Last Wednesday, ESPN President John Skipper announced the company would be laying off more than 100 people, including many long-time analysts, commentators, reporters, writers and play-by-play personnel.

As someone who has been watching ESPN almost from day one, I can tell you I am sickened by the announcement.

But the layoffs are just the latest changes at ESPN that have made me start to question why I even watch the channel anymore.

They have dropped good shows and replaced them with people who feel that acting like a clown is more important than providing quality sports reporting and coverage.

While one of my favorite shows remains the mainstay on ESPN, “First Take,” I am beginning to wonder if the NFL Draft last weekend was my swan song when it comes to watching the network.

Sunday morning, when I saw that the “Sports Reporters” last show would be this Sunday, that was the last straw for me.

I understand that being a sports writer may draw me into that particular show more than the casual fan, but ESPN used to be about delivering quality sports reporting to its fan base.

Now I have to wonder if that truly is their desired result.

Take for example the 6 p.m. “SportsCenter,” which is now called “The Six.”

That went from being informative highlights and information to a sideshow hosted by Michael Smith and Jemele Hill.

Sports fans do not need it to be “younger and hipper.” What we need is for it to deliver the information we need and the high-quality highlights we have become accustom to.

“The Six” is supposed to continue ESPN’s trend of more conversation-based, personality driven content.

I really do not care what Smith and Hill think about sports, social media or anything else they care to talk about.

Give me the facts. Show me the pictures and my brain will create its own social commentary about what I just watched.

I do not mind Scott Van Pelt doing the same thing at midnight on SportsCenter. That is an entirely different arena.

But when you are coming home after working all day and want to catch up on what happened in the early games or even those from the previous night, you do not have time to wade through the load of crap they are shoveling.

I cannot wait to see who ESPN picks to replace the likes of veteran reporters like Ed Werder, Danny Kanell, Jayson Stark, Trent Dilfer, Jay Crawford, Len Elmore, Dottie Pepper, Dr. Jerry Punch, Andy Katz and Britt McHenry.

Then again, maybe I will not wait and see.

I can always watch “First Take” via podcast and completely eliminate ESPN from my daily viewing. I already cannot stand FOX’s sports shows and NBC’s attempts to recreate what ESPN captured right from the beginning have come up short as well.

I can always get my fill of sports stories the old fashion way. By reading newspapers, both traditional print editions I can hold in my hand and electronic versions that I can read on my computer, tablet and cell phone.

So long ESPN. It has been a good run.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com.