He will not be missed
I've been a longtime reader of Simmons' work and a listener to his podcasts. He has two great talents that don't get enough emphasis. First, while not the most insightful analyst, he's very witty. His rapport with Jack-O and House is genuinely engaging and entertaining. Second, though he's often charged with having a large ego, his editorial work at Grantland has been fabulous and not hampered by vanity. He has almost single-handedly raised expectations for sports writing by employing and supporting truly great writers (e.g. Lowe, Barnwell) who are smarter than Simmons and who are better analysts. That suggests to me that he really cares about sports journalism and it differentiates him from the self-important blowhards that dominate much of the landscape.
6
Media, schmedia. Any NBA teams need a GM? Paging the Sacramento Kings?
Simmons is a one trick pony who's schtick has grown very stale. He was interesting for a bit but now he is just the suburban dad with kids trying to maintain a shred of coolness.
People who think he is outspoken, he takes the lamest safest opinion on every issue and dresses up like he is a hard ass.
The guy has proved to be a complete idiot when it comes to all things sports related. From his nearly getting into a confrontation with his non-stop whining about Doc Rivers pre championship, to him about to cry and calling out Rivers for leaving the Celtics. Basically Simmons calls Rivers an imbecile for years, then when Doc leaves he has a meltdown on national TV, reverting to his south Boston trash roots.
The success of the Patriots and Res Sox also ruined his whole his whole "woe is me as a fan" schtick. He has become insufferable about his teams.
His hissy fit over Roger Goodell, makes not an ounce of sense but he just couldn't let it go either. When you let trash get a national voice this is what you get.
People who think he is outspoken, he takes the lamest safest opinion on every issue and dresses up like he is a hard ass.
The guy has proved to be a complete idiot when it comes to all things sports related. From his nearly getting into a confrontation with his non-stop whining about Doc Rivers pre championship, to him about to cry and calling out Rivers for leaving the Celtics. Basically Simmons calls Rivers an imbecile for years, then when Doc leaves he has a meltdown on national TV, reverting to his south Boston trash roots.
The success of the Patriots and Res Sox also ruined his whole his whole "woe is me as a fan" schtick. He has become insufferable about his teams.
His hissy fit over Roger Goodell, makes not an ounce of sense but he just couldn't let it go either. When you let trash get a national voice this is what you get.
2
I thought this was something of an apology for the dumb first article sneering like an ignorant fan about Simmons keeping his mouth shut.
But no, there was this carefully crafted obesiance to the corporate gods:
"Its leaders already tolerate one outrageous personality, Charles Barkley."
Leaders. How fascistic an alevation of corporate suita. Smooth rhetorical move hack. Leaders. I want to salute the flag for aome reason. Leaders. Drum roll please. It is sad that "Our dearly beloved Leaders," would be over the top, and indebted to Boris
Tolerate. Barkley, the energy of the TNT show, is tolerated. How generous of the TNT leaders to tolerate Barkley while he makes them money and speaks his mind. So generous. So noble.
Bow down as Sandomir does and acknowledge your leaders. Or, masters. My liege.
The slams on a man for more succesful on his own merit by Sandomir than Sandomir or his editors will ever be were also artful.
Courtiers forever! Long live the fix!
But no, there was this carefully crafted obesiance to the corporate gods:
"Its leaders already tolerate one outrageous personality, Charles Barkley."
Leaders. How fascistic an alevation of corporate suita. Smooth rhetorical move hack. Leaders. I want to salute the flag for aome reason. Leaders. Drum roll please. It is sad that "Our dearly beloved Leaders," would be over the top, and indebted to Boris
Tolerate. Barkley, the energy of the TNT show, is tolerated. How generous of the TNT leaders to tolerate Barkley while he makes them money and speaks his mind. So generous. So noble.
Bow down as Sandomir does and acknowledge your leaders. Or, masters. My liege.
The slams on a man for more succesful on his own merit by Sandomir than Sandomir or his editors will ever be were also artful.
Courtiers forever! Long live the fix!
2
What a blowhard this guy is. I only saw him on TV a couple of times and read a few of his articles.
5 mill a year and he could not learn how to "play the game" in a corporate structure.
5 mill a year and he could not learn how to "play the game" in a corporate structure.
3
Yeah he got five mill a year and was behind grantland and thirty for thirty and podcasts because he does not know how to play the game.
The suits were just paying him to be nice guys.
Pathetic.
The suits were just paying him to be nice guys.
Pathetic.
4
It's called knowing when to pick your battles.
Something you obviously haven't learned.
Simmons is a blowhard and a hack writer who is filthy rich.
Good riddance.
Something you obviously haven't learned.
Simmons is a blowhard and a hack writer who is filthy rich.
Good riddance.
3
As I commented before on the earlier Simmons article, I'm a huge Simmons fan. But I agreed with Doug Collins when Collins chided Simmons for frequently, cavalierly calling for coaches, executives, etc. to be fired. (This is more like mindless talk-radio, where that happens constantly, than worthy of Simmons.)
In any event, Simmons is going to be fine and he's already wealthy. Hopefully though, when it comes to the subject of firing other human beings, he'll have more empathy going forward.
In any event, Simmons is going to be fine and he's already wealthy. Hopefully though, when it comes to the subject of firing other human beings, he'll have more empathy going forward.
The first I have ever heard of Bill Simmons and there is nothing to hear.
2
Simmons now sees himself bigger than ESPN, bigger than the sports he comments on,( remember when it was JUST basketball). In fact, he sees himself as a "brand" that should be paid accordingly. He now will have a chance to sell his "brand" to the highest bidder.
Many are mischaraterizing this as ESPN censoring Simmons for having disrespected a customer... that alone is sufficient enough on business grounds to discipline him, but more worryingly, calling Goodell a "liar" without much proof in support, exposes the network to liability for defamation. I give Simmons credit for his contributions to the excellent "30 for 30" series, but other than that I find him an insufferable blowhard, a non-athlete, clearly overcompensating for his lack of athletic ability. But all of that is beside the point... it's all a dead horse now so let's all move on.
2
Does anyone watch ESPN unless a game is on? Does anyone actually read ESPN dot com's content? I don't understand how or why they would pay anyone six let alone seven figures to host or write such mindless content, which caters to the lowest capacity viewers.
6
I don't but I bet the much sought after 18-35yo male demographic does. Dudebros watch sports, talk about sports and watch some more sports on their way to becoming future leaders.
Simmons' knowledge and writing hardly caters to the lowest capacity viewer. Quite the opposite... for those ESPN provides 30 second vdeos of dunks and home runs, not an analysis of the game or the players that requires reading! Simmon's is an extraordinary writing talent and as knowledgeable about basketball as anyone other than Hubie Brown.
ESPN was silly to let him go. "Rich", "powerful" , "ambitious" ... all true words to describe ESPN, but the Simmons' firing shows a level of shallowness, insecurity, and group think in the corporate office that is getting worse year by year.
And the new website design!? I'm now getting my info from the SI website
ESPN was silly to let him go. "Rich", "powerful" , "ambitious" ... all true words to describe ESPN, but the Simmons' firing shows a level of shallowness, insecurity, and group think in the corporate office that is getting worse year by year.
And the new website design!? I'm now getting my info from the SI website
7
You have no idea what you are talking about. Many of the articles on Grantland are written at a very high level (although many times not the ones from BS himself) and provide in-depth analysis and commentary on sports and society. The basketball articles written by Zach Lowe, in particular, are absolute masterpieces of analysis and journalism. Also, don't forget that Nate Silver and his entire site is also hosted on espn.com, which is also written at a very high analytic level.
5
When will the gender discrimination practiced by ESPN and the other sports programs be taken to task? We need more female play by play announcers and commentators. There is no reason for there not to be more of them. Could the Ny times take this issue up as it is being looked at in Hollywood and even in the military?
1
Simmons is by far the best writer covering sports anywhere. He weaves a storyline with insight, knowledge ,humor and , that rare commodity in journalism today, an emphasis on facts. He supports his opinions with facts and statistics. This outdated notion flys in the face of the preferences of those running ESPN for fanboy loudmouths, opinionated screamers and those mastering the one-liner and 20 second soundbite. The truth teller who writes with detail ,facts and passion to explain our sports world in more than 100 words certainly has no place in the business model of ESPN,FOX or even TNT. He will continue to succeed with a certain core audience of sports lovers who don't mind reading, thinking, laughing about and challenging those who run the games they love.
8
Good riddance to Simmons. He was an overrated hack who wrote for a millennial audience and will not be missed at Grantland and certainly not on TV.
4
Simmons provides a certain level of entertainment, but it cannot be seen as highbrow or intellectual. What Simmons really needs to do is convince Lowe, Pierce and others to join him. Perhaps they will also recognize the constrictions of ESPN, however, they do not chase irreverence so much that such constrictions matter.
The workings of the corporate world are revealed where it doesn't really matter: sports. Leagues and their broadcast partners stifle all dissent. You notice how any sportscaster who criticizes a league disappears? Whatever happened to the weird and outspoken Bill Walton? He was too critical of the notoriously fickle NBA officiating. And so in the play-by-play world we are left with deft corporate toadies and fumbling former athletes. TNT's Inside the NBA remains a refreshing alternative in analysis, in spite of Shaq's brooding wet blanket. But even they tread very lightly about criticizing the league.
Simmons has run afoul of the same dynamic: it just won't do to have part of your paid commentariat say anything critical of NFL management, even if he is merely telling the truth about an incompetent and tone deaf old boys club. Agreed, Simmons was not good on TV. That's not a knock on him, but rather a knock on ESPN's testosterone and cliche-drenched announcers. They bleat inanities in turn, but really don't say crap. It's why I treasure the moments where Kenny Smith actually talks about basketball, or Barkley makes his scattershot and heavy handed, but usually spot on observations. Simmons is better off sticking to writing and creating another Grantland-style venue outside of the ESPN megaplex (because Grantland is Simmons). My only hope is that some of the Grantland basketball writers go with him (I'm looking at you, Zach Lowe).
Simmons has run afoul of the same dynamic: it just won't do to have part of your paid commentariat say anything critical of NFL management, even if he is merely telling the truth about an incompetent and tone deaf old boys club. Agreed, Simmons was not good on TV. That's not a knock on him, but rather a knock on ESPN's testosterone and cliche-drenched announcers. They bleat inanities in turn, but really don't say crap. It's why I treasure the moments where Kenny Smith actually talks about basketball, or Barkley makes his scattershot and heavy handed, but usually spot on observations. Simmons is better off sticking to writing and creating another Grantland-style venue outside of the ESPN megaplex (because Grantland is Simmons). My only hope is that some of the Grantland basketball writers go with him (I'm looking at you, Zach Lowe).
8
"If he can stay quiet until he is a free man — and his walking papers do not include continued silence — he can leave with his money and respond the way he might prefer."
That's the big unanswered question, will ESPN effectively buy his permanent silence on the dissolution of their union? And how much is that worth it to Bill? It will also be interesting to see just how much he posts on his site through September. I could see him using a voluminous "mailbag" article to allow his readers to speak their mind, followed closely after by one of his patented: (Afraid to say anything) or (Unable to say anything).
And then he has to decide whether he wants to join some other entity for a hefty paycheck or if he really wants to put a good chunk of his own money into starting something completely new, yes, with likely some private capital support, but some financial risk on his part, too.
That's the big unanswered question, will ESPN effectively buy his permanent silence on the dissolution of their union? And how much is that worth it to Bill? It will also be interesting to see just how much he posts on his site through September. I could see him using a voluminous "mailbag" article to allow his readers to speak their mind, followed closely after by one of his patented: (Afraid to say anything) or (Unable to say anything).
And then he has to decide whether he wants to join some other entity for a hefty paycheck or if he really wants to put a good chunk of his own money into starting something completely new, yes, with likely some private capital support, but some financial risk on his part, too.
1
He must be ready to bite his tongue right off, but he's smart enough not to say a thing until September. If ESPN wants permanent silence, they should pay for it.
I've been checking Grantland religiously -- I really want one more mailbag! And I'm still holding out (fading) hope that there's a way for him to raise some money and buy back Grantland -- I think it must feel like his third child at this point and could be his legacy.
I've been checking Grantland religiously -- I really want one more mailbag! And I'm still holding out (fading) hope that there's a way for him to raise some money and buy back Grantland -- I think it must feel like his third child at this point and could be his legacy.
3
Everyone expects him to trash ESPN, which is exactly why he won't.
More importantly, lost in all this is what a truly disgraceful organization ESPN has become. If someone threatens to disrupt the gravy train that is the NFL by voicing a valid - if coarse - opinion, they're out!? Keep quiet or else! For shame.
The league's handling of the Rice beating, along with many other recent issues, has been appealing. Kudos to Simmons for speaking up. Shame on ESPN for being their soulless, craven, greedy defender.
As for the game, the confluence of issues(concussions) along with the near obscene intrusion of sponsors suffused throughout has turned me off the game. And among my friends and family - all once passionate fans - I'm not alone ...
More importantly, lost in all this is what a truly disgraceful organization ESPN has become. If someone threatens to disrupt the gravy train that is the NFL by voicing a valid - if coarse - opinion, they're out!? Keep quiet or else! For shame.
The league's handling of the Rice beating, along with many other recent issues, has been appealing. Kudos to Simmons for speaking up. Shame on ESPN for being their soulless, craven, greedy defender.
As for the game, the confluence of issues(concussions) along with the near obscene intrusion of sponsors suffused throughout has turned me off the game. And among my friends and family - all once passionate fans - I'm not alone ...
4