Final answer:
Bill Simmons rose as an ESPN employee through his unique sports and pop culture commentary, eventually creating Grantland. After his departure in 2015, he founded The Ringer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bill Simmons, a prominent sports columnist and podcaster, had a significant rise during his tenure as an employee for ESPN. His career began in the early 2000s when Simmons started writing for ESPN.com and eventually expanded his role by creating the sports and pop culture website “Grantland” under ESPN's umbrella. Simmons became known for his unique style, blending sports analysis with pop culture references, which resonated with a wide audience and helped to elevate his profile within ESPN and the sports media industry at large. His tenure with ESPN concluded in 2015 when his contract was not renewed, after which he went on to establish “The Ringer,” a successor to Grantland that would build upon his vision of sports and culture commentary.