Bill Simmons' new site

Yeah, that was my thought. Nerdist probably offered him a better cut of revenue, plus I think he has a wide range of interests beyond baseball and sports. Plus, they're probably seen as "neutral" enough territory that he can still guest on The Ringer, ESPN, whatever else is out there.

 

In other news, Keith Olbermann for GQ's The Closer doesn't have quite the reach of his time at MSNBC...hmm...

JMO....

ESPN made Grantland. If it isn't under the ESPN umbrella, it won't have a fraction of the heat.

Grantland wasn't significantly better than The Ringer is now. Not in writing or podcasts. But people perceived it as better because of the brand.

 

Apparently they REALLY want us to read Bill's story about the Celtics possibly getting Boogie Cousins.



That's a lot of real estate to dedicate to a hypothetical that only maybe people in Sac or Bos care about. I go to the Ringer regularly to find stories I want to read, and typically end up finding stuff like this. Do they do any original reporting? And by that I don't mean poring through Football Outsiders stats and coming up with an angle someone else in the MSM might have missed.

 

The site inherited all Grantland's worst impulses and lacks the things that made Grantland interesting.

 

Directly beneath the double Bill-ing is a headline that refers to the 8-5 Falcons as a "juggernaut."

 

Simmons' Boston-obsessed "real sports fan" schtick is starting to remind me of what became of the schticks of those like Berman and Vitale before him--fresh and fun in the beginning, but god did they ever grow progressively stale and tedious in later years.

And, like those guys, Simmons also seems to be having trouble recognizing when the schtick has turned tedious, lazily clinging to it instead of evolving. Sorry, Bill, but just like those outside the Boston area had no interest in watching an HBO show relentlessly featuring Pat/deflategate rants and skits each week, they're also not eager to read over-lengthed columns speculating on how some fictional trade might help or hurt the Celtics. We've grown bored with the "Boston Guy" routine, find new material.

 

Wait for it....

Wait for it....

Yesssss! Finally a new mailbag column by Simba.

https://theringer.com/bill-simmons-mailbag-nfl-divisional-round-playoffs-cd4719f96263#.c48080fgr

Hmmm.....

I can use naughty words now. Check

Self depreciating remarks about his TV wardrobe but not his talent. Check

Using analogies and video clips from The Wire that would be more appropriately culled from Scarface. Check.

Saying sports' lists are not relevant but then speculating on how lists should be made. Check

Making hypothetical revisions to his basketball book rankings. Check.

Irrelevant, uninteresting, unsubtle shot at ESPN. Check

Still, I would rather read a mediocre Simmons column than 99% of most online sports content.

 

You missed the 'My picks would have been right if I just did this' excuse

 

"Just did this" = Acknowledged a bunch of pseudo-statistical/scientific nonsense like "The Pats always do great against teams with receivers named Mike. Belichick's just got them figured out," and "Their quarterback looked scared warming up before the game. I knew, but didn't change the bet because as soon as you change the bet, you jinx it."

 

Pretty amusing few minutes on the podcast a few months back when Klosterman called out Simmons on this nonsense.

Simmons: "Well, we're going to find out if karma actually exists in sports!"

Klosterman: "Oh, so this will actually prove it, huh? If the Warriors do not win the title, proof that karma exists. If the Warriors win the title, proof that karma is a sham. Well, this has been a meaningful podcast!"

 

I often enjoy the podcasts with Cousin Sal, but for two experienced gamblers, they spend an inordinate amount of time discussing teasers.