.

Ask questions to fighters and write their opinions somewhere. In that case even us should get paid for posting our wonderful and knowledgeable opinions here.

 

[Failwani]

I want him to go back to Golden Age Helwani where he was leaking fights and rumors on Twitter all day and night long. But I get the feeling he's lost access to key sources after the UFC sale/staff purge, and Ali banning his guys from speaking to him.

 

[Street Samurai]

I doubt he gets more than that on these betting platforms network, but what do i know

 

[rear naked ankle pick]

disgusting weasel helwani is

 

[brackis1]

Journalists are parasites basically. They are a little bit more useful than ring girls and ring announcers but still they pretty much do nothing significant.

Ask questions to fighters and write their opinions somewhere. In that case even us should get paid for posting our wonderful and knowledgeable opinions here.

I would bet everything I own you are a wretched individual.

 

[EndlessCritic]

Can we please stop calling Ariel Helwani a journalist?

 

[DoctorDeelon]

See full article below

https://nypost.com/2021/06/07/ariel-helwani-pay-cut-offer-symbolizes-espns-new-reality/

Helwani ain't worth 500k a year, Jesus what an overpayment.

 

[Rocket Punch]

espn is a piece of shit company, DC & Ariel was dope so they had to end it

nobody wants to see brett okamoto interview ppl lmao

 

[Kyojiro Kagenuma]

See full article below

https://nypost.com/2021/06/07/ariel-helwani-pay-cut-offer-symbolizes-espns-new-reality/

Never really liked the guy. Rubbed me the wrong way

 

[Substance Abuse]

They're doing that to almost everyone. They did that to Kenny Mayne recently.

 

[John Cena]

Terrible move on ESPN's part. Good on him for walking away
I can see FOX offering Helwani a job.

 

[textwarrior]

Well if he has something better in the pipeline salary wise good for him..

But if he does NOT, making around 475 Grand to talk MMA for a living..

Sounds pretty sweet Ariel..

Sometimes staying current is more important. Hopefully, he makes the right moves.

 

[Aldo145]

Happy for this man for wanting to make his money. But him nor any other journalist in this world are worth 500k. All they do is report shit people do or leak shit that's either false/half truths or leak stuff that wasn't suppose to come out quite yet.

 

[B ville Famous]

Can we please stop calling Ariel Helwani a journalist?

 

[Orochimaru 大蛇丸]

I want him to go back to Golden Age Helwani where he was leaking fights and rumors on Twitter all day and night long. But I get the feeling he's lost access to key sources after the UFC sale/staff purge, and Ali banning his guys from speaking to him.

Yeah, he's rubbed a lot of people the wrong way over the years, seems like most people don't like him