The Bill Simmons Thread

Hal Waffid

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Nov 14, 2023
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Serious question to the people who really hate Simmons: do you guys ever step back and examine your relationship with him? Just in the last few posts we have people critiquing his facial hair, choice of headphones, and the way he eats pizza. And those are just brief interruptions from the usual discourse in this thread, which typically consists of fan fiction that posits that the people he works with all secretly hate him. From a big picture standpoint, this behavior is. . . kinda weird.
I'll tell you who I don't like - Lombardi.
 

JCizzle

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I fucking love the annual NBA over/under podcasts. I thought Simmons and Russillo were both a bit dour by the end of last year and I normally love their NBA content. Instead of having fun with it, it felt like they both were viewing the whole sport too critically instead of deriving enjoyment out of the game. Likely impacted by listening too much NBA media. House is a breath of fresh air to keep things fun without the weight of being a "real" analyst.
 

CaptainLaddie

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If you want to read some stuff from real Simmons psychotics, go check out the /r/BillSimmons subreddit. And if you want to get even weirder, listen to the /r/BillSimmons podcast... which is a real thing. Apparently the guy who runs the podcast posted Bill's daughter's soccer schedule to twitter at one point.

Normal shit!
 

luckiestman

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I fucking love the annual NBA over/under podcasts. I thought Simmons and Russillo were both a bit dour by the end of last year and I normally love their NBA content. Instead of having fun with it, it felt like they both were viewing the whole sport too critically instead of deriving enjoyment out of the game. Likely impacted by listening too much NBA media. House is a breath of fresh air to keep things fun without the weight of being a "real" analyst.
Here is the thing about Russillo; he is way less of a real analyst than House. The more you pay attention to this guy the less impressive he is. He cultivates this serious analyst persona but there is nothing there. He is really good talking about things that already happened and making it seems like he know why they happened.
 
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8slim

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I fucking love the annual NBA over/under podcasts. I thought Simmons and Russillo were both a bit dour by the end of last year and I normally love their NBA content. Instead of having fun with it, it felt like they both were viewing the whole sport too critically instead of deriving enjoyment out of the game. Likely impacted by listening too much NBA media. House is a breath of fresh air to keep things fun without the weight of being a "real" analyst.
Is there a version of the pod that removes all of Russillo’s content. I kinda never want to hear from him ever again. But I do like Bill and House
 

JCizzle

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If you want to read some stuff from real Simmons psychotics, go check out the /r/BillSimmons subreddit. And if you want to get even weirder, listen to the /r/BillSimmons podcast... which is a real thing. Apparently the guy who runs the podcast posted Bill's daughter's soccer schedule to twitter at one point.

Normal shit!
WTF. That's legit scary behavior.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Russillo dropped a ‘Bill, I don’t think you’d be saying these complimentary things about Mazzulla had they come up short in the playoffs.’ Why is he on these NBA pods? Keep it to House.
 

Auger34

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Here is the thing about Russillo; he is way less of a real analyst than House. The more you pay attention to this guy the less impressive he is. He cultivates this serious analyst persona but there is nothing there. He is really good talking about things that already happened and making it seems like he know why they happened.
It’s because he never has a real opinion. He covers literally every angle possible. Once you realize he’s doing it, it’s fucking maddening.
Its like a 5 minute word salad and it ends exactly where he started
 

8slim

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I listened to some of the NBA over/under pod, and just hearing Russillo’s voice gets me angry. Damn him for ruining these pods because of his meandering, inane takes.
 

8slim

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It’s because he never has a real opinion. He covers literally every angle possible. Once you realize he’s doing it, it’s fucking maddening.
Its like a 5 minute word salad and it ends exactly where he started
Bingo. He says nothing. People can make fun of Simmons all they want, at least he says things and puts himself out there. Russillo wanders his way through multiple paragraphs without actually articulating any kind of discernible point of view.
 

Kliq

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Russillo doesn't bother me quite as much as he bothers some of you guys--but I had to let out an audible "shut the fuck up" while driving when he started talking about how Booker playing in the Olympics over Tatum justified his Booker>Tatum position.
 

DJnVa

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Russillo dropped a ‘Bill, I don’t think you’d be saying these complimentary things about Mazzulla had they come up short in the playoffs.’ Why is he on these NBA pods? Keep it to House.
So he's saying people would have different opinions on things if things turned out differently? Amazing.
 

leetinsley38

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It never ceases to amaze me that a guy who was arrested for passing out drunk and naked in a strange house -- while in his 40s -- gives life advice on his show.
The key worked. It just did.

Actually will stick up a bit for RR. I don’t listen to him for deep basketball analysis. The fact that he is an almost 50 year old male that grinds tape every night to stay ahead and drones on about the Raptors substitution patterns is part of the charm.

RR is a rare mix of taking himself way too seriously (meathead lifting stuff, “I’d rather be alone than annoyed”, screenwriting, urban camo Russillo gear, etc.), but then he has a sly deadpanned self deprecating humor style that is hilarious and subtly shows he’s in on the joke (at least to a degree). And his interactions with Kyle are pure gold - a nepo cousin that gets drunk at a dive bar every afternoon that stumbled into podcast fame vs. RR selling tickets for the Trenton Thunder and fill in shifts at the Zone to claw his way up.
 

Kliq

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To give some credit to RR, his bit about not selling your Kevin Huerter stock was hilarious.
 

Euclis20

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RR's opinions on the Celtics have been tired since at least the spring, but I really enjoyed these episodes regardless. The statmuse jokes did not get old.
 

greek_gawd_of_walks

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RR just going "what the fuck are you doing?" when Bill started stroking out attempting a "Houston" accent was vintage Russillo. I am a fan of his, and probably always will be, but I can understand why he grates on people.

"You see him set a screen the other night? That was fucking awesome!” on Russell Westbrook.

Also, the BS pod needs more House.
 

sezwho

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RR just going "what the fuck are you doing?" when Bill started stroking out attempting a "Houston" accent was vintage Russillo. I am a fan of his, and probably always will be, but I can understand why he grates on people.

"You see him set a screen the other night? That was fucking awesome!” on Russell Westbrook.

Also, the BS pod needs more House.
I’m fine with RR and appreciate he seems to have his own opinions based on what he sees, but yeah it can grate. More House yes, and I always liked the Gregarious Raconteur. What happened to him?
 

sezwho

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Bills latest choice to give Lombardi a huge platform to spew his pro BB anti Kraft/Mayo propaganda is not what I’m looking for.

Our own discussion board has degenereated so heavily this way that I’ve basically tapped out engaging here, but was hoping to avoid the same stupid retcon on national feed. Oh well.
 

Kliq

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Bills latest choice to give Lombardi a huge platform to spew his pro BB anti Kraft/Mayo propaganda is not what I’m looking for.

Our own discussion board has degenereated so heavily this way that I’ve basically tapped out engaging here, but was hoping to avoid the same stupid retcon on national feed. Oh well.
I'll take Lombardi though as someone that gives his blunt, honest opinions on the Friday pods over Peter Schrager, who just loves everything and every one in the league.
 

luckiestman

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I'll take Lombardi though as someone that gives his blunt, honest opinions on the Friday pods over Peter Schrager, who just loves everything and every one in the league.

I like both of these guys. I want to hear Bill and Sal on every topic as much as possible and wish they did a drive-time-styled pod but I think his cast of characters adds to the show.
 

jmcc5400

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I like both of these guys. I want to hear Bill and Sal on every topic as much as possible and wish they did a drive-time-styled pod but I think his cast of characters adds to the show.
I laughed out loud at Bill’s opening rant about MFY fans “puffing out their chests again” because they beat Kansas City and Cleveland
 

sezwho

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I'll take Lombardi though as someone that gives his blunt, honest opinions on the Friday pods over Peter Schrager, who just loves everything and every one in the league.
To be honest I generally get a kick out of Lombardi too but his water carrying for Bill is apocalyptically bad. If you think his positions are honest I’m not sure what to say…but maybe he’s drunk that much cool aid ; )

Seriously though, away from the Pats he’s just like every other talking head: maybe a little more amusing and a little less football forward, but fine. I think he’s mostly amusing take bullshit and riffing off whatever topic du jour but maybe others see more.
 

Kliq

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To be honest I generally get a kick out of Lombardi too but his water carrying for Bill is apocalyptically bad. If you think his positions are honest I’m not sure what to say…but maybe he’s drunk that much cool aid ; )

Seriously though, away from the Pats he’s just like every other talking head: maybe a little more amusing and a little less football forward, but fine. I think he’s mostly amusing take bullshit and riffing off whatever topic du jour but maybe others see more.
His Pats takes are obviously coming from a pretty slanted perspective so they are whatever.

I think he's pretty blunt in saying coaches or QBs or teams suck in a way that's refreshing from a lot of the very conservative criticisms that most analysts make. And he definitely knows ball, even if I don't always agree with him.
 

Remagellan

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I laughed out loud at Bill’s opening rant about MFY fans “puffing out their chests again” because they beat Kansas City and Cleveland
It was ironic given his basketball team’s march through the playoffs could be mocked for similar luck in drawing less challenging opponents in every round. At least the MFYs are facing a serious boss in the final round.
 

riboflav

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You guys should watch the Pats games and their media appearances. They are a historically awful team, a complete joke. Lombardi is treating them that way. More should follow suit.
 

8slim

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Lombardi strikes me as a blowhard goofball and I can't believe he spent a career working in front offices. He's a testament to the fact that sometimes just working hard can get you further than being smart. He and Simmons are a fun listen though.
 

8slim

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2014 through 2016, Lombardi worked under Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots as an assistant to the coaching staff.[13][14] Speaking about Lombardi's time in New England, Belichick said, "Mike's...one of the smartest people I've worked with. He was huge asset to me for the two years he was here...he studies football and he knows it very well."[15]
Yeah, Bill loves Matt Patricia too. I’m unmoved.
 

kelpapa

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It never ceases to amaze me that a guy who was arrested for passing out drunk and naked in a strange house -- while in his 40s -- gives life advice on his show.
It was a hotel room, and his room key worked to get into the room. That's a little different than a strange house.
 

8slim

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It was a hotel room, and his room key worked to get into the room. That's a little different than a strange house.
I read that it was a condo and that the front door was “unsecured”. Did Russillo say differently?

“Officers responded to a call at about 3:30 a.m. about an intoxicated man refusing to leave the caller’s condo. Once police arrived, Russillo was found lying in a bedroom, clearly intoxicated.”

I don’t really care. I just find it amusing that the dude was in his 40s and did that, and now has a life advice segment on his show. Like, come on.
 

kelpapa

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I read that it was a condo and that the front door was “unsecured”. Did Russillo say differently?

“Officers responded to a call at about 3:30 a.m. about an intoxicated man refusing to leave the caller’s condo. Once police arrived, Russillo was found lying in a bedroom, clearly intoxicated.”

I don’t really care. I just find it amusing that the dude was in his 40s and did that. Like, come on.
Chris Long did I think. He was on vacation and drinking/fishing. He gets back, and every room looks the same, and his key card worked.
 

luckiestman

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Chris Long did I think. He was on vacation and drinking/fishing. He gets back, and every room looks the same, and his key card worked.
I believe Long was on one of the early ringer Russillo pods and they went over this.
 

Auger34

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To be honest I generally get a kick out of Lombardi too but his water carrying for Bill is apocalyptically bad. If you think his positions are honest I’m not sure what to say…but maybe he’s drunk that much cool aid ; )

Seriously though, away from the Pats he’s just like every other talking head: maybe a little more amusing and a little less football forward, but fine. I think he’s mostly amusing take bullshit and riffing off whatever topic du jour but maybe others see more.
Does he still reference the Sopranos every 10 seconds even when it’s completely not applicable?

I actually like Lombardi and I think he knows football but I can’t Iisten to him regularly with all of the Sopranos/Godfather stuff…..and he 100% is a massive water carrier for BB
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Lombardi does have great Al Davis stories you don’t hear anywhere else. That’s worth something.

Me, I like him as a frequent Ringer guest, but when he had his own pod there (with the very green Tate Frazier) his act was overplayed.

Doesn’t hurt that he’s stoking my own BB-aftermath rage. (sorry @sezwho )
 

sezwho

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Lombardi does have great Al Davis stories you don’t hear anywhere else. That’s worth something.

Me, I like him as a frequent Ringer guest, but when he had his own pod there (with the very green Tate Frazier) his act was overplayed.

Doesn’t hurt that he’s stoking my own BB-aftermath rage. (sorry @sezwho )
Ha, I get it and to each their own! The Patriots have done nothing aside from getting the QB (which I suppose is something) to dull that rage.

Was kind of hoping BB would take the high road, but Kraft sure didn’t (schmuck) and Mayo went behind his back for the job while he was still trying to find a way to win. He’s fully earned some scorched earth and he’s going for it.
 

Hal Waffid

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Nov 14, 2023
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If you want to read some stuff from real Simmons psychotics, go check out the /r/BillSimmons subreddit. And if you want to get even weirder, listen to the /r/BillSimmons podcast... which is a real thing. Apparently the guy who runs the podcast posted Bill's daughter's soccer schedule to twitter at one point.

Normal shit!
That subreddit is a hoot. The stuff they say about Russillo always gets me.

However, I'm not going to listen to a podcast of a subreddit of a podcast (...I'm just not!)
 

BosoxFaninCincy

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RR just going "what the fuck are you doing?" when Bill started stroking out attempting a "Houston" accent was vintage Russillo. I am a fan of his, and probably always will be, but I can understand why he grates on people.

"You see him set a screen the other night? That was fucking awesome!” on Russell Westbrook.

Also, the BS pod needs more House.
I think RR is in on the joke when it comes to Life Advice. I am not sure that makes it funnier, but I do often fast forward through his first 80% to get to his thoughts on mattresses and platonic relationships.