Bill Simmons on ESPN Tenure, Modern Announcers, & Vince McMahon Doc | SI Media | Episode 464

[@GutsBatman]

I've been on the Bill Simmons content train since the Page 2 days. Subbed on the podcasts from day 1 of them. He's definitely an influence on my writing when I do it for my blog (which I haven't a done of recently because of work). What makes his podcast stand out to me is how wide ranging it gets as far as topics go, which is also seasonal. I do listen to a lot of Ringer podcasts as well. His eye for talent in the audio space is really strong.

[@4747da]

Bill is not saying something that the interviewer eludes to: Bill has encyclopedic memory regarding a lot of sports and pop culture. that makes his interviews with stars really different. I remember the hulk hogan one, when you can actually sense when hogan realizes: "wait. this guy really cares about wrestling", and the interview got real good

[@johndunne550]

I used to access my high school’s computer room to read The Sports Guy on ESPN Page 2 on my lunch period. Wild to see how far he’s ascended. Good for him.

[@thesamirmahadin]

I realized what good writing was reading his column in high school

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

Other than his Labron takes, Bill is among maybe 3 other people that I actually listen to with a fun and passionate interest. Great pod guys, great pod.

[@je5406]

Bill had Lebron #2 all time. Is that too high?

[@ronnenvallejo7444]

@@je5406 doesn’t matter, what matters is we can all agree that Bill is #2 all time podcasters next to Rogan ?

[@full6330name]

Don't listen to him talk about lakers or lebron. Everything else 100 %

[@scottipippen6554]

@@full6330name I pretty much agree on his Lebron and Lakers takes aswell;-). In the end, it`s all about opinions. And, as this year, he often likes the Lakers roster and praises them for their actions. The rest is just normal dislike from a Boston fan inmo..

[@hubertsumlin9697]

I love Bill

[@jimstevenson424]

Following Bill for 25 years, almost every 'innovation' today seems like something he's already tried. He's changed with the times and keeps his staff young. His old stuff was edgier and would get cancelled now, but articles like his Boston Marathon guide are good writing and so entertaining. Like his Rewatchables, his Grantland and Page 2 work are re-readable.

[@JShort45]

Some interesting tid bits on the Vince McMahon documentary at 1:16:19. Glad it is going to be multi part. I cannot wait until early next year for it.

[@Matty-vw8vw]

Jimmy - "Bill, I don't want to embarrass you but I think you're Jesus Christ himself" Bill - "C'mon" Jimmy - "I mean it" Bill - "Yeah, I guess that's true"

[@fexcab]

😂

[@untexan]

“We’ll wrap it on this” and then the conversation goes for another 15 minutes, what an interview

[@spikestampede146]

Great interview, very insightful

[@zaidoraid24]

Bill Simmons is a pioneer

[@nnc8171]

this was great

[@full6330name]

solid bill interview

[@jerrho1]

I feel like someone REALLY likes Julia Louise Dreyfuss. Like a lot.

[@ld3789]

what a crazy glaze session

[@zachhayes432]

This guy is a great interviewer, and bill is obviously always fantastic. I thought the shot at the athletic was pretty funny as well. Consider me subscribed!

[@NeelyTube]

Bill is like a sports Howard Stern who changed the game and elevated his companies. Main difference tho is that Bill bet on the right medium when he went his own way. They both made a fortune. But Howard's audience is considerably smaller now (despite the absurd bag). Bill is more relevant than ever bc he bet on Spotify and podcasting.

[@3rdFloor]

Bill hates LeBron and he has him 2nd all time … that’s how good LeBron is

[@jimave]

The Vegas talk brings me back in time! I went to college in Vegas (UNLV Alimni) from 94-99.

[@ZJ-ne9kn]

Wow great episode ive watched Bill for years. to me he comes off a bit of an everyman ik im not the only one who thinks that. he has a lot of similar intrests as i do and thinks very similarly to me he is as open as can be pretty fair like how you guys talked ab the news cycle stuff and to not even care. to know smart people will get it and idiots will be idiots. I agree with Jimmy i always am paying attention to the annoucers i have my favorites but i don't really absolutely hate many like a lot to do.

[@MrZola1234]

I have a group of friends in our 40s and 50s, all making 100k+ and we still go 4 to a room. That's part of the appeal, just like driving in from socal rather than flying. Staying in touch any way we can with those trips in our 20s.

[@mitchhecht9070]

Dan Shulman is by far the best baseball guy

[@brokenkayfabe]

wow. i always thought you guys were the same person lol

[@PayDay4Youtube]

Cant believe u got Ellen Degeneres on. Great job SI

[@AficionadoOfArt]

So amazing to hear all this…Kimmel was always on the cusp……just timing. He needed to get on with Conan

[@ColbyONE]

One other thing. First time I’ve ever seen/heard of this Jimmy guy. One thing that’s so obvious is he’s scared to have his own opinion. The entire interview he would try and answer any question BS threw back at him the way he thought BS would want him to answer. It was never his own answer. There were a few times he would literally stop in the middle of a response bc he thought BS had the opposite opinion, & he started backtracking his opinion. Be your own guy.

[@mike-r575]

@ min 59: No Bill, Dwayne Wade was terrible two seasons ago when he did TNT's studio show on Tuesday nights, but Candace Parker was excellent. Memo to TNT & ESPN: DO NOT put Dwayne Wade on another studio show!

[@NickLandess]

BRING BACK MAILBAGS!!!!!!!

[@mrgabgutierrez]

jimmy traina seems like hes always uncomfortable

[@PedroDeAlvarado81]

Simmons’ has forgot… ​​⁠Bill and Connor Schell got the idea for “30 for 30” from the 1999-2007 ESPN program “SportsCentury.” Simmons’ just expounded on an already (Peabody) award winning framework built by the aforementioned program. And SportsCentury was more than just the “Top 50 Athletes of All-Time” series. They documented such topics as “The Flu Game”, “1972 Olympic Men’s Basketball Final”, “1985 NCAA Championship Game”, “1999 Ryder Cup” and various other topics & athletes. Michael Husain was the writer/director of ‘SportsCentury.’ Bill Simmons is a carbon copy of a previous sports media figure, Rick Reilly. Except Bill failed his way up after multiple opportunities given (‘Any Given Wednesday’) Simmons has the same approach regarding sports topics, “strike first, strike hard” the unabashed-without empathy assertions. Blending a myriad of pop culture references with this sentiment “I’m not belittling his play (obvious pejorative opinion), I love the guy, I think he’s a great player.” Followed up by a hollowed-out compliment. I’ve yet to see him give any credit for the path media figures like Rick Reilly forged for others to follow. Maybe it takes longer than “30 seconds to see…” what came around, before you. What made Simmons finally successful “on his own” was that he learned he wasn’t leading man worthy. His career, ironically mirrored that of an all-time great player of his rival fandom. Jerry West (1-8 in Finals) who became the most successful post-career player. Because being the GM allows for other great talent to “win the Title” instead of “dribbling out the clock”…like Magic. The idea for ‘30 for 30’ allegedly began in 2007. And The first film aired October 2009. Rick Reilly: “Life of Reilly” was a featured column on the back page of SI from 1997 until 2007. He left SI after 23 years with the magazine in November 2007, to join ESPN. Awards & notable achievements: Reilly was voted ‘NSSA’ National Sportswriter of the Year 11 times (2nd All-Time). He co-wrote the screenplay for the film ‘Leatherheads.’

[@jimstevenson424]

Reilly didn't write nearly as well. I never went to Back Page with anticipation in my SI like I did with Bill's Page 2. They are similar in that they both wrote about sports.

[@beaker8111]

Uh ... I disagree. I can't stand listening to Aikman talk. He talk SO SLOWLY. There are times during the broadcast that if I didn't know who he was I would ask "Did this guy get hit in the head a lot?" Buck is the best, but I'd prefer Romo to Aikman all day.

[@MrPhilaCuse]

Bill "not a homer" Simmons picked a Pats SB in '21 & playoffs this year.

[@jerrho1]

This is a mediocre interviewer talking to a true pro that is being kind. Love hate both parties involved. I grew up on SI. Times have changed

[@jerrho1]

Honestly I probably wouldn't be any better. But maybe. New York does not make you brilliant. Maybe it's a hindrance. Forest and trees and whatnot

[@mikeromanello3543]

Simmons is such a libby. Wheres are go biden speech.