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Bill Simmons Leaving ESPN

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Whatever.

I read his articles every once in a while when one of my friends sends me a link. But that's about it. I couldn't stand him on TV. He doesn't translate.

He's definitely funny and clever, but as I've said many times on here...I can't stand sports media. I hate hot takes. I hate when these guys say shit they don't mean for clickbait.

I actually liked Bill Simmons best when he would take digs at the establishment, because I appreciate it when writers say what they believe regardless of the consequences.

I have liked @Chris Parker whenever I've seen his stuff on here, as he seems to play it straight and knows the Xs and O's pretty well. He also takes digs at the shitty Cleveland media when deserved, which is right up my alley. I'm a fan of justice.

Maybe Chris should offer to take over for Bill. :chuckle:
 
I really like Simmons' writing and always have. He brought a true fans perspective to sportswriting -- which means he's a dick at times, what true fan isn't occasionally a dick? And he truly, truly loves basketball and even though he isn't a good Xs and Os guy (to say the least) he is a real student of the history of the game. I like Grantland even more because he brought in writers that were good where he was bad (sign of a good manager) and he made sure it had a strong NBA focus. Damn shame, I don't know what he'll do now given that ESPN has almost a sports media monopoly.

For all you Simmons' haters out there, here is his excellent recent column on Kyrie:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nba-trade-value-sneak-peek-no-10-kyrie-irving/
 
No problem with Simmons as a whole. I actually really like him. Although I vehemently disagree with things he says sometimes.

But the Grantland thing.... I adore that site, and I'm just so bummed about it possibly crumbling or getting watered down.

If I never hear from Simmons himself ever again, i won't cry myself to sleep. But! Two things I'm super, extra bummed about possibly losing:

1) Grantland - Whether they stay together as a whole, or a bunch of the staff jump ship along with Simmons, I need Zach Lowe, Jason Concepcion, Andy Greenwald, and all the others to keep going. I read them all on a daily basis, and at least at Grantland, they are allowed a much longer and more creative rope than other sites seem to allow.

2) Simmons' podcast guests. What Simmons says himself is whatever. But he has consistently great guests with consistently great conversations. Now that I will miss.
 
Just goes to show that there is tremendous room for a national sports blog that could potentially be successful.




:detective:
 
I hate to go backwards here, but everyone should really erase the phrase "race card" from their vocabulary. It comes off really poorly. A better way to express that may be to say that he tends to make everything into a racial issue. Accusing someone of "playing the race card" is just so tacky though.

Not trying to make a big deal about it, I just don't think people realize how bad that phrase is.
 
Anglefan said:
I hate to go backwards here, but everyone should really erase the phrase "race card" from their vocabulary. It comes off really poorly. A better way to express that may be to say that he tends to make everything into a racial issue. Accusing someone of "playing the race card" is just so tacky though.

Not trying to make a big deal about it, I just don't think people realize how bad that phrase is.
Click to expand...

What? I honestly don't see a difference in saying someone's playing the race card or turning everything into a racial issue. How does the first one come off so poorly?
 
gourimoko said:
Just goes to show that there is tremendous room for a national sports blog that could potentially be successful.




:detective:
Click to expand...

Content is king. Why do you think so many of us waste our time here? Nothing else to read.
 
CosmoKramer said:
What? I honestly don't see a difference in saying someone's playing the race card or turning everything into a racial issue. How does the first one come off so poorly?
Click to expand...
Because the statement that a "race card" is something that exists is offensive. The second one is something that could be a valid observation about someone.
 
Anglefan said:
Because the statement that a "race card" is something that exists is offensive. The second one is something that could be a valid observation about someone.
Click to expand...

They're both expressions that imply the same thing, and I really don't think anyone is offended by the term "race card." I've never seen it objected to before today, but I'm just some white asshole.
 
CosmoKramer said:
They're both expressions that imply the same thing, and I really don't think anyone is offended by the term "race card." I've never seen it objected to before today, but I'm just some white asshole.
Click to expand...

As much as I don't want to defend anything @Anglefan has to say....

Lots of folks get offended by the term "race card." I personally hate the fucking term, but I'm not "offended" by it.

Just FYI, it is a very charged phrase that is so overused that it dilutes issues relating to race. "Playing the race card" has a very negative connotation, and generally would mean a person is saying there is racial inequity where there isn't. It's unfortunately used as a catch-all dog whistle phrase to get folks to roll their eyes and walk away rather than listening to grievances.
 
gourimoko said:
As much as I don't want to defend anything @Anglefan has to say....

Lots of folks get offended by the term "race card." I personally hate the fucking term, but I'm not "offended" by it.

Just FYI, it is a very charged phrase that is so overused that it dilutes issues relating to race. "Playing the race card" has a very negative connotation, and generally would mean a person is saying there is racial inequity where there isn't. It's unfortunately used as a catch-all dog whistle phrase to get folks to roll their eyes and walk away rather than listening to grievances.
Click to expand...

Should have just PMed you this question, thanks for the answering it.
 
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