The Bill Simmons Podcast (2 Viewers)

[woodstock]

Uh, did your friend go in the Eagles thread again? 

No, he's fine. I wrote him. I just wanted to update the "Donda" and Drake thread. I'll have to check with the narrator to find out how that all went.

Narrator: Both albums suck and Kanye and Drake are a decade-plus past their primes. The expiration date is way past due, it's just that the next generation hasn't built anything resembling a following like they pulled. If you thought pop culture was fragmented when they rose to prominence, you can't even imagine now.

 

[kupcho1]

Good chance that Simmons was confusing Asia (the band) with "Africa" (the song). Which would be 100% on-brand for him -- incorrect, tone-deaf and faintly racist.

 

[facook]

Simmons' casual racism continues:

Man

Irvin Zhang 张鼎堃

@irvindzhang

bill simmons during an ad read: “some new nerd culture movie came out—shanghai? the shanghai express? shang chi? who knows but we broke it down on…” come the ____ on. can we have one thing pronounced right without it being the ____ punch line of your ____ joke.

 

[whoknew]

Cousin Sal is funny. I listen when he is on.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

incorrect, tone-deaf and faintly racist.

This should be on his tombstone. (It won't be, of course.)

 

[whoknew]

I still like the Sal episodes but man Simmons makes a lot of dumb overreactions and grand proclamations. 

 

[RUSF18]

I still like the Sal episodes but man Simmons makes a lot of dumb overreactions and grand proclamations. 

Really? You mean the floor for Kyle Pitts isn't Travis Kelce?!?! (Repeated constantly pre-draft to preseason)

 

[facook]

2 weeks later....

In this week's Sal pod, he was comparing Joe Burrow to a little boy.  "Little boys are dumbasses until they turn 6."  Hey Simmons, your son has been a ####### up to puberty (thanks to you) and YOU are STILL a juvenile ####### in your 50's. 

Also, very surprising, the metaphor devolved into pointless drivel. 

ETA: Dumb donkey.  Sigh.

 

[facook]

Well this is rich.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Well this is rich.

 "I think sometimes people get weird when they get older,” Simmons said.

Guess he knows from experience. 

 

[identikit]

I like his Rewatchables podcast

 

[jhib]

 "I think sometimes people get weird when they get older,” Simmons said.

Guess he knows from experience. 

Sounds kind of judgemental about those people. At least Rodgers said he isn't gonna judge those guys on the team that haven't been vaccinated. 

 

[facook]

I like his Rewatchables podcast

I often like the Cousin Sal episodes.  But there is significant irony in an unmitigated narcissist accusing someone else of being a narcissist.  

 

[Bogart]

I like his Rewatchables podcast

Probably my favorite podcast that he does. Most of the guests are really good and it's an easy format for even Bill and his quarks not to mess up. I'll even listen if I haven't seen a particular movie.

 

[facook]

No one cares.

The part of his podcast that was a tribute to John Madden was actually pretty darned good.  I just have to point out that at one point he stated that the three people who have transcended sports and entertainment (because he can't help but rank things, because that is what narcissists think the plebeians want, their rankings of things) were 1. Madden 2. Cosell 3........Stephen A.....???????  My god what an nba-hole.

[To his credit later in the pod he realized the NBA answer was Barkley.  But still.]

 

[rockaction]

Stephen A.....???????  My god what an nba-hole.

My word. How on earth? 

 

[Eephus]

 at one point he stated that the three people who have transcended sports and entertainment (because he can't help but rank things, because that is what narcissists think the plebeians want, their rankings of things) were 1. Madden 2. Cosell 3........Stephen A.....???????  My god what an nba-hole.

[To his credit later in the pod he realized the NBA answer was Barkley.  But still.]

Joe Garagiola should be in the conversation as well

 

[kupcho1]

Joe Garagiola should be in the conversation as well

Just out of curiosity, why?

 

[mr. furley]

still listening, but his ability to tie every story back to some Celtics take is.... astonishingly annoying.

 

[Bogart]

Gotta give the Bill some credit, Spotify let me know that almost all of my top podcasts in 2021 were Ringer podcasts of some type (not his necessarily, but under his umbrella). I have made it through three of the episodes of his Music Box series on HBO Max (Jagged, Kenny G, Woodstock) and they were all really good.

Of course his input on those could be "hey, let's do a music thing!!" and smarter, better people take the idea and run, but his name is still first one in the credits.

I would gladly take $100 million and be known as the guy whose every opinion goes back to 90s Cowboys, Dirk era Mavs and the Bobby Valentine led Rangers. 

 

[GroveDiesel]

still listening, but his ability to tie every story back to some Celtics take is.... astonishingly annoying.

Definitely. It’s funny though, I think more people would be way more tolerant of his homerism and constant mentioning of his teams if they hadn’t all been so incredibly successful over the last 20 years.

He wrote the vast majority of his stuff about his fandom when he was doing his blog before he made it to ESPN and it was relatable to so many people because his teams sucked back then. Way more people can relate to being a dedicated fan of a team that always comes up short than being a fan of teams that are all winning championship after championship.

When you hear/read someone constantly drawing parallels to being a long suffering fan, that’s way more relatable than hearing someone constantly referring back to winning and dynasties. Nobody wants to hear that over and over again.

 

[whoknew]

I'll miss Cousin Sal when the season is over. I'll probably listen to the Ryen Rusillo Sunday night pods, but don't enjoy them as much as Cousin Sal. CS is just funny. I don't listen to Simmons' pod otherwise.

I do like some of the other Ringer pods, though. Probably my favorite is The Watch. I like both Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald quite a bit. 

 

[dkp993]

I'll miss Cousin Sal when the season is over. I'll probably listen to the Ryen Rusillo Sunday night pods, but don't enjoy them as much as Cousin Sal. CS is just funny. I don't listen to Simmons' pod otherwise.

I do like some of the other Ringer pods, though. Probably my favorite is The Watch. I like both Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald quite a bit. 

The Rewatchables is my favorite.  Haven’t tried The Watch yet but will soon.  

 

[thecatch]

I'll miss Cousin Sal when the season is over. I'll probably listen to the Ryen Rusillo Sunday night pods, but don't enjoy them as much as Cousin Sal. CS is just funny. I don't listen to Simmons' pod otherwise.

I do like some of the other Ringer pods, though. Probably my favorite is The Watch. I like both Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald quite a bit. 

I think Greenwald is kind of insufferable, but I enjoy their chemistry.  I listen to that pod when they are covering a show/movie that I'm interested in.

 

[SteelCurtain]

I used to listen to all of Simmon's podcasts but over the years, it has gone down to Cousin Sal and Peter Schrager conversations about NFL.

I did think the COVID misconceptions conversation with Derek Thompson about a week ago was pretty good and didn't go in any particular political direction.

I'm in the middle of the John Madden one and I'm about BS's age so I can relate the impact of Madden on our upbringing.  Madden and Summerall were the best ever.

 

[mr. furley]

Definitely. It’s funny though, I think more people would be way more tolerant of his homerism and constant mentioning of his teams if they hadn’t all been so incredibly successful over the last 20 years.

He wrote the vast majority of his stuff about his fandom when he was doing his blog before he made it to ESPN and it was relatable to so many people because his teams sucked back then. Way more people can relate to being a dedicated fan of a team that always comes up short than being a fan of teams that are all winning championship after championship.

When you hear/read someone constantly drawing parallels to being a long suffering fan, that’s way more relatable than hearing someone constantly referring back to winning and dynasties. Nobody wants to hear that over and over again.

for sure

i used to read his 50,000 word columns when he first showed up on ESPN and loved it. 

 

[Eephus]

Just out of curiosity, why?

He's largely forgotten today but Garagiola was the first sports broadcaster to successfully crossover to entertainment on a national scale. He went from broadcasting Cardinals games and NBC's Game of the Week to hosting the Today Show and guest-hosting for Johnny Carson.  This was in the late 60s before Cosell and Madden.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

He's largely forgotten today but Garagiola was the first sports broadcaster to successfully crossover to entertainment on a national scale. He went from broadcasting Cardinals games and NBC's Game of the Week to hosting the Today Show and guest-hosting for Johnny Carson.  This was in the late 60s before Cosell and Madden.

I also remember him hosting the late 70s version of To Tell the Truth.

 

[mr. furley]

listened to the Madden podcast today.

they really glossed over the Madden-as-caricature period where lots of people turned on him as a tv personality and just kind of pretended that didn't happen.

 

[Tick]

listened to the Madden podcast today.

they really glossed over the Madden-as-caricature period where lots of people turned on him as a tv personality and just kind of pretended that didn't happen.

I don't remember that period.  I certainly do for Berman, but not Madden.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I don't remember that period.  I certainly do for Berman, but not Madden.

I remember it. There wasn’t the vocal exasperation like there was for Berman, but there was definitely frustration voiced at times, including on this board.

 

[mr. furley]

I remember it. There wasn’t the vocal exasperation like there was for Berman, but there was definitely frustration voiced at times, including on this board.

yeah, less internet at the end of Madden's run 

 

[belljr]

I feel like tomorrow is a must listen

 

[Capella]

Lol just thinking about how they wanted to bet on a Dallas-New England Super Bowl. 

 

[facook]

Sal: "Cryo!?!?!....Oh my god you are SO relatable!"

 

[trader jake]

I feel like tomorrow is a must listen

Would have been better if one (Pats or Cowboys) lost this weekend and the other lost next weekend.  Instead both were bummed/angry at their team this week vs one being pleased and taking shots at the other while pushing their buttons.

Sal: "Cryo!?!?!....Oh my god you are SO relatable!"

Loved that.  The best/worst Parents Corner of all-time too... "Target intercom"

 

[facook]

Would have been better if one (Pats or Cowboys) lost this weekend and the other lost next weekend.  Instead both were bummed/angry at their team this week vs one being pleased and taking shots at the other while pushing their buttons.

Loved that.  The best/worst Parents Corner of all-time too... "Target intercom"

He really is the the epitome of being his son's friend instead of his son's parent.

 

[Bogart]

The Rewatchables is my favorite.  Haven’t tried The Watch yet but will soon.  

Watching the so horrible it’s good movie Shooter, with Marky Mark, tonight, just because they are doing an episode tomorrow. 
 

“Clearly Kate Mara and her assets won the movie. She’s like Brady during his third SB run.”

 

[bushdocda]

Watching the so horrible it’s good movie Shooter, with Marky Mark, tonight, just because they are doing an episode tomorrow. 
 

“Clearly Kate Mara and her assets won the movie. She’s like Brady during his third SB run.”

“What’s the list for best self cleaning gun shot wounds scenes?”

 

[Bogart]

Love how Simmons says something stupid and gets Twitter Cancelled once a month now, and then nothing happens to him.

Trying to figure out what was more "out of touch white guy" comment, "F--k Jalen Green. I like winning players." or "Fasting is not difficult" by Kevin O'Conner comparing what Kyrie is doing during Ramadan to his own intermittent fasting experiences.

 

[SFBayDuck]

Love how Simmons says something stupid and gets Twitter Cancelled once a month now, and then nothing happens to him.

Trying to figure out what was more "out of touch white guy" comment, "F--k Jalen Green. I like winning players." or "Fasting is not difficult" by Kevin O'Conner comparing what Kyrie is doing during Ramadan to his own intermittent fasting experiences.

I mean I get what KOC was saying, at least I did after he tried to explain it (lots of fans of IF), but that was still cringey in that context.

 

[kupcho1]

“What’s the list pantheon for best self cleaning gun shot wounds scenes?”

 

[mr. furley]

Love how Simmons says something stupid and gets Twitter Cancelled once a month now, and then nothing happens to him.

Trying to figure out what was more "out of touch white guy" comment, "F--k Jalen Green. I like winning players." or "Fasting is not difficult" by Kevin O'Conner comparing what Kyrie is doing during Ramadan to his own intermittent fasting experiences.

haven't listened yet. what's "out of touch" about saying "#### Jalen Green"?

 

[wazoo11]

Bill Simmons hating on hockey is so mysterious

Why spend so much time on a sport you don’t care about  

 

[Capella]

Bill Simmons hating on hockey is so mysterious

Why spend so much time on a sport you don’t care about  

I only listen when Sal is on. What’s he saying about hockey. 

 

[wazoo11]

I only listen when Sal is on. What’s he saying about hockey. 

He took a dig at hockey and baseball on today’s pod as “too boring” for interviews (the whole Peterson /Pham thing) 

 

[Ghost Rider]

He took a dig at hockey and baseball on today’s pod as “too boring” for interviews (the whole Peterson /Pham thing) 

He's just falling in the trap of the mainstream media, who think that football and basketball are all that matter. 

Simmons is a great writer, but while I am sure he made a lot of money in his time on ESPN and whatnot, he is terrible at TV and podcasting.  He has a voice and a face made for sportswriting. 

 

[RUSF18]

There's been like 4 good games in the entire NBA playoffs so far and he has probably spent a full day podcasting about them this month. 

 

[kupcho1]

Simmons is a great writer

 

[mr. furley]

He's just falling in the trap of the mainstream media, who think that football and basketball are all that matter. 

Simmons is a great writer, but while I am sure he made a lot of money in his time on ESPN and whatnot, he is terrible at TV and podcasting.  He has a voice and a face made for sportswriting. 

on the flipside, he sticks with talking about what he loves and doesn't play fake interested in other sports like so many other sports media figures.

it's his podcast, why talk about and cover things that he doesn't personally enjoy?