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Grantland.com (2 Viewers)

I can't believe ESPN is going forward with Whitlock to head up their new "Black Grantland". Even harder to believe that he hired Mike Wise to be a columnist. Wise is a buffoon.

 
Simmons and NYT investigative reporter Don Van Natta went through the Goodell/Rice fiasco in pretty good detail on the BS Report. Good listen if that kind of thing interests you.

 
Oh wow. Simmons took shots and respectfully...for a time until the snickers when he hit on particularly damning information. Loved the analogy to a giant political scandal.

I don't blame him. He was right all along. Why not air out all the facts that this is absolutely crazy, bungled, and ridiculous.

 
I find it interesting but don't think the masses care.

So without the video Rice gets two games and it's no story like all the other incidents of domestic violence. But their is a video and Goodell tries to do a solid for the Ravens' owner and still limit it to two games. It all backfires as the story gains traction, with a second video, and Goodell has to "arbitrarily" suspend Rice for a longer duration and try to cover up that process.

So I'm supposed to be outraged Rice got a raw deal? Or be outraged that Goodell tried to cover the process up? He likely did but it's such a rinky dink issue. We were all silent when guys got two games for domestic violence. Yet a video of it changes everything?

The spygate issues are interesting but the Pats were not breaking any rules until the Jets game.

Bountygate? Seems like Payton and Hargrove (?) have legitimate beefs along with the Saints organization.

 
So I'm supposed to be outraged Rice got a raw deal? Or be outraged that Goodell tried to cover the process up? He likely did but it's such a rinky dink issue. We were all silent when guys got two games for domestic violence. Yet a video of it changes everything?
I think Simmons' main problem is that Goodell is bald-face lying to everyone. He knew what Rice did, and for a number of reasons, decided to cut him a break and let him off with 2 games. Okay, whatever. I can see people getting mad about that, but I can also see the reasons Goodell would want to be merciful (first time offender, by all accounts an upstanding citizen, wife is on board, etc.).

Simmons' point is that the video shouldn't have changed anything as far as Goodell was concerned. What it did change was the level of public attention and outrage. When that happened, instead of sticking by his original decision, Goodell pretended that he was surprised and as outraged as everyone else, and dropped the hammer on Rice, while calling him a liar by saying that the video showed something different than what Rice told him had happened. By all accounts, Rice came clean from the get go (including Ozzie Newsome).

I find it objectionable that Goodell both changed the suspension and made up lies to justify changing the suspension. It's not something that really stirs up a high level of outrage in me personally, but it ain't a good look.

 
I just wish Simmons would quit trying to tie in the 18-game season. He always veers off into sounding like a crackpot. Goodell wants more weeks on TV for more revenue. Claiming he wants to do it so that more players will get injured before getting vested is nuts.

 
I just wish Simmons would quit trying to tie in the 18-game season. He always veers off into sounding like a crackpot. Goodell wants more weeks on TV for more revenue. Claiming he wants to do it so that more players will get injured before getting vested is nuts.
That's not Simmons directly, but the head of the NFLPA.

 
Sammy3469 said:
Tick said:
I just wish Simmons would quit trying to tie in the 18-game season. He always veers off into sounding like a crackpot. Goodell wants more weeks on TV for more revenue. Claiming he wants to do it so that more players will get injured before getting vested is nuts.
That's not Simmons directly, but the head of the NFLPA.
True, but that's a ridiculous thought IMO. There's no way that more player injuries is good for the NFL in any way really.

 
Sammy3469 said:
Tick said:
I just wish Simmons would quit trying to tie in the 18-game season. He always veers off into sounding like a crackpot. Goodell wants more weeks on TV for more revenue. Claiming he wants to do it so that more players will get injured before getting vested is nuts.
That's not Simmons directly, but the head of the NFLPA.
True, but that's a ridiculous thought IMO. There's no way that more player injuries is good for the NFL in any way really.
If less players vest in pensions, that's a very favorable financial result for the NFL

 
I find it interesting but don't think the masses care.

So without the video Rice gets two games and it's no story like all the other incidents of domestic violence. But their is a video and Goodell tries to do a solid for the Ravens' owner and still limit it to two games. It all backfires as the story gains traction, with a second video, and Goodell has to "arbitrarily" suspend Rice for a longer duration and try to cover up that process.

So I'm supposed to be outraged Rice got a raw deal? Or be outraged that Goodell tried to cover the process up? He likely did but it's such a rinky dink issue. We were all silent when guys got two games for domestic violence. Yet a video of it changes everything?

The spygate issues are interesting but the Pats were not breaking any rules until the Jets game.

Bountygate? Seems like Payton and Hargrove (?) have legitimate beefs along with the Saints organization.
Brian Phillips addresses sort of the same issues today, how the video changed perceptions without changing realities. I read it as a subtle rebuke to Simmons as well.

 
I listened to the Van Natta podcast- it's like when a 80's sitcom tries to do a very special episode about something serious. It doesn't work. I like Simmons for the bad gambling chatter, his biased sports fan's perspective on football and basketball and his Karate Kid references. I know that Simmons would like to be accepted as a serious journalist, but most fans, (well, me at least) couldn't give 2 craps about if Goddell lied in a press conference. It's important topic for someone in the news to handle, but not why I tune into the BS report.

 
Simmons with a very readable piece this week on Dan Snyder, which rings with me because I still tune in to Kornheiser's radio show on Monday mornings (Tuesday nights, actually, I am a person of the pod) to hear them moan and groan about the coach, the QBs and the GM while never saying a word about the owner (who happens to own the station).

And Charles Pierce chipped in today with a piece deservedly excoriating the awful people of Tallahassee. I eat that stuff up, too.

 
I listened to the Van Natta podcast- it's like when a 80's sitcom tries to do a very special episode about something serious. It doesn't work. I like Simmons for the bad gambling chatter, his biased sports fan's perspective on football and basketball and his Karate Kid references. I know that Simmons would like to be accepted as a serious journalist, but most fans, (well, me at least) couldn't give 2 craps about if Goddell lied in a press conference. It's important topic for someone in the news to handle, but not why I tune into the BS report.
In fairness to Simmons -- yes, I'm a fan -- he does NOT consider himself a journalist. He's an entertainer and opinion-maker.

 
The piece about Bill McCartney had some disturbing stuff in it. Football people and southern people are very weird.
Will give that a read. Promise Keepers were some of the strangest people on the planet.
There's a link in there to a Washington Post story about coaches and Christianity, specifically noting Hugh Freeze and Dabo Swinney for doing stuff that would be considered way over the top in my part of the country.

eta: I had sort of the same reaction as when Jayrok, I think it was, was telling us about everybody at his place of employment praying before meetings and discussing scripture at lunch. That was Alien Nation stuff to me, fellow sinners. I still can't get my head wrapped around the fact that there are places that do this.

 
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The piece about Bill McCartney had some disturbing stuff in it. Football people and southern people are very weird.
I thought McCartney came off a little better than how he was portrayed in the '90s. It basically glossed over some of the nastier elements of the Promise Keepers.

 
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.

 
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I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.

 
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Stopped reading/listening to Simmons discussing anything Boston at least 10 years ago.

 
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact

that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
I'm a Boston fan and I can't stand his writing about anything Boston related.

 
If you think about it, taking sports far too seriously is kind of his job. Is he not still that nerdy, awkward kid with amazing playoff Celtics seats, waving goodbye to an injured opposing player?

 
If you think about it, taking sports far too seriously is kind of his job. Is he not still that nerdy, awkward kid with amazing playoff Celtics seats, waving goodbye to an injured opposing player?
It's what set him apart in the first place. He wasn't pretending to be a dispassionate, serious journalist. Just seems weird to have that turn you off him now.

 
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Why did you listen to it then? Pretty obvious what that podcast was going to discuss.

 
I don't know what it is, but since the suspension, I've pretty much stopped listening to his podcasts and I used to love them...

 
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Why did you listen to it then? Pretty obvious what that podcast was going to discuss.
I turned if off during the other d-bag guy's part. :shrug: I thought he might have some level of objectivity. A shred maybe? I was wrong.

 
If you think about it, taking sports far too seriously is kind of his job. Is he not still that nerdy, awkward kid with amazing playoff Celtics seats, waving goodbye to an injured opposing player?
It's what set him apart in the first place. He wasn't pretending to be a dispassionate, serious journalist. Just seems weird to have that turn you off him now.
Maybe he's bringing less of the funny. If you're gonna ejaculate over the home teams all the time, better bring a lot of funny along with it. I'm not seeing much of that any more or maybe his style is just getting stale for me. It doesn't help matters that he's part of a fan base that even mild-mannered, god-fearin' Joe Bryant has singled out for being particularly obnoxious.

 
Simmons gets old for me real quick, homer or not. But that's ok - I doubt I'm his target audience anyway.

I'm in love with Molly Lambert.

 
If Simmons was directly responsible for hiring Bryan Curtis, however, then I'll give credit where credit is due. Another gem from Curtis today on the five obligatory minutes Marshawn Lynch put in at Media Day.

 
facook said:
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Why did you listen to it then? Pretty obvious what that podcast was going to discuss.
I turned if off during the other d-bag guy's part. :shrug: I thought he might have some level of objectivity. A shred maybe? I was wrong.
That was the one where he literally opened it saying that this was a Boston-centric podcast and he was doing it as a fan, right? That one?

 
facook said:
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Why did you listen to it then? Pretty obvious what that podcast was going to discuss.
I turned if off during the other d-bag guy's part. :shrug: I thought he might have some level of objectivity. A shred maybe? I was wrong.
That was the one where he literally opened it saying that this was a Boston-centric podcast and he was doing it as a fan, right? That one?
Yeah. You're a fan. Do you have any objectivity whatsoever? Or are you and all your buddies knee-jerk reactionary Boston fan-boys as well?

ETA: I love Simmons. I listen to just about every podcast he does. This one was just over the top to me. My expectations were too high, I thought it was lame, and I turned it off.

 
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roadkill1292 said:
If Simmons was directly responsible for hiring Bryan Curtis, however, then I'll give credit where credit is due. Another gem from Curtis today on the five obligatory minutes Marshawn Lynch put in at Media Day.
Yeah, Curtis has been killing it all week.

 
facook said:
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Why did you listen to it then? Pretty obvious what that podcast was going to discuss.
I turned if off during the other d-bag guy's part. :shrug: I thought he might have some level of objectivity. A shred maybe? I was wrong.
That was the one where he literally opened it saying that this was a Boston-centric podcast and he was doing it as a fan, right? That one?
Yeah. You're a fan. Do you have any objectivity whatsoever? Or are you and all your buddies knee-jerk reactionary Boston fan-boys as well?
Yes, I think I can be objective when I want to be objective. Maybe Simmons can, I don't know. What I do know is that he started off the podcast saying that this was a Boston-centric podcast and he was going to call his dad and his best friend who was a Patriots season ticket holder. So it's odd to hear him say that, continue listening to the podcast, then come complain about what a homer he is.

I didn't watch/was never interested in 90210. Guess what I do when I start a podcast and find out it's going to be entirely about 90210?

 
Still like him.

don't read all his articles anymore and bail after football. I don't do basketball. But still enjoy his mailbag and picks

 
facook said:
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to forgive Simmons his fandom of the Patriots. I won't read any more of his stuff about Brady and Belichick. He can't be funny enough to disguise the fact that he's just another M ### h o l e apologist in his own way.
His Patriot SB preview podcast with his dad and some other boston d-bag was particularly galling.
Why did you listen to it then? Pretty obvious what that podcast was going to discuss.
I turned if off during the other d-bag guy's part. :shrug: I thought he might have some level of objectivity. A shred maybe? I was wrong.
That was the one where he literally opened it saying that this was a Boston-centric podcast and he was doing it as a fan, right? That one?
Yeah. You're a fan. Do you have any objectivity whatsoever? Or are you and all your buddies knee-jerk reactionary Boston fan-boys as well?
Yes, I think I can be objective when I want to be objective. Maybe Simmons can, I don't know. What I do know is that he started off the podcast saying that this was a Boston-centric podcast and he was going to call his dad and his best friend who was a Patriots season ticket holder. So it's odd to hear him say that, continue listening to the podcast, then come complain about what a homer he is.

I didn't watch/was never interested in 90210. Guess what I do when I start a podcast and find out it's going to be entirely about 90210?
I guess that's fair. I think that many times he DOES do a good job of being an obvious homer but still having some objectivity, poking fun at himself and his teams, and reaching the general listener. I don't know, maybe I was just more sensitive to it that day.

 

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