That's what I was thinking. I'd give myself a 7 face 6 body, so really it was a complement!An 8.5 is pretty damn solid.
That's what I was thinking. I'd give myself a 7 face 6 body, so really it was a complement!An 8.5 is pretty damn solid.
This wasn't wrong necessarily, it just played out poorly.I think Pervis Ellison is the key to the Celtics this year.
I think for a guy who is reasonably good at sports stats and definitely had a need to count to hundred of millions to count the giant piles of money he's made, he's a reasonably smart guys who's not naturally a math guy -- like the idea that fewer than ten percent of americans watch the superbowl if facially preposterous but he just doesn't quickly connect those dots.Simmons talking with Larry Wilmore about old TV ratings and how Good Times got like 20 million people. And then Simmons is like, "Nothing gets people like that anymore." Larry says, "Well, the super bowl." Bill responds, "What does the SB do, 25 million people?"
That is one of the more out of touch comments in Simmons' history. The SB regularly gets 100 million people. I am genuinely shocked Simmons was so uninformed about the SB viewership. This is apropos of nothing, of course.
Maybe he should ask someone that runs a company focused on the junction of sports and pop culture.I think for a guy who is reasonably good at sports stats and definitely had a need to count to hundred of millions to count the giant piles of money he's made, he's a reasonably smart guys who's not naturally a math guy -- like the idea that fewer than ten percent of americans watch the superbowl if facially preposterous but he just doesn't quickly connect those dots.
I think that’s mostly true but I think, in this particular instance, he was also going for a lower number so it didn’t completely destroy the point he was making about Good Times and ratingsI think for a guy who is reasonably good at sports stats and definitely had a need to count to hundred of millions to count the giant piles of money he's made, he's a reasonably smart guys who's not naturally a math guy -- like the idea that fewer than ten percent of americans watch the superbowl if facially preposterous but he just doesn't quickly connect those dots.
Hunter S. Thompson is the progenitor of the Bill Simmons style of sports writing. The stream-of-consciousness, talking about the scene as much as the on-field action, mixing and tying other elements of society (like politics and music) in to draw a larger picture of what was GOING ON.So did Peter Gammons. Though maybe it was later on in his career.
Pearl Jamming with Peter Gammons and Theo Epstein. The Hot stove and Rock n Roll or whatever they called it.
One could be the superintendent of the public school system in a town and still think that private school is a better option for some kids, all kids, your kids.I thought both parents need to agree on where a kid goes to school even if custody is mostly with one. I'm probably wrong - just seemed funny to me.
And it would also be doing all the teachers in the district a solid.One could be the superintendent of the public school system in a town and still think that private school is a better option for some kids, all kids, your kids.
Yup, these are my priveleges...I think the podcast from the Masters confirms that I've just developed a weird parasocial relationship with Simmons and am too easily irritated by him. The conversation with House, Simmons and the other guy about going to the Masters was entertaining, but Simmons had a way of constantly reiterating how critical it was that "he was there" in order to make his points that I found annoying. I think if almost anyone else had made the same observations using similar language, I probably wouldn't have been irritated. But instead I found myself wanting to strangle Simmons every time he said "Oh, and another thing I noticed that I don't think you can appreciate while watching on TV..."
Did you listen to the preview episode of Fairway Rolling? It was a bit of a different vibe with House driving the conversation. He even made fun of Simmons for asking a green jacket “what’s your function here?” Apparently Sports Guy had no idea only members and champions wore green jackets at ANGC, and thought the member talking to them was a maître d’ or some sort of hospitality employee. The best aspect of it was Bill desperately trying to stop House from telling the story on the podcast out of embarrassment.I think the podcast from the Masters confirms that I've just developed a weird parasocial relationship with Simmons and am too easily irritated by him. The conversation with House, Simmons and the other guy about going to the Masters was entertaining, but Simmons had a way of constantly reiterating how critical it was that "he was there" in order to make his points that I found annoying. I think if almost anyone else had made the same observations using similar language, I probably wouldn't have been irritated. But instead I found myself wanting to strangle Simmons every time he said "Oh, and another thing I noticed that I don't think you can appreciate while watching on TV..."
Isn't that his schtick? The everyman sports fan? As someone who is a Christmas and Easter golf fan (i.e. majors with Tiger playing) this is the level of discourse on the subject that I want from Simmons. I can go other places if I really want the ins and outs of Scheffler's swing or Bryson's caddie drama or Thomas' swap from Ping to another golf manufacturer or whatever (and yes I had to go look up how to spell Scottie Scheffler's last name.) I just think we're asking for something here that we don't want Simmons to give.In Simmons' first podcast with Russillo last night, he a) said Dustin Johnson looks like Jaylen Brown, b) compared Rory McIlroy to Matt Ryan (I feel personally attacked), and c) said the 12th hole at Augusta National needs better PR. I think it's fair to say he should never talk about golf again, except maybe insofar as listening to him talk about golf gives me some insight into how average sports fans who tune into golf only when Tiger is playing and/or the Masters is on think.
100% on this.I think the podcast from the Masters confirms that I've just developed a weird parasocial relationship with Simmons and am too easily irritated by him. The conversation with House, Simmons and the other guy about going to the Masters was entertaining, but Simmons had a way of constantly reiterating how critical it was that "he was there" in order to make his points that I found annoying. I think if almost anyone else had made the same observations using similar language, I probably wouldn't have been irritated. But instead I found myself wanting to strangle Simmons every time he said "Oh, and another thing I noticed that I don't think you can appreciate while watching on TV..."
I lurk on this thread because what happens with Simmons is mildly interesting in the sports media landscape. But this exactly matches what happened to me as a consumer of his content. It just happened about 10 or so years ago for me. I started becoming overly aware of, and annoyed by, his mannerisms and thought processes. After trying to rationalize it (here in this thread) I eventually just chalked it up to something changing with me or my ability to find his perspective entertaining anymore. He just got irritating and honestly I’ve never really been able to explain why (or more accurately, what I liked in the first place). Kinda reminds me of Dave Matthews in that way. In any event: wanted to lend a +1 to this comment.I think the podcast from the Masters confirms that I've just developed a weird parasocial relationship with Simmons and am too easily irritated by him. The conversation with House, Simmons and the other guy about going to the Masters was entertaining, but Simmons had a way of constantly reiterating how critical it was that "he was there" in order to make his points that I found annoying. I think if almost anyone else had made the same observations using similar language, I probably wouldn't have been irritated. But instead I found myself wanting to strangle Simmons every time he said "Oh, and another thing I noticed that I don't think you can appreciate while watching on TV..."
To echo the last several posters, it's the way Simmons frames his golf-related takes that grates so much for me - e.g., like he's the first person ever to have realized that #12 at Augusta National can cause carnage on Sunday. If he were a little more self-aware and humble about his lack of golf knowledge, that would go a long way.I just think we're asking for something here that we don't want Simmons to give.
Is that the construction piece? Or is it the something something thing?100% on this.
My particular fixation lately has been around his growing use of the construction "the something something that we've had." As in, "he's one of the greatest actors we've had", "he's one of the great off-the-ball defenders that we've had", "that was one of the craziest Oscars that we've had", etc. Like he's the little self-appointed custodian of everything.
But to your point, I cannot fathom another person listening to hundreds and hundreds of hours of me talking about all kinds of shit only to hold me to such fussy pet peeves about various phrasings and so forth. Doesn't seem fair.
That's fair and I mean this without any malice but to echo the earlier posters as well this seems like a you problem and not a Bill Simmons problem. I don't feel like he's changed all that much over the years.To echo the last several posters, it's the way Simmons frames his golf-related takes that grates so much for me - e.g., like he's the first person ever to have realized that #12 at Augusta National can cause carnage on Sunday. If he were a little more self-aware and humble about his lack of golf knowledge, that would go a long way.
I think what changed, for me at least, is that when he was writing his thoughts were somewhat filtered or he actually gave them more time to marinate and ways to frame them.That's fair and I mean this without any malice but to echo the earlier posters as well this seems like a you problem and not a Bill Simmons problem. I don't feel like he's changed all that much over the years.
I still enjoy Simmons' podcasts a lot. The issue for me is more about the lanes he chooses to stay in. He's great on the NBA, fun on the NFL and Rewatchable movies, good in many situations in creating chemistry as an interviewer, etc. The Masters was a situation where I think he wanted to go enjoy being at The Masters - which is fair enough - but then fell into the sports-talk-show-host trap of wanting to position himself as an expert and have takes about a sport lying way outside of his areas of expertise. He used to lampoon guys who did that; now he's one of those guys himself, at least on some occasions.I mean, even the people defending Simmons on this thread seem to be giving him pretty backhanded compliments
That guy is gone. His humor and writing--like during the golden era--where best when they were observed but now he doesn't spend a ton of time with the things that I suspect are actually the most important in his life. I said something like this perhaps a decade ago on this thread but the interesting thing for him to do creatively/as a writer or podcaster would be to move away from sports and instead peel back the curtains on this insane life he's landed himself in and be a kind of fratboyish Michael Lewis or Hunter Thompson. I get why he doesn't do that--it's easier and safer to stick with sports takes and do a variety of mock drafts and top ten lists (and talk about old movies) instead of writing about what it's actually like to sell a company you made for a zillion bucks or navigate LA private schools or to be in a fantasy football league wit John freaking Hamm or whatever--but I bet we're missing some interesting material as a result.I think the issue for many is that, in the beginning of his career, he relied on a lot of thoughts/feelings/opinions that he had hashed out for years with friends and other sports fans, and so were both A) fairly well supported; and B) adjacent to what many Boston fans felt already, anyway. Circa 2000-2004 (pretty much the Golden Age of Bill Simmons), the cornerstone of his writing was the frustrations and excitement of being a Red Sox and Patriots fan that everyone could basically agree upon (the classic "nodding along while reading" Simmons stuff). He was mining 25+ years of collective experience that had been floating around the Boston sports scene and already well-chewed over: Clemens being an asshole; the Patriots being a joke for decades; the shittiness of Sullivan Stadium; the '86 series, etc.. He *knew* about that stuff, and could speak authoritatively, because he'd lived it and spent his youth around others who had lived it. And I think because he could talk about specific plays and on-field occurrences in addition to his feelings as a *fan*, a lot of us assumed he was also really good at dissecting the games themselves, and that he was interested in that type of analysis, at least somewhat.
...
TBF, he was awkwardly trying to say DJ's size stood out when he was right next to him hitting a shot. After Russillo's incredulous-sounding reaction he then added that he's like a basketball forward. Again, doing the "fan" shtick like oh it wasn't clear how big the guy was until *I* was up close like being courtside at an NBA game. Or Bill, you can just watch on TV and easily look up measurables of guys.In Simmons' first podcast with Russillo last night, he a) said Dustin Johnson looks like Jaylen Brown, b) compared Rory McIlroy to Matt Ryan (I feel personally attacked), and c) said the 12th hole at Augusta National needs better PR. I think it's fair to say he should never talk about golf again, except maybe insofar as listening to him talk about golf gives me some insight into how average sports fans who tune into golf only when Tiger is playing and/or the Masters is on think.
I know....it's just that out of all of the small forwards in basketball to compare to Dustin Johnson, he picked Jaylen Brown, which is pretty hilarious.TBF, he was awkwardly trying to say DJ's size stood out when he was right next to him hitting a shot. After Russillo's incredulous-sounding reaction he then added that he's like a basketball forward. Again, doing the "fan" shtick like oh it wasn't clear how big the guy was until *I* was up close like being courtside at an NBA game. Or Bill, you can just watch on TV and easily look up measurables of guys.
I don't know shit about golf. I really enjoy playing golf video games, but I neither play nor watch the sport.To echo the last several posters, it's the way Simmons frames his golf-related takes that grates so much for me - e.g., like he's the first person ever to have realized that #12 at Augusta National can cause carnage on Sunday. If he were a little more self-aware and humble about his lack of golf knowledge, that would go a long way.
So funny I had the exact same thought process. I was like wait that's the short one where they pop it into the water? Literally the only hole on a golf course anywhere I could tell you is tough with the exception of the put put course in Happy Gilmour? Well tie my down and call me Bobby Jones because I'm a golf expert now!I don't know shit about golf. I really enjoy playing golf video games, but I neither play nor watch the sport.
I read your post about hole 12 at Augusta, and I thought "I think I know that hole. It's the par 3 with the creek and the little turf bridge? And it's one of that course's more infamous spots?"
I then googled "Augusta hole 12" and saw exactly what I had pictured in my head. It's literally the ONLY hole from that course that I can picture. If someone like ME knows that hole is make-or-break, there's no excuse for Simmons acting like he's Sam fucking Snead.
Not the least of which is DJ would probably have a much better handle late in the 4th quarter than JB seems to have.I know....it's just that out of all of the small forwards in basketball to compare to Dustin Johnson, he picked Jaylen Brown, which is pretty hilarious.
Well, at least he nailed this one!For those somewhat lamenting the old days, here's some of his old stuff from ESPN: http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/subject/archive
Anyone know why there's no Sox/2004 stuff?
Well, by the time they reached commercial, Dad and I had determined our preemptive worst-case scenario for the 2007 lottery: The Celtics dropping to No. 5, followed by Danny Ainge talking himself into Yi Jianlian.
My guess would be because he incorporated that stuff into his book on the 2004 team.For those somewhat lamenting the old days, here's some of his old stuff from ESPN: http://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/subject/archive
Anyone know why there's no Sox/2004 stuff?
I like Simmons, warts and all, but the "...we've had" thing is especially odd because I remember him making fun of Hubie Brown for that exact phrasing like a decade ago, and now it's a hallmark of his own language. It doesn't bother me, but it's odd, like he forgot that he mocked someone else for doing it and now it's his thing.100% on this.
My particular fixation lately has been around his growing use of the construction "the something something that we've had." As in, "he's one of the greatest actors we've had", "he's one of the great off-the-ball defenders that we've had", "that was one of the craziest Oscars that we've had", etc. Like he's the little self-appointed custodian of everything.
But to your point, I cannot fathom another person listening to hundreds and hundreds of hours of me talking about all kinds of shit only to hold me to such fussy pet peeves about various phrasings and so forth. Doesn't seem fair.
Great point. I only remember him making fun of Hubie Brown for the second-person voice thing. But., you're right, Hubie definitely does the ".... [insert superlative] we've had" thing as well. Maybe it's a symptom of middle age.I like Simmons, warts and all, but the "...we've had" thing is especially odd because I remember him making fun of Hubie Brown for that exact phrasing like a decade ago, and now it's a hallmark of his own language. It doesn't bother me, but it's odd, like he forgot that he mocked someone else for doing it and now it's his thing.
Exactly, that's how the draft lottery literally works. The best players end up on the worst teams. Of course they are going to put up big stats (hopefully) in a lot of lopsided games for bad teams. If you want to criticize Green you can say he was terrible for most of the season and then it finally locked in for him towards the end.Simmons deserves to be criticized for his dumb take that winning matters in voting for the ROY and all rookie teams. When did that become a thing? The best rookies are almost always on terrible teams. 19 year old kids don’t create winning teams. Vote for the best players.
But congrats on getting your traffic Houston Chronicle… keep churning out those subs!
it was an incredibly fucking stupid take because Bill wants to continue his “I only vote for winners!!!” thing even if it makes no sense….Simmons deserves to be criticized for his dumb take that winning matters in voting for the ROY and all rookie teams. When did that become a thing? The best rookies are almost always on terrible teams. 19 year old kids don’t create winning teams. Vote for the best players.
It is also completely arbitrary. He voted Cade Cunningham 3rd for rookie of the year. Why not Herbert Jones there? Because that would be stupid.it was an incredibly fucking stupid take because Bill wants to continue his “I only vote for winners!!!” thing even if it makes no sense….
The best part of it was Wos, rightly, pointing out that everyone was riding Senguns jock despite Green being better and Bill piping up (again right after his fuck Jalen Green!!! Point) “I like Sengun!!!”
"Matt Young don't gotta cuss in his tweets to sell clickbait.I can't roll my eyes hard enough at that "crossing the line". His follow-up is somehow worse: "Look, joking or not, you don’t say “Fuck ____” because you don’t like their game. This isn’t some villain in a Karate Kid movie you’re talking about. Say you don’t think he’s as good as whoever. But “Fuck _____” is too far. Especially for someone with a vote. "
Not even 5 minutes into the latest podcast: "I wonder what's going to happen here with Brady and Lebron from an age standpoint. I think they're going to be really fascinating because of the technology and all the ways you can keep your body way fresher than in any other era we've had."I like Simmons, warts and all, but the "...we've had" thing is especially odd because I remember him making fun of Hubie Brown for that exact phrasing like a decade ago, and now it's a hallmark of his own language. It doesn't bother me, but it's odd, like he forgot that he mocked someone else for doing it and now it's his thing.