John Skipper, head of Perform Group (DAZN), left ESPN because of cocaine use

Just a fun fact for the DAZN fans. https://money.cnn.com/2018/03/15/media/espn-john-skipper-cocaine/index.html Former ESPN President John Skipper said he resigned from his role because of a cocaine extortion plot, according to comments he made in an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter. In the interview, Skipper talked about how he used cocaine and had always been careful about his usage. However, a lapse of judgment led to Skipper's decision to buy cocaine from a new source, which had big consequences. "They threatened me, and I understood immediately that threat put me and my family at risk, and this exposure would put my professional life at risk as well," Skipper said. "I foreclosed that possibility by disclosing the details to my family, and then when I discussed it with Bob, he and I agreed that I had placed the company in an untenable position and as a result, I should resign." For the first time in decades, John Skipper spearheaded a launch event for a sports network that has nothing to do with ESPN. The longtime former president at the Disney-owned sports mainstay took the stage today as executive chairman of Perform Group (see video below). Perform’s service, DAZN (pronounced “da zone”), operates in several countries around the world and will hit U.S. shores on September 10. The leading edge of its $10-a-month service initially will be boxing and MMA, with more than 70 matches courtesy of partnerships with Matchroom Boxing U.S.A., Bellator MMA and the World Boxing Super Series. https://deadline.com/2018/07/john-skipper-led-streaming-service-dazn-touts-september-u-s-launch-1202428058/ So if you ever wonder why they gave Eddie Hearn a billion dollar "war chest" for DAZN, remember that the man behind DAZN is a crackhead.

Comments (20)

Redd_Foxx

Ok. See you in the next DAZN/Hearn related thread. And the next one. And the next one. :lol1: Sounds like you really wanted to say that but couldn't find a good place for it so you just picked a random post and went at it. :lol1: Get ahold of yourself kid. These Hearn goons are embarrassingly dense.

7y ago

techliam

Lol @ people making excuses for the guy. This isn't the late 70's/early 80's where coke usage is in style. DAZN seems to be a series of disappointments and there's this weird fanbase that tries to normalize it all. :lol1: Ok. See you in the next DAZN/Hearn related thread. And the next one. And the next one. :lol1:

7y ago

_Rexy_

It wasn’t his drug use or his performance why he lost his job , but him being a public figure for a large corporate company that obviously doesnt want any negative publicity that made him resign That’s the difference So let me get this straight you A-OK with letting your private life be separated from work until some envious scumbag looking for $ tries to blackmail you , then it becomes a problem I don’t know I just think what a person does when their off the clock is their business as long as they aren’t bringing it to the office or hurting another person the person doing the blackmail is the POS , not the guy who likes to do blow and has a proven track record of not letting it disrupt his work of course the guy doing the blackmail is a POS. he is a cocaine dealer. Strange he expected he was buying from the cocaine dealer with the heart of gold.

7y ago

R_Walken

It isnt my business what people do but you said the drug did not get in the way of his work..But it did as it is the reason he had to leave that job It wasn’t his drug use or his performance why he lost his job , but him being a public figure for a large corporate company that obviously doesnt want any negative publicity that made him resign That’s the difference So let me get this straight you A-OK with letting your private life be separated from work until some envious scumbag looking for $ tries to blackmail you , then it becomes a problem If Larry posted one of these videos, then someone decided to blackmail him with it and Larry had to resign from his job, I'd argue that it affected his job performance. That said, Larry needs to mail me some backwoods, because the nanny state up here banned them. I don’t know I just think what a person does when their off the clock is their business as long as they aren’t bringing it to the office or hurting another person the person doing the blackmail is the POS , not the guy who likes to do blow and has a proven track record of not letting it disrupt his work

7y ago

rolshans

It isnt my business what people do but you said the drug did not get in the way of his work..But it did as it is the reason he had to leave that job ^^^this is when you know a poster isn't intellectually honest. SMDH.

7y ago

_Rexy_

What a person chooses to do in their private life unless it’s hurting another person when their off the clock is their business and shouldn’t effect their job Larry Should you lose your job because you threaten people on Twitter , or post videos on a boxing website holding guns , drinking and smoking blunts threatening members ( both of which effect other people ) Or should you be able to live your life and have a job as long as you don’t bring it to the workplace and it doesn’t effect your performance? If Larry posted one of these videos, then someone decided to blackmail him with it and Larry had to resign from his job, I'd argue that it affected his job performance. That said, Larry needs to mail me some backwoods, because the nanny state up here banned them.

7y ago

LarryX

What a person chooses to do in their private life unless it’s hurting another person when their off the clock is their business and shouldn’t effect their job Larry Should you lose your job because you threaten people on Twitter , or post videos on a boxing website holding guns , drinking and smoking blunts threatening members ( both of which effect other people ) Or should you be able to live your life and have a job as long as you don’t bring it to the workplace and it doesn’t effect your performance? It isnt my business what people do but you said the drug did not get in the way of his work..But it did as it is the reason he had to leave that job

7y ago

R_Walken

the fact he was using the drug got in the way of his work as he had to resign....had he not been on drugs the issue would not had existed What a person chooses to do in their private life unless it’s hurting another person when their off the clock is their business and shouldn’t effect their job Larry Should you lose your job because you threaten people on Twitter , or post videos on a boxing website holding guns , drinking and smoking blunts threatening members ( both of which effect other people ) Or should you be able to live your life and have a job as long as you don’t bring it to the workplace and it doesn’t effect your performance?

7y ago

LarryX

He didn’t lose his job He resigned because his drug dealer Tried to extort him and make it public and he chose to resign instead of having his private life put On front street He decided to control the narrative From all reports he didn’t Let his drug use get in the way of his work , Espn recently gave him a contract extension before he resigned so obviously they felt his drug use didn’t get in the way of his performance at the job the fact he was using the drug got in the way of his work as he had to resign....had he not been on drugs the issue would not had existed

7y ago

R_Walken

Had his vices under control??? lol. He lost his job as arguably the most powerful person in sports due to his cocaine use. That doesn't sound like "under control" at all. He didn’t lose his job He resigned because his drug dealer Tried to extort him and make it public and he chose to resign instead of having his private life put On front street He decided to control the narrative From all reports he didn’t Let his drug use get in the way of his work , Espn recently gave him a contract extension before he resigned so obviously they felt his drug use didn’t get in the way of his performance at the job

7y ago

LarryX

Does that mean you guys should support DAZN??? Ya'll are Mayweather nuthuggers, or are you only supporting crackheads but not cokeheads? What do mayweather fans have to do with crackheads?? why were mayweather and his fans even mentioned in this thread?

7y ago

BennyBlanco

I’m sorry Larry but this post is retarded It’s about control, I know a handful multi millionaires that do coke occasionally , trust me when I say their life’s great , I’ve also seen first hand people throw their lives away from drugs and alcohol. It’s about managing your vice and not letting it control you , you can say the same thing about any vice that it ruins lives if not managed properly and responsibly Your examples whether it’s you or your family or friends that ruined their lives from drugs is probably because they let the drugs control them, weak minded people People need to take responsibility for their actions back to the topic , Buddy was able to be a top guy at ESPN Its pretty obvious he had his vices under control , doesn’t seem like coke ruined his life Had his vices under control??? lol. He lost his job as arguably the most powerful person in sports due to his cocaine use. That doesn't sound like "under control" at all.

7y ago

R_Walken

you are out of control period if you are doing coke..If you were in control you would never put that stuff up your nose period..Not sure why people act like coke is some ok drug to use...it ruins lives and families...SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE!! I’m sorry Larry but this post is retarded It’s about control, I know a handful multi millionaires that do coke occasionally , trust me when I say their life’s great , I’ve also seen first hand people throw their lives away from drugs and alcohol. It’s about managing your vice and not letting it control you , you can say the same thing about any vice that it ruins lives if not managed properly and responsibly Your examples whether it’s you or your family or friends that ruined their lives from drugs is probably because they let the drugs control them, weak minded people People need to take responsibility for their actions back to the topic , Buddy was able to be a top guy at ESPN Its pretty obvious he had his vices under control , doesn’t seem like coke ruined his life

7y ago

Jubei

Does that mean you guys should support DAZN??? Ya'll are Mayweather nuthuggers, or are you only supporting crackheads but not cokeheads?

7y ago

_Rexy_

thats a lie, i dont know one coke user who will just leave 2 lines sitting there Yup, before I got clean (alcoholic) I can vouch 100% and I wasn’t even a coke addict. Coke was just a way to keep drinking lol

7y ago

Chrismart

He was just honest about his use...there are alot of people in high positions doing worse...people love to judge people but dont see all the demons around them everyday Yeah, I imagine it's pretty rife in the suits departments of the sport to be honest. Oscar, Kalle Sauerland (I guess i'm assuming with Kalle, but it's a running joke with him). It's seem to be a downside that often comes with the territory of high power roles.

7y ago

rolshans

Its not just an American problem...drugs have no mercy on race, nationality or gender nO mErCy!!

7y ago

LarryX

Far from it. £££. Went to a restaurant yesterday took little one toilet in cubicle and there was 2 lines of coke!!! Here in London it’s everywhere. I know police officers teachers etc that all use the stuff! It’s an epidemic here what about where you are? Couldn’t justify the cost tbh. Like my holidays thats a lie, i dont know one coke user who will just leave 2 lines sitting there

7y ago

LarryX

In America this can be problematic. They're very prude and conservative about cocaine over there. Its not just an American problem...drugs have no mercy on race, nationality or gender

7y ago

LarryX

If anyone did have the notion of signing up to DAZN this should deter them. You are clearly helping to pay for a man's drug use and need to be careful as you may end up in prison by association. Is it worth going to prison for? Is the WBSS worth the price of being raped in the shower? Think of the children. He was just honest about his use...there are alot of people in high positions doing worse...people love to judge people but dont see all the demons around them everyday

7y ago