Well, Bill Simmons launches his own site with ESPN, but without the ESPN branding Click Here (sportsgrid.com) . They're saying 70% of the site will be sports with the other 30% being pop culture (I can see that going 50-50 really quickly though)
I can't see this being anything but really big since everything Simmons seems to touch turns to gold, but it will be interesting to see how he reacts to being on everyones radar. He never struck me as a guy with really thick skin when it comes to being questioned by other members of the media, and there should be a lot of that for whatever reasons.
I really like the fact that Chuck Klosterman is on board for the project, but hopefully they can get a really good mix of people. My main problem with Simmons, other than his overexposure, is that everything he does is just really white. I never understood how a guy who is such a huge fan of the NBA can only land white guys to do his podcasts.
If nothing else this site should slow down a lot more production at work
Originally posted by BigDaddyLocoMy main problem with Simmons, other than his overexposure, is that even that everything he does is just really white. I never understood how a guy who is such a huge fan of the NBA can only land white guys to do his podcasts.
I wonder if this is the thing I long feared that burns him out. I enjoy his columns, I read his basketball book, I listen to his podcasts. I read the tweets and chats. I'm all in on the guy. But there's a lot to be all in on.
This seems like a a larger endeavor, a site he has to manage and supervise, in addition to everything else he does. Can he do all that? It seems more complicated than just moving his material to another wing of the worldwide leader.
Not that I want him to fail. But if he collapsed next week from exhaustion (he's also coaching the NBA celebrity game today for the all-star break), I wouldn't be shocked.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by Matt TrackerI wonder if this is the thing I long feared that burns him out. I enjoy his columns, I read his basketball book, I listen to his podcasts. I read the tweets and chats. I'm all in on the guy. But there's a lot to be all in on.
This seems like a a larger endeavor, a site he has to manage and supervise, in addition to everything else he does. Can he do all that? It seems more complicated than just moving his material to another wing of the worldwide leader.
Not that I want him to fail. But if he collapsed next week from exhaustion (he's also coaching the NBA celebrity game today for the all-star break), I wouldn't be shocked.
I have to imagine that he knows what he's getting himself into. Supposedly, this was one of the big negotiating points during his last round of contract talks and I'm certain it comes from the frustration that comes from not being able to completely let loose on certain subjects without risking a suspension from ESPN.
This is a very daunting task, but if the pressure starts to pile on, I don't see why he wouldn't eventually partner up with someone that has similar experience to help him out.
Either way, this is the smartest thing he could have done. He went independent without going independent. He has his own site, but he's still an employee of ESPN. He could fall on his face and still have something to fall back on. It's a lesson I'm sure he learned from watching Stephen A. Smith fail miserably and have to come crawling back to Bristol.
Originally posted by odessasteps I will be curious to see how many members of the Simmons (and by extension, the Carolla/Kimmel mafia) Clique end up being on the site.
Hench? Dameshek? Joe House?
Oh, Johnny?
(Although it's interesting to see he poached Katie Bakes... her big hockey-groupie story was a little tl;dr, but there's no denying her talent.)
You wanted the best, you got... the Out of Context Quote of the Week.
"I suddenly need a picture of HHH hugging a stuffed unicorn." (Lise)
I see sort of a Rachel Ray move, one still thinks about the Food Network when she's mentioned, but she got her own syndicated show, cookware, empire; yet she still does the 30 minute meal and other Food Network specials, she knows where she came from.
This could be huge, especially if Ace Broadcasting is involved, they are the breakout stars of the podcast generation and they know they have to move on to something new since every comedian and sport writer are doing their own podcasts.*
Now, is he ready? Did the PTI hosting pushed him to be more in the limelight? Can he handle it? I think so, but time will tell.
*if you havn't heard Whitlock's new podcast with Mariotti, go to foxsports.com now!
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