Simmons first-ever read

[goalmouth]

I've read a lot of contrasting opinions here about Bill Simmons, but never read his column. So today, I went over his recent tennis column, having covered the pro tours extensively in a prior life.

As breathtakingly vapid, sophomoric, poorly written, too long, unimaginative, cliched and badly constructed as anything I've read in many years. If I didn't know the source, I'd assume this was amateur doggerel hacked out by a kid at some high school paper. And I mean that in a good way.

The fact that he is wildly popular tells me a lot about just how low our expectations have plummeted for the written word, and for people in general.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

I've read a lot of contrasting opinions here about Bill Simmons, but never read his column. So today, I went over his recent tennis column, having covered the pro tours extensively in a prior life.

As breathtakingly vapid, sophomoric, poorly written, too long, unimaginative, cliched and badly constructed as anything I've read in many years. If I didn't know the source, I'd assume this was amateur doggerel hacked out by a kid at some high school paper. And I mean that in a good way.

The fact that he is wildly popular tells me a lot about just how low our expectations have plummeted for the written word, and for people in general.

Only read Simmons re the NBA.

Your disposition will thank me.

 

[Cousin Jeffrey]

It was also for the magazine. My take of him is: His stuff for the magazine is terrible, because it has to be structured as if he's a conventional writer. His more "casual" writing (NFL previews, NBA draft diaries, mailbags) are very readable and usually funny. When he tries to be serious, he's not very good at all. He's perfect in his niche, i.e., sports-related, pop-culture non-journalism.

 

[pseudo]

Only read Simmons re the NBA.

Your disposition will thank me.

And then only if you can tolerate the green-and-white pompoms.

 

[Stoney]

Only read Simmons re the NBA.

Your disposition will thank me.

Agreed. I like his observations about the NBA, he actually knows and understands that league better than most writers.

But when he writes about other sports he's bad; and when he tries to be a serious or deep writer he's AWFUL.

Mailbags, snark, pop culture and the NBA--that's his wheelhouse--there's nothing more to get from him. And even his snark and PC references have grown painfully stale and recycled, the NBA's pretty much all he's good for now. Unless, of course, you're a Boston fanboi.

 

[goalmouth]

I have a problem with bloggers who develop a cult following, join up with a mainstream outfit and pretty much lose the handle on whatever it was made them a good read in the first place.

 

[playthrough]

It's like Shelley Long leaving Cheers, thinking she can be a serious actress. No, Shelley, you can't. You should have stuck to serving drinks and tolerating sexual innuendo from Sam. No one would have thought any less of you for staying right there.

 

[goalmouth]

Cheers -- good 80s cultural reference. I smell a blog in your future!

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Only read Simmons re the NBA.

Your disposition will thank me.

Agreed. I like his observations about the NBA, he actually knows and understands that league better than most writers.

But when he writes about other sports he's bad; and when he tries to be a serious or deep writer he's AWFUL.

Mailbags, snark, pop culture and the NBA--that's his wheelhouse--there's nothing more to get from him. And even his snark and PC references have grown painfully stale and recycled, the NBA's pretty much all he's good for now. Unless, of course, you're a Boston fanboi.

A lot of that also has to do with being spoiled by the success of the Boston teams. Before, when they were losing, his columns were like any frustrated fan. Now, it just comes off as boasting.

Another '80s reference: The worst thing possible has happened to Simmons. He became civilized.

 

[bigpern23]

Simmons is like Ice Cube, who started his career angry at the world he was surrounded by. He wrote about it, found an audience and became hugely successful. Only, once he gained success, there wasn't much to be angry about anymore and it was difficult (if not impossible) to summon the fury that made him so great (he has admitted as much). He then successfully branched out into acting and found a new way to express himself.

Simmons is similar. He started out angry at being snubbed by the mainstream sports media. He began writing from the perspective of the average fan, one who was often angry at the plight of his favorite sports teams (all from Boston, of course), which were mired in mediocrity, or occasionally nearly reached the pinnacle only to be swatted down once again.

When he made it big at ESPN and subsequently moved to LA, he lost his voice, that of the average fan. He is no longer an average fan. He is a fan who gets better access than many journalists, one who runs in circles with celebrities and gets paid a ton to do it. He'll never be able to recapture that voice that made him so hugely popular.

Unfortunately for him, his efforts to branch out haven't been nearly as successful as Ice Cube's. I'm not sure they ever will be. So be it. He still made himself a helluva career, as short or as long-lived as it may end up.

 

[bigpern23]

Beat me to it, Baron.

 

[a_rosenthal]

Most of his NBA stuff is strong -- although today's column was pretty nonsensical.

Success in general has ruined him, I think. He's making so much money now, hanging out with (b-list) celebs and just generally doesn't live the average fan's lifestyle. The fact that he can easily afford to fly cross-country several times during the playoffs to watch the C's is something I suspect he would have made fun of back in 1999.

Can't fault the guy, though. He's making a boatload of money and gets to write about whatever the hell he wants. Pretty sweet gig.

 

[bigpern23]

Most of his NBA stuff is strong -- although today's column was pretty nonsensical.

Success in general has ruined him, I think. He's making so much money now, hanging out with (b-list) celebs and just generally doesn't live the average fan's lifestyle. The fact that he can easily afford to fly cross-country several times during the playoffs to watch the C's is something I suspect he would have made fun of back in 1999.

Can't fault the guy, though. He's making a boatload of money and gets to write about whatever the hell he wants .. three days a week ... from his couch ... Pretty sweet gig.

Fixed.

 

[bigpern23]

And it just occurred to me -- he's the real-life Ray Barone we all argue doesn't exist.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

And it just occurred to me -- he's the real-life Ray Barone we all argue doesn't exist.

Good one.

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

I wonder how much of Bill's suckitude can be attributed to ESPN. It's pretty obvious that he feels neutered there and he is likely a victim of his own success. All of the stuff that feels so cliched right now -- the mailbags, snark, pop culture -- was what made him huge and what he did first and did better than anyone else and is what made him popular. So his editors will want that stuff over and over because it is what drives page views.

He needs to go to someplace like Yahoo Sports, where he can do things like ***** about announcers (not being able to do that restricted his voice of the fan viewpoint) and where he can focus solely on his writing. He does have plenty of talent, but I am not sure ESPN is giving him enough room to grow.

 

[BYH]

Simmons is like Ice Cube, who started his career angry at the world he was surrounded by. He wrote about it, found an audience and became hugely successful. Only, once he gained success, there wasn't much to be angry about anymore and it was difficult (if not impossible) to summon the fury that made him so great (he has admitted as much). He then successfully branched out into acting and found a new way to express himself.

Simmons is similar. He started out angry at being snubbed by the mainstream sports media. He began writing from the perspective of the average fan, one who was often angry at the plight of his favorite sports teams (all from Boston, of course), which were mired in mediocrity, or occasionally nearly reached the pinnacle only to be swatted down once again.

When he made it big at ESPN and subsequently moved to LA, he lost his voice, that of the average fan. He is no longer an average fan. He is a fan who gets better access than many journalists, one who runs in circles with celebrities and gets paid a ton to do it. He'll never be able to recapture that voice that made him so hugely popular.

Unfortunately for him, his efforts to branch out haven't been nearly as successful as Ice Cube's. I'm not sure they ever will be. So be it. He still made himself a helluva career, as short or as long-lived as it may end up.

Coming to theatres Labor Day weekend 2009: We're STILL Not There Yet, starring Bill Simmons!

 

[JoelHammond]

Today's column was predictably Boston-centered, but I liked the part about his father. Touching, indeed.

 

[Boobie Miles]

Simmons is like Ice Cube, who started his career angry at the world he was surrounded by. He wrote about it, found an audience and became hugely successful. Only, once he gained success, there wasn't much to be angry about anymore and it was difficult (if not impossible) to summon the fury that made him so great (he has admitted as much). He then successfully branched out into acting and found a new way to express himself.

Simmons is similar. He started out angry at being snubbed by the mainstream sports media. He began writing from the perspective of the average fan, one who was often angry at the plight of his favorite sports teams (all from Boston, of course), which were mired in mediocrity, or occasionally nearly reached the pinnacle only to be swatted down once again.

When he made it big at ESPN and subsequently moved to LA, he lost his voice, that of the average fan. He is no longer an average fan. He is a fan who gets better access than many journalists, one who runs in circles with celebrities and gets paid a ton to do it. He'll never be able to recapture that voice that made him so hugely popular.

Unfortunately for him, his efforts to branch out haven't been nearly as successful as Ice Cube's. I'm not sure they ever will be. So be it. He still made himself a helluva career, as short or as long-lived as it may end up.

Coming to theatres Labor Day weekend 2009: We're STILL Not There Yet, starring Bill Simmons!

Damn, there was a We're Not There Yet joke dying to be made there. Beat me to it.

 

[Small Town Guy]

The dad stuff didn't do much for me. His dad, as he's written many times, is a big fan of the Celtics, Sox, and Patriots. He's 60, I believe. So he's been a fan that, prior to last night, had been around for 16 NBA titles, two World Series titles, and three Super Bowls. I wouldn't have been heartbroken for Sports Dad if he didn't get to celebrate a 17th NBA title. My dad's suffered through two decades of Timberwolves incompetence, four Vikings Super Bowl defeats, the 1998 NFC title game, and he became an NBA fan the last year the Laker were in Minnesota so he was a Lakers fan during the 60s, when they kept losing, and losing, and losing. He did have those twins titles.

But if the Timberwolves win a title within the next four years, I'm not going to think he "deserves it as much as anyone." Jeez, Bill.