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New York, 2:31 PM
Sat Nov 14
13 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of Phintastic Phintastic
    11/10/09

    In reply to And Here's One Of The People Who Helped Establish Bill Simmons
    Wonder if the Sports Gal reads Deadspin? That should make for some interesting dinner talk. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Phintastic was starred Phintastic was unstarred
    Image of Karlifornia Karlifornia
    11/10/09

    In reply to And Here's One Of The People Who Helped Establish Bill Simmons
    Erik Kuselias is frantically looking up literary agents in the phone book. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Karlifornia was starred Karlifornia was unstarred
    Image of Tracy Ham and Eggs Tracy Ham and Eggs
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    I still go back and reread his running NBA draft diary each year. And when things like Manny getting busted or Boston trading for Garnett happens I want to make sure to see what he has to say.

    Yes, a big part of his writing is pop culture mad libs, but the man is still funny and relevant.. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Tracy Ham and Eggs was starred Tracy Ham and Eggs was unstarred
    Image of Juancho Juancho
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    I find it amusing that Bill Simmons manages to walk the line of the "average" fan, when he's been a child of privilege his entire life. No one went to "The Gahden" or Fenway so much or got to attend Holy Cross and get by just by bartending if they weren't.

    Yes, this is semi-professional jealousy, but I think we all can admit Bill Simmons has led a pretty charmed life. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Juancho was starred Juancho was unstarred
    Image of TexasGopher TexasGopher
    11/10/09

    @Juancho: I think saying Simmons is privileged is stretching it. His father was a school administrator his whole career, which isn't exactly a high-paying gig. I think it's just that baseball and basketball tickets were much cheaper on average back then, so season tickets were more affordable for the common fan.

    My parents covered my private college education, but it wasn't because my family was rich by any stretch. It's because my father made my education his top priority over a big house, a nice car, or anything else. I imagine Simmons's father was the same way.

    Of course, like the idiot I am, I didn't fully appreciate Dad's sacrifices until I went to law school, which I had to pay for. My father's birthday is tomorrow and I finally have a firm job... it's time to make amends. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Moonshine Mike promoted this comment TexasGopher was starred TexasGopher was unstarred
    Image of Juancho Juancho
    11/10/09

    @TexasGopher: aside from grades 4-7, I went to Catholic school. And after many years in psychotherapy, I can say-

    He was the gifted, only child of a divorce- taking him to a ton of sporting events has "guilt gifts" written all over it.

    I have a college degree and (Thank God, seriously) have a steady, albeit soul-crushing job. I make a little under 30k, and am trying to figure out how I can afford grad school, and maybe get married and have a family, and somehow find time to write. Simmons went to grad school then made a living solely as a bartender in one of the most expensive metro areas in the U.S.? Something doesn't add up.

    Drew had a great assessment of Simmons, his fandom, and his book a week or two ago in his column.

    Again, he has a great life and family, and he gets paid huge money to crack jokes and write about sports and pop culture. This is just me being green-eyed.

    I just don't buy the whole "man of the people" thing, like when his wife supposedly walked off from whatever writing she was doing for ESPN.com on The Bachelor/ette because Disney supposedly wouldn't give her season passes to Disneyland.

    Bill, please don't insult my intelligence.

    Ok, fuck I'm bummed at the moment. Dickjoke, anyone? #billsimmons
     Reply
    Juancho was starred Juancho was unstarred
    Image of docjcl docjcl
    11/11/09

    @Juancho: You know why there's a term for "guilt gifts"? Because it's a common occurrence, something that happens to alot of people. I don't see how any of that changes his perspective as a sports fan. He got "guilt gifts" as a child and therefore his opinion on sports is invalid?
     Reply
    Juancho promoted this comment docjcl was starred docjcl was unstarred
    Image of Juancho Juancho
    11/12/09

    I'm amused (and delighted) that this is still generating (intelligent) conversation 2 days later. Let me preface this by saying that I also enjoy Bill Simmons, but I think he's being disingenuous at the very least in regards to his upbringing and/or paygrade within ESPN/Disney, and some of his familiar tropes are really starting to wear thin.

    I'll try and respond to a few points:

    First of all, yes, it is pretty standard to bartend (or waitress) and make a living. However, the majority of people do it in addition to something else, especially if a) they're young and b) live in the big city. I don't know exactly about Bill (I can't listen to all his Podcasts), but between watching sports, writing and trying to get laid in his 20s, I'd have to guess it wasn't a full-time gig.

    @CaptFamous: $30K (6 nights a week, HA!) doesn't go nearly as far in NYC or Boston (even with roommates), as it does here in Cleveland...and I still live paycheck-to-paycheck, pretty well within my means due to their being no other choice.

    @docjcl: I never said his perspective wasn't valid, just disingenuous. I don't know rabid fans who have gone to the number of games Simmons has, let alone average ones. I give him some credit for actually paying for Clips season tix and not using a press pass, but he uses it in his work so much like a badge of honor that it's almost obnoxious. He makes it seem like people who don't watch or attend games like he does aren't quite up to snuff, and he's a major web media figure!

    @eduardjm: haven't had a chance to yet, but it's on my to-read list. I'm a librarian, work hazard. And it is on my list to purchase, not borrow from work. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Juancho was starred Juancho was unstarred
    Image of Matt_T Matt_T
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    Verse Chorus Verse Somebody's been listening to Nirvana all week, huh Will? #billsimmons
     Reply
    Matt_T was starred Matt_T was unstarred
    Image of the earl of weaver the earl of weaver
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    You're missing nine humans. #billsimmons
     Reply
    the earl of weaver was starred the earl of weaver was unstarred
    Image of formerly Chief Wahoo formerly Chief Wahoo
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    Christ, Leitch, you make Gomer Pyle seem like a pessimist in comparison. #billsimmons
     Reply
    formerly Chief Wahoo was starred formerly Chief Wahoo was unstarred
    Image of Pedro Cuatro Cinco Pedro Cuatro Cinco
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    "Established" and "Establishment" are not the same thing. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Pedro Cuatro Cinco was starred Pedro Cuatro Cinco was unstarred
    Image of MitchKayak MitchKayak
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    that painting is horrifying, with the cold dead eyes. #billsimmons
     Reply
    MitchKayak was starred MitchKayak was unstarred
    Image of Silent Q Silent Q
    11/10/09

    @MitchKayak: For the life of me, I'll never understand why Leroy Nieman decided to paint Andy Bernard. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Silent Q was starred Silent Q was unstarred
    Image of Pete Gaines Pete Gaines
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    3: HAVE A LITTLE FAITH, by Mitch Albom. (Hyperion, $23.99.) A suburban rabbi and a Detroit pastor teach lessons about the comfort of belief.

    I will now light myself on fire. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Pete Gaines was starred Pete Gaines was unstarred
    Image of Drew Magary Drew Magary
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    That painting... it's like the world's worst Steve Winwood video. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Drew Magary was starred Drew Magary was unstarred
    Image of The Sports Hernia The Sports Hernia
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    it shouldn't be a surprise to see Bill Simmons atop the bestseller list.

    And he took down Albom in doing so. Perfect. #billsimmons
     Reply
    The Sports Hernia was starred The Sports Hernia was unstarred
    Image of MarkKelsosMigraine MarkKelsosMigraine
    11/10/09

    @The Sports Hernia: The Fab Five is still atop the best seller charts, huh? #billsimmons
     Reply
    MarkKelsosMigraine was starred MarkKelsosMigraine was unstarred
    Image of Dany Heatley Speedwagon Dany Heatley Speedwagon
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    Needs more 90210. #billsimmons
     Reply
    Dany Heatley Speedwagon was starred Dany Heatley Speedwagon was unstarred
    Image of MarkKelsosMigraine MarkKelsosMigraine
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    Don't worry Will, God Save The Fan debuted at number 1 in my apartment. #billsimmons
     Reply
    MarkKelsosMigraine was starred MarkKelsosMigraine was unstarred
    Image of contains_hot_liquid contains_hot_liquid
    11/10/09

    @MarkKelsosMigraine: Pervert. #billsimmons
     Reply
    contains_hot_liquid was starred contains_hot_liquid was unstarred
    Image of norbizness norbizness
    11/10/09

    In reply to Bill Simmons, Establishment
    So he's Al Simmons' grandson or something? I kind of nodded off about two sentences into the post. #billsimmons
     Reply
    norbizness was starred norbizness was unstarred
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