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This fall, Monday Night Football‘s play-by-play commentator, Mike Tirico, will pass the ball — well, the mic, anyway — to Sean McDonough.

As our sister site, Deadline, reports, after Tirico departs for his new gig at NBC Sports, he’ll be replaced by McDonough, who has been a member of the Espn team since 2000. (He was also a part of the cable network’s roster from 1989-95.) In addition to working everything from the World Series and the Ncaa Final Four to the Olympic Games and college football, the Mvp has called NFL games for Espn Radio for the last three years.

First Take co-host Skip Bayless, an Espn staple since coming on full-time in 2004, is leaving the network — allegedly for a new gig at Fox Sports.

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Per a statement from Bayless’ soon-to-be-former employer on Tuesday: “Bayless has decided to leave Espn when his contract expires at the end of August. His final appearance on First Take will be the day after the NBA Finals conclude. We want to thank Skip for his many contributions to Espn. His hard work and talent have benefited Espn for 12 years.

Former Major League Baseball pitcher and Espn analyst Curt Schilling was fired by the network on Wednesday for sharing a meme, via social media, mocking transgender people.

The Facebook post in question featured a grotesque photo of a man wearing revealing women’s clothing with the caption: “Let him in! to the restroom with your daughter, or else you’re a narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die!” Schilling later elaborated on the matter in a comment beneath the photo; though both have since been deleted, Sb Nation’s OutSports has screen grabs of the posts.

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Jim Simpson, Espn’s first play-by-play announcer, died Wednesday after a brief illness. He was 88.

The cable sports network reported the death on-air Wednesday, calling Simpson both “a titan in sports television” and “a prince of a gentleman.”

Before joining Espn in 1979, Simpson made a name for himself at NBC by calling events including the World Series, the Olympics, Wimbledon and Afl games. He also did play-by-play of the first Super Bowl for NBC Radio.

His play-by-play beats at Espn were college football, basketball and baseball; the NBA and the Usfl.

Throughout his career, Simpsons also appeared on TNT, ABC and CBS.

Jim Simpson, the Hall of Fame sportscaster who called Super Bowl I on radio and was Espn’s first lead on-air personality, died today in Scottsdale, Az, after a brief illness. He was 88. James Shores Simpson was born in Washington, D.C., on December 20, 1927, and raised in Chevy Chase, MD. He began his broadcasting career in local radio before quitting in 1949 to join the then-brand-new TV outlet in D.C. — complete with 50% salary cut. Working with the station's news…...

Longtime sportscaster Jim Simpson died Wednesday in Scottsdale, Arizona, following what former employer Espn classified as a “short illness.” He was 88. The Hall of Fame broadcaster worked for three broadcast networks and TNT as well. Simpson was in the business for more than 50 years. In 1979, Simpson left NBC for the then-fledgling upstart Espn, which was still in its first month. Before TV was the main medium, Simpson worked in radio. Also Read: David Bowie, Legendary Singer and Style Icon, Dead at 69 From 1986-88, Simpson was the television voice for the Baltimore Orioles on Wmar-tv, the team’s flagship station. In...

Signature Theatre's What I Did Last Summer, written by A.R. Gurney and directed by Jim Simpson, will welcome Izzie Steele The Heart of Robin Hoodin the role of 'Elsie' previously played by Kate McGonigle beginning tonight, June 2nd. The production runs through June 7 at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.

Signature Theatre's What I Did Last Summer, written by A.R. Gurney and directed by Jim Simpson, will welcome Izzie Steele The Heart of Robin Hoodin the role of 'Elsie' previously played by Kate McGonigle beginning next Tuesday, June 2nd. The production runs through June 7 at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center 480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.

Jim Simpson, Artistic Director and Carol Ostrow, Producing Director of The Flea Theater announce the groundbreaking on their future home in TriBeCa. A few years back, The Flea purchased a building at 20 Thomas Street, four blocks south of their current location, with seed money from their Board of Directors and State and City funding. Now they have raised 95 of the funds needed to build a brand new state of the art three theater performing arts complex. The new Flea complex will allow them to continue to produce daring and adventurous theater all the while ensuring a permanent and stable home for the off-off-Broadway company. A Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new building project will take place today, December 5 featuring city officials as well as Flea artists, supporters and invited friends.

The Flea has announced that Thirteen Wnet will be filming the critically acclaimed production of The Vandal on March 29. A broadcast date has not been slated. Written by actor Hamish Linklater School for Lies, Twelfth Night, Recent Tragic Events amp The Busy World is Hushed, and TV's The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Vandal runs through March 31. It is directed by Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson starring Zach Grenier, Deidre O'Connell, and Noah Robbins.

Will the airplane overtake the bat as the flying object most associated with Ozzy Osbourne? British recording industry veteran Jim Simpson, who discovered Osbourne’s pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, is mounting a campaign to rename the rocker’s hometown airport in England after him, the Birmingham Mail reports. Recommended: Top 12 Music Stories of 2012 Efforts in the city of Birmingham to organize a Black Sabbath Day recently stalled, and Simpson sees the airport renaming as an even better option to embrace the town’s musical heritage. “How does The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport resonate?” Simpson said.

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London, Dec 29: Singer Ozzy Osbourne is reportedly set to have an airport named after him.

The 64-year-old has been put forward to be the new title of Birmingham International Airport after council bosses decided to name it after a local hero.

Record company boss Jim Simpson believes it would be a fitting tribute to the singer, who was born in Aston in the English city.

''I believe it would be a master stroke that would instantly confound the cynics. How does The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport resonate? The message says, 'Hey world, we are proud of our own.' Ozzy might not always have been a paragon of virtue,.

Ozzy Osbourne could have an airport named after him in the future. Record label boss Jim Simpson has laid out a campaign to get Birmingham Airport rebranded as 'The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport' in tribute to the city's rocker legend. Black Sabbath first signed to Simpson's Big Bear Music label back in the 1970s, and the music executive hopes the name change would make up for cancelled plans for a Sabbath day in the city. "I believe that there is a masterstroke that would instantly confound the cynics. Just re-name our airport," he told the Birmingham Mail. "How does 'The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport' resonate? The message that would carry is instantly international, confident, powerful, unforgettable and says 'Hey World, we are proud of our own'. "Ozzy might not always have (more)...

Ozzy Osbourne is set to have an airport named after him. The heavy metal legend's moniker has been put forward to be the new title of Birmingham International Airport after council bosses decided to name it after a local hero. Record company boss Jim Simpson - who discovered Ozzy and his first band Black Sabbath - believes it would be a fitting tribute to the singer, who was born in Aston in the English city, and is backing the idea wholeheartedly. Jim said: 'I believe it would be a master stroke that would instantly confound the cynics. 'How does The Ozzy Osbourne International Airport resonate? The message says, 'Hey world, we are proud of our own.' Ozzy might not...

Ozzy Osbourne is set to have an airport named after him. The heavy metal legend's moniker has been put forward to be the new title of Birmingham International Airport after council bosses decided to name it after a local hero. Record company boss Jim Simpson - who discovered Ozzy and his first band Black Sabbath - believes it would be a fitting tribute to the singer, who was born in Aston in the English city, and is backing the idea wholeheartedly. Jim said: ''I believe it would be a master stroke that would instantly confound the cynics. ''How does The Ozzy Osbourne International...

New York -- Holly Hunter will no longer star in the world premiere of Hamish Linklater's play The Vandal, as previously announced. The Oscar-winning actress was forced to withdraw due to scheduling conflicts; no further details were released. Stepping into Hunter's role is New York stage veteran Deirdre O'Connell, who joins Zach Grenier (The Good Wife) and Noah Robbins in the dark comedy set in Kingston, NY, about a woman and a boy who swap stories at a bus stop on a cold night. Jim Simpson directs. Given that rehearsals had not yet begun, the production will maintain its scheduled timetable. Previews will

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Holly Hunter is to star on the New York stage in the off-Broadway play The Vandal. The Vandals is a new production written by Hamish Linklater about a crime spree in Kingston, NY. Hunter is to star alongside Noah Robbins and Zach Grenier, with Jim Simpson attached to direct the stage production. The actress will appear in The Vandals from January 18 to February 17. Hunter has worked extensively (more)...

The Flea Theater (Jim Simpson, Artistic Director; Carol Ostrow, Producing Director) presents a Frances Black Production: Even Maybe Tammy (Or, a Cockamamie Bucket of Ruckus, conceived and directed by Christopher Bayes, written by Christopher Bayes and The Company, music by Alex Knox with Barret O?Brien, lyrics by Christopher Bayes and The Company, lighting design by Adrian Rooney, June 3-13 at The Flea Theater (41 White Street, New York, NY).