The Bill Simmons Thread

[ifmanis5]

Telling your boss "Please call me and say I'm in trouble. I dare you" sure counts as controversial.

(Though, interestingly, Bill now says in the HR piece that he was trying to take a shot at the NFL there, not at the ESPN hierarchy.)

I'd throw that under the Roger Is A Liar umbrella but point taken.

Most of his time at ESPN and in general has been spent on NBA Value columns, re-telling Teen Wolf jokes and picking against the NFL spread. Considering the size of his audience and his overall media influence I'd say he's been anything but controversial.

 

[ifmanis5]

Bill posted a sorry for being a dick in that article apology.

 

[The Social Chair]

The stuff about women made me cringe. Did he really need to have a daughter to learn to not be an asshole?

 

[Vinho Tinto]

The stuff about women made me cringe. Did he really need to have a daughter to learn to not be an asshole?

I agree. Instead of admitting he was an ass, he would have been better doing his normal procedure of pretending he was never wrong.

 

[chrisfont9]

Thirded on Mallory Rubin. She's great on the basketball pods I've heard too (she was doing some around the NCAA tourney). She seems to know everything about everything that is discussed. Very impressive. She knew her baseball too, based on the first MLB show pod at least. I really wish she and Concepcion did like a 60-90 minute GoT pod each week.

I was really liking her on the NFL podcasts, which she did with Robert Mays around the draft. So it struck me as a little sad that they replaced her with Kevin Clark, who is OK but got off to a terrible start on the QB ranking episode. It was pretty impressive to have a woman doing NFL podcasts in the first place, plus she was really good at it.

All of this has made me not like Mays.

He was pretty condescending to Rubin in those shows, and now he's even worse with the more submissive Clark. Mays paired well in the past with Bill Barnwell, who he clearly respected, but he just as clearly doesn't respect any of his partners so far at the Ringer, and it's obnoxious. I'm sure Rubin got moved around in part because she can do anything but doesn't have time for everything, so she went with entertainment and NBA, or maybe baseball. But I think they have a Mays problem.

 

[nattysez]

It sounds to me like Simmons thinks being Cowherd-lite is a good idea. I disagree, but I guess we'll see.

"It'll be conversations about sports, culture and technology," he says, "and then me being a snarky asshole." The format — a mix of his hard takes and interviews — is subject to change, particularly as its host gets more comfortable with the role of television personality.

Any lack of TV polish didn't deter Stuart Miller, however, a longtime Simmons fan who's coming over to run Any Given Wednesday after more than a decade at The Daily Show. Instead, he saw in Simmons something that can't be as easily taught: "Both Bill and Jon Stewart have really strong points of view, and that supersedes everything," says Miller. "It doesn't matter how many years you might have in front of a camera, if you have a great, strong take on things, which Bill obviously does, that's what matters. Everything else will fall into place."

 

[DLew On Roids]

The stuff about women made me cringe. Did he really need to have a daughter to learn to not be an asshole?

You sound surprised that some people can only learn from their own experiences.

It doesn't speak well of him, but the percentage of people with that problem is pretty high.

 

[kenneycb]

Meh, he's cognizant on not doing hot

 

[JimD]

Bill is fabulously wealthy and successful and couldn't have scripted his landing any better after a disappointing exit from ESPN - why is he still harping in the Hollywood Reporter profile about behind-the-scenes backbiting at ESPN? It's comical that he complains about Bristol being like "f***ing high school' and yet he comes across like a teenaged girl who found out that her supposed friends are laughing about her behind her back. You won, Bill, and you won huge - you had captains of media tripping over themselves to give you everything you wanted after you left ESPN. If John Skipper couldn't find a way to harness your talent at the Worldwide Leader and let bureaucrats and lesser talents influence his ultimate decision, that's on him. I'm not sure what further validation you need.

 

[kenneycb]

Because he's doing press for his show that debuts in a couple weeks and his website that launched last week. Looks like it worked decently enough in getting his name out there.

 

[johnmd20]

Because he's doing press for his show that debuts in a couple weeks and his website that launched last week. Looks like it worked decently enough in getting his name out there.

He was on the cover of the Yahoo home page, even. Usually that is reserved for a Kardashian. Looks like his media blitz is working quite well.

 

[JimD]

Because he's doing press for his show that debuts in a couple weeks and his website that launched last week. Looks like it worked decently enough in getting his name out there.

Maybe it's just me, but the narrative of 'Talented visionary who chafes within media conglomerate, gets fired, bets on his own talent and creates empire' is a great hook. It sucks that he built Grantland only to lose it and see it get shuttered, and it sucks that he probably had something good going with John Skipper only to see that relationship undermined by ESPN palace intrigue and petty office politics, but Bill getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to him.

 

[8slim]

Maybe it's just me, but the narrative of 'Talented visionary who chafes within media conglomerate, gets fired, bets on his own talent and creates empire' is a great hook. It sucks that he built Grantland only to lose it and see it get shuttered, and it sucks that he probably had something good going with John Skipper only to see that relationship undermined by ESPN palace intrigue and petty office politics, but Bill getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Well, the *best* thing that ever happened to him was being hired by ESPN.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

John Skipper calls out Bill, says he fired him for "repeated lack of respect" for ESPN and its people:

http://thebiglead.com/2016/06/13/espn-john-skipper-bill-simmons/

 

[ifmanis5]

John Skipper calls out Bill, says he fired him for "repeated lack of respect" for ESPN and its people:

http://thebiglead.com/2016/06/13/espn-john-skipper-bill-simmons/

Wow, that was a harsh reply. Wonder if Bill will reply back? He probably shouldn't but he's so thin skinned.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Skipper must think that calling Roger Goodell gutless equates to showing disrespect for ESPN and its people. Which could be true, but only if you accept the allegation that the NFL drives the bus at ESPN.

 

[Kliq]

Skipper looks bad there. The thing about the complaints about working with Bill is that pretty much everyone that worked closely with him or under him has praised him. He has gotten a bunch of talented people to leave good jobs to come work with him at the Ringer. I find it hard to believe he can do that and be this disruptive, disrespectful force that needed to be dealt with.

Unless of course, he was criticizing Roger Goodell.

 

[DLew On Roids]

In the Times story referenced in The Big Lead, Simmons says that Moonves told him that he (Moonves) didn't see how CBS could make a deal with Simmons work, given that the NFL is its biggest partner.

 

[DJnVa]

I haven't seen it yet but apparently he has another hot takes commercial up for the new show. Any better than the last one?

I did hear he says something like if Trump University had a hoops team it would essentially be Duke.

 

[SidelineCameras]

He wants to be Sports Czar and he thinks Olympic medals should be sized by order of importance (importance of the sport). Nothing he hasn't said multiple times in columns.

 

[CarolinaBeerGuy]

Wow, that was a harsh reply. Wonder if Bill will reply back? He probably shouldn't but he's so thin skinned.

My thoughts, precisely. He's too thin skinned to let it go.

 

[kenneycb]

He didn't when he got fired and much of the same was said.

 

[JBill]

Speaking of Simmons thin skin, it's kind of amazing how thin skinned Skipper is. Simmons still gets under his skin in the worst way.

 

[The Social Chair]

First guests will be Charles Barkley and Ben Affleck.

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

Barkley is a good call. His podcasts with him have been great. And I assume he and Affleck are tight. Probably good for Simmons to come out of the gate with some easy wins. Those guys have draw and won't require a lot of work outside the comfort zone for Bill.

 

[John Marzano Olympic Hero]

Barkley is a good call. His podcasts with him have been great. And I assume he and Affleck are tight. Probably good for Simmons to come out of the gate with some easy wins. Those guys have draw and won't require a lot of work outside the comfort zone for Bill.

So it's going to be a half-hour of grab ass? Talk about UNCENSORED!

"Ben you were FUCKING great in The Town!"
"Charles, you totally should have won a FUCKING championship!"

 

[The Social Chair]

If both guests are on at the sametime it might play like a sports version of the Graham Norton show.

 

[allstonite]

He said he wanted to have guests that would make sense together or have something in common so they can connect. Drinking and gambling for episode 1?

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

The TV show really takes Bill to a new consumption place. If I'm in the car, sure, I'll throw on the podcast - it's as good as whatever album or sports talk is otherwise available. If I'm at work, sure, I'll kill 10 minutes reading something he wrote, or on the Ringer.

But I really can't see myself sitting down with the wife to watch him on HBO with everything else available. And there's no way he's funny enough to get John Oliver youtube clip-style popular.

Are millennial single people really going to pick him over the latest binge-watch?

It's a pretty interesting experiment on HBO's part, although I guess it's inline with Gumbel's show, etc.

 

[the1andonly3003]

Willie Geist teased a longer interview on Sunday Today

 

[ElUno20]

The TV show really takes Bill to a new consumption place. If I'm in the car, sure, I'll throw on the podcast - it's as good as whatever album or sports talk is otherwise available. If I'm at work, sure, I'll kill 10 minutes reading something he wrote, or on the Ringer.

But I really can't see myself sitting down with the wife to watch him on HBO with everything else available. And there's no way he's funny enough to get John Oliver youtube clip-style popular.

Are millennial single people really going to pick him over the latest binge-watch?

It's a pretty interesting experiment on HBO's part, although I guess it's inline with Gumbel's show, etc.

I think he and hbo know that is the big challenge. There's a different skill set in talking to produce entertainment on a podcast vs a talk show. He's not a dumb guy, I think he'll make the adjustments and put out a decent show.

 

[the1andonly3003]

From Sunday Today: http://www.today.com/popculture/web-extra-watch-bill-simmons-full-interview-willie-geist-t99351

 

[tbrep]

Bill was on Katie Nolan's podcast. They have great chemistry - was a really fun breezy listen

 

[TFP]

Anyone watching live?

 

[TFP]

Yeah this show isn't good.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

The Affleck interview is really good. Barkley was ok, nothing really new.

the editing feels wrong, or maybe its the camera angles

 

[Three10toLeft]

These camera angles are very weird.

The opening monologue, with the way it was shot, looked like Bill was having to crane his neck upwards to actual look in to the camera. It just looked uncomfortable.

 

[TheRealness]

Awkward editing of the interviews. The intro was abrupt, and the opening monologue awkward when focused on him. No real flow at all.

I liked the interview with Barkley, and Affleck's deflategate rant was good though.

 

[naclone]

He's really got to work on his prompter game. Affleck on deflategate was awesome and Simmons somehow kept himself from over-interupting. Thought he was genuinely great with Barkley. The written pieces are not working.

 

[Winger 03]

Outside of New England does anyone really care about deflate gate? I thought Affleck was going to pass out.

I agree on the weird camera angle on the open. It was like he was being distracted by a tall guy behind the camera.

 

[Three10toLeft]

Bill needs more practice reading a prompter and getting comfortable in front of a camera. I think this has potential.

Am I missing something, or did he award himself the "belt" for getting his own tv show on HBO at the end of the episode?

Clearly the highlight of the show was the out takes with Barkley as the credits were rolling. Affleck going off on Deflategate and full man crush mode on TB was pretty good too.

I'm eager to see the differences between this episode and the last one this season.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

i think he gave the belt to "2016" but it wasn't clear or well done

 

[nattysez]

I thought the show was fine. I needed to watch something on my tablet for 30 minutes while my kids fell asleep and this kept me entertained. As others have said:

- the editing and camera angles need work
- they need to set up the teleprompter somewhere else so that Bill looks like he's looking into the camera rather than above it. I wonder if he was paranoid about looking like he had a double-chin. I'm not sure why else they had him looking up so high to read his monologues
- Simmons just needs to slow things down a little, which will come over time.

My big takeaway from the show is that I expect Affleck will be headed back to rehab soon. He was either half in the bag or on something.

 

[The Social Chair]

The opening segment was ok.

He kept taking over Barkley but it was an OK interview.

The Curry segment did not work at all.

The Affleck interview was great due to his manic energy. I imagine he flew directly from the London Batman set to be there and it seemed like he had 12 cups of coffee to shake off his jet lag.

I'll watch again.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Bill was on Katie Nolan's podcast. They have great chemistry - was a really fun breezy listen

I just caught up on this. They do have great chemistry. Also, I think he so wants to get with her.

 

[ifmanis5]

 

[Three10toLeft]

I thought the show was fine. I needed to watch something on my tablet for 30 minutes while my kids fell asleep and this kept me entertained. As others have said:

- the editing and camera angles need work
- they need to set up the teleprompter somewhere else so that Bill looks like he's looking into the camera rather than above it. I wonder if he was paranoid about looking like he had a double-chin. I'm not sure why else they had him looking up so high to read his monologues
- Simmons just needs to slow things down a little, which will come over time.

My big takeaway from the show is that I expect Affleck will be headed back to rehab soon. He was either half in the bag or on something.

Glad I wasn't the only one who thought this. A lot of people seem to throw wild accusations out about celebs during interviews, but he looked/sounded drunk.

Edit: After rewatching the clip it looks like he's rocking a Teddy Kennedy size face now too. Couldn't pin down what looked "off" about him the first time I watched it.

Edit 2: The Curry commercial had potential, but the punchline wasn't really on point. The reason why Curry's commercials suck and his shoes suck is because UA isn't a "cool" brand and Curry isn't a "cool" guy. Nobody who wears mens Express clothing is "cool".

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Hey man - that's the clothing formerly known as Structure you're talking about. Watch it bub.

 

[JohntheBaptist]

Yeah Affleck's face isn't moving. I guess it could be botox but it looked like "can't feel my face"-ville. Also 13 year olds just new to the word don't say "fuck" that often.

And they're talking about Deflategate. I mean I get you guys are the target audience there but how on earth can you listen to someone talk about that still?

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

His face looked bloated and his eyes looked really small. I assumed coke.