The r/BillSimmons Podcast
A podcast discussing Bill Simmons, the BS Pod, Russillo, The Ringer, Grantland, Page 2, sports media, podcasts and more. Not affiliated with Bill Simmons or The Ringer.
Episodes
#139: Is the Re-Apex Over? Plus, Re-Assessing Who Won the Simmons/Russillo Break-up
Welcome to Episode #139! We bring back Chris for his 5th appearance (#93, #95, #100, #130). Last November we discussed who was winning the break-up; we update our thoughts after Russillo's recent ascension and Bill's lackluster content of late - is the re-apex officially over?We get into the issues with Zach Lowe Sunday nights - and address whether the hate has been too intense or fully wa
#138: Why Hasn't Anyone Covered the Russini Scandal? A Deep Dive Into the Evolution of Sports Media
Welcome to Episode 138! We bring on returning guest Mike (Episode #112) to get to the bottom of why there's been almost no coverage of the Dianna Russini scandal by sports media. We go through the evolution of the medium: TV and ESPN's early days, athletes gaining more control over the narrative, the insider economy, and ultimately conclude with a) why the story hasn’t been covered and b)
#137: The Chanch Bros Return for a Victory Lap on Zach Lowe and the NBA's Issues; Why is the League Becoming Less Cool? Plus, Klosterman-Simmons Pods in Nadir Canyon
Chanch and Kyle (Episodes #98 and #120) return to the pod after calling their shot in 2024 on listeners turning against Zach Lowe and coming to the realization that the NBA has serious issues including style of play and the regular season schedule. We also discuss how the NBA is losing its coolness factor and how that shares similarities to rap music. We then finish up the pod explaining why Chuck
#136: Russillo vs. Lowe NBA Sundays — Why Do We Already Miss Ryen & How to Fix Lowe & Bill; Plus, Bill's Unique Cultural Critique Methods, Re-Apex Content Strategy Shift & Ringer Talent Assessments
Welcome to Episode #136! We bring on Matt from Twitter for an in-depth conversation on all things Bill Simmons. First, we discuss the topic of the year so far: Russillo vs. Lowe NBA Sundays. The listeners already miss Ryen and prefer him over Zach; we get into why we think that is, and propose potential fixes to the current Sunday iteration of Lowe & Bill. We also check-in with Russillo at Bar
#135: Analyzing The Ringer's Move to Netflix
Welcome to Episode #135! We bring on Josh from Twitter (@joshjurnovoy) for an insightful look into The Ringer moving their video podcasts from YouTube to Netflix. We discuss the business case from both Netflix and The Ringer's perspective, assess the technical aspects of these video pods now being on the streaming service, and contemplate what, creatively, makes for an elite (and not so great)
#134: "Number 16, Limitless" — The Bill Simmons Re-Apex
We bring on recurring guests Roman (#118, #119) and Ben (#133) for a 3-man weave celebrating Bill Simmons' re-apex. Enjoy!
#133: Max Kellerman Pod Reaction; Is Bill Re-Apexing Post Russillo? Plus, a Ringer NBA Pod Idea and What Makes a Great BS Pod Guest
Welcome to Episode #133! We bring on Benjamin and first react to Max Kellerman's appearance on the BS Pod - what made Max so good, and more broadly, what makes for a great BS Pod guest? We then talk about Bill's improved content since Russillo left - did he hook himself up to the Rejuvenation Machine? After chatting some Russillo, Benjamin gives his take on the missing element of Ringer NB
#132: EMERGENCY POD — Netflix Wins the Warner Bros. Auction
Welcome to the latest episode! Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. - we break it all down! Enjoy
#131: Who Will Buy Warner Bros. — Netflix, Paramount or NBC?
Welcome to Episode #131! In today's pod I break down the state of play of the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) sale process. Why are they looking to be sold, which company that submitted bids (Paramount, Netflix, NBC) has the best chance of winning, why is each company interested in buying WBD, and will WBD even sell itself or proceed with their planned split of the Cable TV and Streaming & St
#130: Russillo vs. Simmons: Who Won the Break-Up?
Welcome to Episode #130! We bring on recurring guest Chris (#93, #95, #100) to cover all the angles of Ryen Russillo leaving Bill Simmons & The Ringer.We first hit on what we think Russillo should do at Barstool, including utilizing the talent there and adding some variety into his show; so far we're modestly disappointed he seems to be doing the exact same podcast. What will his new compa
#129: Reviewing NBC & Amazon's NBA Coverage; Plus, a Russillo Update, Bill's Weak NBA Gambling Scandal Response, and Big Picture NYC Live Show Takeaways
Welcome to Episode #129! We bring back Gracie (#121) to discuss an entertaining variety of r/BS Pod topics. First, we assess how NBC & Amazon are doing so far covering the NBA. We break down their studio shows, presentation and announcers, and contrast it with ESPN, who has been putting out a terrible NBA product for decades now. Plus, how is Inside the NBA doing on ESPN, and are they finally
#128: Ceruti & Nephew Kyle Leave With Russillo; Plus, the Downfall of the BS Pod
Welcome to Episode 128! We bring on Evan to discuss a wide variety of Bill Simmons topics, starting with the shocking news of the day - Sir Rudy & Nephew Kyle are joining Russillo's new venture. We then hit on why we think Bill's pod has declined significantly, including the guest list, Guess the Lines issues and too much gambling talk. We next compare and contrast Bill's career wi
#127: The Rewatchables Deep Dive, Plus a Russillo Fake Movie Pitch
Welcome to Episode #127! We bring back recurring guest Imperial Twilight (#115 & #117) for a deep analysis into The Rewatchables podcast. Imperial's been on a Rewatchables kick over the last few months and shares his thoughts on a variety of topics, including:How Rewatchables Bill is the old, Page 2-esque Bill we all lovedThe negatives of 2025 Bill on sports don't show up on Rewatchabl
#126: The Decline of Guess the Lines, Bill's Hiring Decisions & Bill's Jimmy Kimmel Response
Welcome to Episode 126! We bring on Andy (@adplacksports) for a classic r/BS Pod show. We start off talking Guess the Lines - why has it dropped off so much, and is it redeemable? We assess what made the show great and how it lost its luster.We then hit on Bill as Ringer GM and discuss the current Ringer roster including strengths and weaknesses. We finish up the show predicting what Bill will (or
#125: EMERGENCY POD — Ryen Russillo Leaves The Ringer for Barstool
Ryen Russillo is leaving The Ringer to form an independent digital media company which will sign a multi-year partnership with Barstool and receive investments from Barstool and Dave Portnoy. We break down this sports media news of the century - enjoy!
#124: The Case for Russillo to Barstool; Plus, Why ESPN's New Streaming App is Doomed
Welcome to Episode #124! We bring on recurring guest and sports media specialist JF for a highly informative show on the r/BS Pod topic of the day (Russillo's free agency) and the hottest non-Russillo sports media story (ESPN's Direct to Consumer app launching).To start off the pod, JF makes the case that Barstool should be even odds with The Ringer to nab Russillo, a contrast to some of our recen
#123: A Ryen Russillo Deep Dive, Plus Future of Sports Media Talk
We bring on Russillo expert Mason for a highly detailed look at everything Ryen Russillo: his time at ESPN, the art of a Russillo take, the beauty of Life Advice, whether his contract being up is causing tension with Bill, and, of course, where he'll land next. We finish up talking future of sports media. Enjoy!
#122: The Ryen Russillo Free Agency Special
Welcome to the latest r/BS Pod! We bring on two returning guests for a 3-man weave covering every angle of Ryen Russillo's looming free agency. Enjoy!
#121: Assessing the Perk/Simmons Beef — Who Won? Plus, ESPN's Terrible NBA Coverage, The Big Picture vs. Rewatchables, Russillo's Next Landing Spot, and the Barstool to Ringer Listener Pipeline
Welcome to Episode #121! We bring on Gracie from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod ep, starting off with the Perk-Simmons beef. Bill launched some aggressive takes against Big Perk, who came firing back with a long monologue of his own including going into Bill's WNBA archives - we assess who won the feud.Next we hit on ESPN's horrific NBA coverage - Perk included - and wonder why they've
#120: A Simmons/Russillo/Lowe Podcast Breakdown — Did the Big 3 Live Up to the Hype? Plus, a Deep Dive Into Chuck Klosterman's Latest BS Pod Appearance — Including His Wonky AI Takes
Welcome to episode #120! We bring back the Chanch brothers from Episode #98 for another 3-man weave breaking down the recent Big 3 Simmons/Russillo/Lowe pod. Then we dive into Chuck Klosterman's latest appearance on the BS Pod and discus his wonky AI takes. Enjoy!Check out Kyle's fantasy league idea here: https://clubhousefantasysports.io
#119: 4-Man Panel Breaks Down the Bill Simmons-Pablo Torre Feud & Podcast, and What it Means for Bill and the Future of Sports Media
Welcome to Episode #119! We bring on returning guests Roman, Chris and Chenny for a rare 4-man panel to cover every angle of the Bill Simmons-Pablo Torre story. We discuss the origin of the feud, what we liked about Pablo calling out Bill several times, why we think Bill did the pod given he clearly hadn’t listened to Pablo’s shows, Bill’s hypocrisy on Pablo making this a story when Bill makes any
#118: Spreading Bill Simmons Lingo to non-Bill Fans, Russillo’s Essential Role at The Ringer, Zach Lowe’s Guest Issues, The Beauty of r/BillSimmons, and Who Wins a CR vs. Van 7-Game Series?
Welcome to Episode #118! We bring on Roman from TikTok for an absolutely classic r/BS Pod. We start off with Roman’s successful tales of bringing Bill Simmons lingo to non-Bill listeners. We then discuss The Rewatchables and the hilarity of film buffs having to put up with Bill Simmons’ takes, and find new ground with the answer to the age old question of why Bill doesn’t reveal the movie until af
#117: Part 2 With Imperial Twilight: Bill’s Apex Mountain, How Bill Can Make it As a Hollywood Mogul, Bill Should Launch a Book Publishing Co, and Why The Ringer Should Expand Into College Basketball
Welcome to Part 2 with Imperial Twilight! We start talking Bill's next career steps - IP says Bill should livestream games similar to the ManningCast - an OG idea by Simmons himself. He could also do a tour of all 30 NBA arenas with a documentary crew following him. Ultimately Simmons needs to get the video-first Gen Z generation as fans; we’d love seeing him watch an NFL game with Cousin Sal
#116: EMERGENCY FEUDCAST — Simmons & Russillo Land Nuclear Blast on Outkick's NBA Ratings Coverage; Clay Travis & Bobby Burack Respond With Tactical Strikes of Their Own — We Assess the Feud
We have a sports media feud! We break down it all down on the show and assess who is right about NBA ratings. Enjoy!
#115: Part 1 With Imperial Twilight: Did Bill Help Destroy Sportswriting? Plus, Bill's Evolution From Fan to Rich LA Insider, Why Hasn't He Been Cancelled & Challenging Russillo's Tape Grinding Claims
Welcome to Episode #115! We had on fellow podcaster Imperial Twilight and went for over two hours - so like our recent two episodes, we're breaking this into two parts. We kick off Part 1 by talking about Bill's background - how much of his persona is real and how much has he exaggerated his Boston fanhood over the years? Imperial thinks Bill's everyman sports fan persona is more of a
#114: Part 2 With David Quiñones: Bill's Best Guests, Why Russillo Likely Stays at The Ringer, Our Decades Long Bill Gripe, Rings Culture Patient Zero, and The Future Legacy of Today's Gambling Craze
Welcome to Episode #114! This is part two of our excellent conversation with journalist David Quiñones.David opines on what he feels are under-appreciated guests on the BS Pod; he likes Bill with Sean Fennessey and Mallory Rubin. We then discuss how it's odd people don't mention The Ringer and Barstool in the same breath when they have overlapping audiences. We weigh the pros and cons of R
#113: Part 1 With David Quiñones: Bill's Lasting Impact on Sports Journalism, The Evolution of Player Coverage, The Generational Divide in Sports Media, and Why Does Bill Hate Mid-Tier NBA Stars?
Welcome to Episode #113! We bring on David Quiñones, a Miami-based podcaster and former sportswriter at the Miami Herald. David combines a deep history with Bill Simmons with his vast experience of working in media and sports media specifically, and the result is one of the r/BS Pod's best episodes yet. We recorded for 2 hours and 45 minutes, so I split the pod into two parts - Part 2 will rel
#112: Nadir Canyon Masters Pods - Has Bill Lost Touch With the Average Sports Fan? Plus, Bill's Failure to Adapt, His Lost Interviewing Skills, and Why His Hot Takes Have Gotten Much Worse
Welcome to Episode #112! We bring on Mike from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod rip. Mike and I assess the current state of Bill Simmons and his content and identify some issues that have caused us - former listeners of every one of his pods - to drop off considerably.We start with the thesis that Bill has lost touch with the average sports fan and highlight the recent Masters Pods as an example - w
#111: Best & Worst Case Bill Simmons NBA Playoff Scenarios, More Zach Lowe to The Ringer Coverage, and NBA Twitter Stories with @HubieTalksHoops
Welcome to Episode #111! We bring back @HubieTalksHoops for a wide-ranging show talking Bill Simmons, NBA, sports media and more. We first continue our ongoing coverage of Zach Lowe to The Ringer, where Hubie hits on some points we haven't discussed over the last few episodes. We also get his view on how Lowe fits with Russillo and whether Ryen will re-up or stay when his contract is up.Next w
#110: Lowe vs. Russillo, GM Bill vs. Content Creator Bill & Stephen A vs. LeBron; Plus, is PMT the Evolutionary BS Report & What's The Ringer's Salary Cap Strategy?
We bring back Aaron from Episode #100 for a wide-ranging and fast-paced r/BS Pod rip hitting on Bill Simmons current events including Zach Lowe signing with The Ringer - what's the salary cap hit and will The Ringer make any moves in response? Plus, who's more valuable, Lowe or Russillo?We also hit on Pardon My Take's NFL-centric approach and recurring guests, in some ways making it th
#109: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Joins The Ringer
Incredible news today - Zach is back! We break it down from every angle. Enjoy!
#108: LeBron on McAfee Reaction: What it Means for Bill, Stephen A, ESPN, the NBA Media Landscape and LeBron's Legacy
Welcome to Episode 108! We bring on recurring guest Chenny (Episodes #102, #80, #75) to break down the interview heard 'round the sports world this week: LeBron on McAfee. This had wide ranging implications on sports and sports media, and we get into everything - including LeBron's specific choice to do this on McAfee, him being as open and uncut as we've ever heard him, his ripping of
#107: NBA vs. March Madness Fanhood - Why Can't We Like Both? Plus, Bill Doubling Down on NBA vs. Pardon My Take Going Broad - What's the Better Strategy? And Bill Simmons Sliding Doors Moments
Welcome to Episode 107! We bring on a frequent contributor from r/BillSimmons - he's staying anonymous - for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We haven't had one in awhile and boy it feels great to be back.We start off the show talking NBA vs. March Madness, with Bill Simmons leading the charge that you can't really enjoy both. We discuss the reasons for this increasing phenomenon, including as
#106: Why Was 'Around the Horn' Cancelled — and Why We Used to Love it
This week Around the Horn announced their last show will be May 23rd. Sports fans lit up Twitter with fond memories of growing up watching OG legends Woody Paige, Jay Mariotti, Tim Cowlishaw, J.A. Adande, Bill Plashcke, Kevin Blackistone, Jackie Mac, Bob Ryan and more banter on their screen every afternoon.In today's show, we look back at what made the show great, and also diagnose and present
#105: Stop Being an NBA Doomer — Ratings are Fine and the League is in Excellent Financial Shape
There's been a lot of discussion about NBA ratings this season. Given my background in sports media, I discuss why this is misguided and that the NBA is actually in excellent shape. We discuss the new TV rights deal, how the media partners make money, what variables will be needed to judge the new deal, and the advantages that the NBA brings to NBC and Amazon that the NFL and MLB do not, inclu
#104: ESPN Insider Comes on to Talk Bill Simmons at Grantland and Where Bill Ranks on the ESPN Pyramid, Plus Bill Simmons Current Events — What Was That Termine & Eddie Johnson Pod??
Welcome to Episode 104! We bring on Mike (@SpringerProject) from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod rip. We start off discussing Bill Simmons current events, with Mike actually defending the Termine & Eddie Johnson pod - wait, what?? Then we get into Mike's time at ESPN and discuss the formation of and disintegration of Grantland - this is must listen for any Grantland fans. Next we discuss where
#103: A Review of Katie Nolan's New Podcast "Casuals"
Welcome to Episode 103! We bring on previous guests Mike (Episode 73) and Chanch (Episode 98) for a 3-man weave reviewing Katie Nolan's new podcast. It's a concept we've wanted to do for awhile - a podcast reviewing another podcast - and what better show to start with than someone who goes back deep in Bill Simmons lore and, in many ways, is attempting to do an evolutionary version of
#102: EMERGENCY POD — Luka Gets Traded and Bill & Russillo Record the Greatest Podcast of All-Time
Welcome to Episode 102! We bring back 3-time guests Flex and Chenny to react to the insane Luka trade and epic masterpiece from Russillo, Bill and Rob Mahoney, who recorded an emergency 3-man weave as soon as the trade happened Saturday night.
We break it all down: the trade, the pod, Bill's juice, Russillo's virtuoso performance (yes, this is his Apex Mountain), Bill letting Russillo co
#101: EMERGENCY POD — Bill Simmons to Re-Sign with Spotify; Plus, is an ESPN Reunion Coming, and is Zach Lowe Joining The Ringer?
Welcome to Episode #101! The Podfather is staying at Spotify, and thus we break down all the angles. Plus, reports indicate he may work with ESPN again, and we assess whether Zach Lowe is now planning on joining The Ringer. Enjoy!
#100: EMERGENCY POD — Big Cat Grew Up a Boston Sports Fan
Welcome to episode 100! We bring on 3-time guest Chris (Episodes 93 & 95) and first time guest Aaron (who's pod I guested on last week) to discuss, so far, the sports media story of the year: Big Cat grew up a Boston sports fan. That's right, the Pardon My Take co-host grew up right outside of Boston and only started rooting for Chicago teams after college. While this was known by some
#99: Why Bill Remains So Popular Despite a Content Drop-off, is Pardon My Take the Evolutionary Page 2 Bill, Reacting to Ric Bucher's Comments, and a Theory on Why Bill's Takes Have Become So Wonky
Welcome to Episode 99! We bring on @T_sizzle71 from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod show. We've focused on NBA ratings for the last couple episodes and had a welcome return to this podcast's roots talking all things Bill Simmons.
We start off discussing our backgrounds with Bill, both finding him on ESPN.com in the early 2000s and listening to "Eye of the Sports Guy" in 2007 before it was changed
#98: A Foolproof Way to Lift NBA Ratings and Solve the League's Regular Season Issues; Plus, Did Zach Lowe Ruin Basketball?
Welcome to Episode 98! We bring on Chanch and Kyle from TikTok, who are brothers in real life, for another classic r/BS Pod 3-man weave.
We start off talking our history with Bill Simmons (0:00-9:15) before Chanch and Kyle introduce their foolproof way to fix the NBA (9:15-58:30). They've been perfecting this idea for over a decade, which primarily involves a radical schedule change and also intr
#97: The 3-Man Weave Returns — Why are NBA Ratings in Decline, and What Can the League Do About it?
Welcome to Episode 97, where we bring back r/BS Pod favorites JF (Episodes 71 & 83) and TikTokInvestors (Episode 27) for a classic 3-man weave. We discuss the topic that's taken over NBA Media: Why are NBA ratings down? JF & TikTok expand on a variety of reasons highlighted by the NBA Twitter community but also detail several additional reasons that we haven't seen mentioned much. Some are
#96: Bill in Shambles as JJ Redick & the Lakers Start 3-0
We review the history of Bill Simmons and JJ Redick, dating back to 2010, that's led to Bill severely doubting the 2024 Lakers and saying JJ was a lunatic for taking the job - and why he's likely infuriated at their hot start.
#95: The Ringer's New Hires — What This Means for NFL & NBA Coverage; Do They Need Zach Lowe? Plus, Nadir Canyon Guess the Lines Needs a Format Change, and Bill Appears Ready to Re-Sign With Spotify
Welcome to Episode 95! We bring back Doug from Episode 70 and Chris from Episode 93 for a timely 3-man weave.
We start off discussing the recent Ringer news: Why we like these additions, and how they should fit into and improve their NBA and NFL coverage. The Ringer's NBA roster is now robust - do they even need Zach Lowe? And how is their NFL roster with McShay added, but still missing Robert May
#94: EMERGENCY POD — The Ringer Hires Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry and Dave Jacoby
Welcome to Episode 94! We break down The Ringer bringing on Todd McShay, Kirk Goldsberry, Dave Jacoby and Joel Anderson, including:
— Why these hires make a lot of sense
— What this says about the evolution of podcasting
— Why Bill is more likely to re-sign with Spotify now
— Why Zach Lowe is still a long shot to sign with Bill
Enjoy!
#93: We Review "Mr. McMahon" — Grading the Doc, Where it Ranks on a 30 for 30 Scale, How WWE & Netflix Come Out, Should it Have Gone Harder on Vince, Bill's Doc Legacy in 2024 and Doc Winners & Losers
Welcome to Episode 93! We bring on Chris from Twitter (@tbrodude) to dive into Bill's new Vince McMahon doc on Netflix. Over the course of the show we answer several questions, including:
- Our grade on an A-F scale and vs. 30 for 30s and Bill's Andre the Giant HBO doc
- How various groups (hardcore fans, casuals) are viewing the doc, and who the doc was really made for
- Was this a takedo
#92: EMERGENCY POD — Zach Lowe Fired by ESPN
Wow! Shocking news has hit the NBA. We break it all down — why was Zach fired, where will he land next, will he reunite with Bill Simmons, what this says about the current state of ESPN, and a lot more. Enjoy!
#91: The Definitive 'Any Given Wednesday' Retrospective — A Complete Breakdown of the Worst Show in HBO History
Welcome to Episode 91! We bring on Scott from Twitter (@Cap_tain_Ron) to focus all of our attention this episode on Any Given Wednesday, the short-lived, Bill Simmons-hosted, 2016 HBO sports late night show. It remains an enigma to this day given how bad it was, a shocking career failure for Bill Simmons, who came into HBO at the peak of his powers. So, we break it all down. How did this happen? W
#90: Assessing Bill's Recent NFL Takes & Guests, Simmons Free Agency Watch Heats Up, KOC to Yahoo Reaction, Kamala on the BS Pod...Trump on Russillo? Plus, our First Snake Draft of Best BS Pod Guests
Welcome to Episode 90! We bring on a new 3-man weave with Joe from Twitter and Steve Franklin (@myguysteve) who join the pod for a laugh-filled episode. We discuss Bill's recent NFL pods and guests, speculate on his next move, suggest a game changing guest for Russillo, and do our first Ringer Snake Draft, with each of us drafting a team of BS Pod podcast guests. Enjoy!
(0:00-3:45) Intro &
#89: EMERGENCY POD — Kevin O'Connor Leaves The Ringer for Yahoo Sports; Plus, Todd McShay to The Ringer?
Welcome to the latest r/BS Pod! KOC has officially left The Ringer for Yahoo Sports and we break it all down - what does it mean for him & The Ringer, why did it happen, how does it relate to Solak and others leaving and Todd McShay joining, and what's the current and future state of The Ringer? Enjoy!
#88: The Evolution of Bill Simmons and Sports Media, and the State of the BS Pod & Content Creation Overall in a Sports Gambling World; Plus, Fans Want More Authenticity From Bill
Welcome to Episode 88! We bring on Nick from Twitter (@NickZararis) and a wide variety of sports media ventures for an excellent discussion on the changes of Bill Simmons and the sports media landscape over the years.
Theme 1: Bill not doing the research anymore or watching the games - he was better prepared to cover the NFL and NBA as a columnist
Theme 2: Bill becoming part of the story now that
#87: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright Feud Goes Nuclear as Bill Lands Two Massive Blasts Against Nick, Who Demands a BS Pod Appearance to Defend Himself; Plus More on Bill's Next Move
Welcome to a special edition of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! We break down the fast emerging Bill Simmons vs. Nick Wright feud from all the angles. We then touch on how this relates to Bill's expiring contract and predict what Nick and Bill's next moves are. Enjoy!
#86: Bill's Auction Draft Arrogance & Being Terrible at Fantasy — Does He Understand Draft Value? Plus Simmons Free Agency Watch, is Sports Media Taking More Shots at Bill & Russillo the Screenwriter?
Welcome to another edition of the evolutionary 3-man weave! We bring back prior guests Chenny (Episode #75, #80) and Flex (#79, #80) to react to Bill's recent Fantasy Football preview show. And per usual on the r/BS Pod, we get into a lot of other Bill, Ringer and Russillo related topics. Timestamps below:
— 0:00-38:30: Reaction to Sunday's Fantasy Preview pod - Why does Bill insist on usi
#85: Bill's Miss on Bezos and the Celtics, The Origin of Bill's LeBron Hate, Documentary & Podcast Ideas for Bill, and Does Bill Like the NBA Less Than He Used To? Plus, Bill's Career Arc vs Le Batard
Welcome to the latest episode! We bring on Max from Twitter (@maxmarshall136) to discuss:
— How was Bill so wrong about Bezos being interested in the Celtics? What was his true motivation?
— Are the Celtics really a Tier 1 franchise like the Cowboys and Lakers?
— The origin of Bill's LeBron hate going back to 2003 draft night
— The Ringer's anti-Heat bias, especially KOC, Bill and Russillo
#84: Our Grantland Mount Rushmore & Favorite Forgotten BS Report Guests, The Downfall of Michael Rapaport, Bill's Terrible Fantasy Strategies & The Great Pedof-Isle & Fast & Furious Pods with Carolla
Welcome to Episode 84! We bring on a guest from Twitter - who might be the biggest Bill Simmons fan we've had on the show yet - for a rollicking look back at the history of the Bill Simmons Universe. Topics covered include:
— Bill's time at ESPN The Magazine
— Grantland Mount Rushmore
— Looking back at our submissions to Grantland's Fantasy Football Writer contest
— The downfall of Mic
#83: Bill's Team USA Tatum Disaster, #EmbraceDebate on the New NBA Rights Deal, Chances of Bill Getting an NBA Studio Gig, Bill's Actual Contributions to 30 for 30 & Why Did Solak Leave The Ringer?
Welcome to Episode 83! We bring back JF from #71 for a continuation of some classic r/BS Pod topics:
- Laughing at Tatum's Team USA flop; how mad is Bill?
- Is the NBA rights deal going to work out for Amazon and NBC?
- Will Amazon or NBC hire Bill for a studio gig?
- What were Bill's actual contributions to 30 for 30?
- Why did Benjamin Solak leave The Ringer and will Russillo follow him
#82: INSTANT REACTION — NBC Officially Confirms NBA Rights Win, Gives Package Details and Explains Their Reasoning for Massive $2.5 Billion Annual Deal
Welcome to Episode 82! Comcast, which owns NBC, held an earnings call today where they discussed the NBA deal in great detail, including what games they won, the split between NBC and Peacock, and why they believe the deal is worth the massive $2.5 Billion annual cost.
I break Comcast's comments down in this instant reaction pod - enjoy!
#81: Will Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) Win NBA Rights From Amazon, Why the NBA is Smart to Try to Move on From WBD, and is WBD Really Going to Break Up? Plus, Another Dominant Netflix Earnings
Welcome to a special sports media edition of The r/BillSimmons Podcast! News just broke that WBD matched Amazon's NBA rights offer. I discuss how I see it playing out, and who will actually win the rights when it's all said and done. I also get into Bill's scoop on Matt Belloni's pod about how Amazon structured the deal to combat the WBD match provision.
Next I stay on the topic of
#80: Cranky Bill Lashes Out After Celtics Title, How Bill Would be as Celtics Owner, Bill vs. Portnoy for "The Belt" as Top Boston Sports Fan & Who Could Replace Russillo on Sunday NBA Pods (Not KOC!)
Welcome to Episode 80! We bring on Flex from Episode #79 and Chenny from Episode #75 - they know each other in real life - for a 3-man weave talking all things Bill, The Ringer, Russillo and more.
We start out discussing the hilarity of Bill barely celebrating the Celtics win and instead immediately shifting to complaining. While we still expect him to be a homer, it was surprising hearing Bill b
#79: Reviewing Bill's 2024 Playoff Takes, Our Bill Simmons Grievances, Why Isn't Bill Satisfied With Tatum, Predicting Bill's 2024 NFL Takes, and Why Won't Bill Discuss Anything Besides the NBA & NFL?
Welcome to Episode 79! We bring on Flex from Twitter (@flexcfc) for a classic r/BS Pod rip.
We first review Bill Simmons current events, including his frustration with the reaction to Tatum's playoffs. Why can't Bill be happy with the championship and why did he do a 180 on Tatum from earlier in the playoffs? We give our theories. We also weigh in on the Tatum celebration conversation.
The
#78: Talking Bill Simmons at AOL's Digital City Boston in the Late-1990s With a Former Email Partner and Frequent Mailbag Contributor; Plus, Hanging Out With Bill at a Clippers Game
Welcome to Episode 78! We bring on Ty from Pyramid the Podcast (yes, inspired by Bill) to talk Bill from the early days.
Ty and his group of friends in Boston first discovered and then frequently emailed Bill in the late-90s as his column was on the rise. We discuss Bill at that time and Ty notes how part of what made Bill endearing was his aggressive calling out of the Boston media. Ty tells us w
#77: SPORTS MEDIA UPDATE: Breaking Down NBC Winning 50 Exclusive NBA Games on Peacock Annually; Plus, Predicting Where 'Inside the NBA' Will Land, and Bill Reignites His McAfee Feud
Welcome to Episode 77! The WSJ dropped a long article today revealing many more details of the upcoming NBA rights deal. For all intents and purposes and barring a hail mary by Warner Bros. Discovery, this is a done deal.
In this show I assess why the Peacock exclusives are such a big deal, what this means for the future of streaming on NBC, why the NBA loves NBC (not just about the money), possib
#76: Current State of Sports Media, Why Didn't Steph Curry Ever Hold the Belt, Can Draymond Make it on TV, Is Russillo Sick of Bill, and How Caitlin Clark is the Evolutionary Steph for Sports Media
Welcome to Episode #76! Andy (@AndyKHLiu) from the Light Years pod (https://linktr.ee/LightYearsPodcast) comes on for a fast-moving show covering several Bill Simmons and sports media topics.
We start off with Andy's background becoming a Bill Simmons fan, and reminisce about Grantland and old Bill tweets. He really used to have no filter!
Since Andy is a Warriors fan we get his take on Bill&#
#75: Why Bill Should Return to TV on an NBA Show, New Insight Into Russillo's Next Move, Why Bill Missed the 2020s Video Paradigm Shift, and Enjoying "Vintage Bill" When He Talks Media & Pop Culture
Welcome to Episode 75! We bring on Chenny from Twitter (@ChennyBritt) for a classic r/BS Pod episode talking Bill, Russillo, sports media and more.
We start off discussing the interesting dynamic of Bill having long-time fans who know he's overreacting with extreme bias vs. the newer fans and NBA Twitter who actually take his words seriously; it's happening like never before this NBA playo
#74: Why Warner Bros. Discovery's TNT Will Lose NBA Rights to NBC and Amazon
In this episode I break down why we’re about to see such a massive shift in the NBA rights deals. I discuss:
— What went wrong with the formation of TNT’s parent Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD)
— Why WBD’s recent financials have been disastrous
— The highly negative impact of WBD signing a new NBA deal at double the cost of the previous one
— Why the deal makes much more sense for NBC and Amazon
— Wh
#73: Bill’s Annoying Refusal to Take an L, Was 2024 Parody Hot Take Bill Inevitable, Revisiting Classic Mid-2000s Columns, and Would Bill Be as Successful if He Wasn’t the *Boston* Sports Guy?
Welcome to Episode 73! We bring on Mike from Twitter (@PokerPolitics) for a deeper look into the evolution of Bill Simmons, as Mike's been reading Bill since the Page 2 ESPN days in the early 2000s.
First we start with Bill Simmons current events. His flip flops on the Wolves-Nuggets series have been legendary. Plus, we react to the embarrassing Justin Termine appearance defending Bill's o
#72: Over-Reactionary Bill Reaches Extreme Levels, The Ringer's Missing Video Content & NHL Coverage, NBA Rights Update & Russillo Market Corrects Bill; Plus, Mount Rushmore of Post-1990 Rock Bands
Welcome to Episode 72! We bring on Wiser Times - the creator of the awesome intro song - for another classic r/BS Pod ep.
First we delve into Bill Simmons current events. We're seeing previously unimagined levels of flip flopping from the Podfather, which is backfiring on him in hilarious ways. It's been very fun to see Bill's takes age poorly almost immediately this NBA postseason.
Ne
#71: Bill's KD Bias & LeBron Hate and Why Are Titus & So Many Others Leaving The Ringer; Plus the Future of The Ringer, an r/BillSimmons Check-In & Going In-Depth on the New NBA Rights Deal
Welcome to Episode 71! We bring on JF, who reached out to me on the Bill Simmons subreddit wanting to talk Simmons, The Ringer and more.
We first hit on Bill Simmons current events - it's laughable how much Bill praises and makes excuses for KD but hates on LeBron. What's the reason for this? We think it's obvious.
Next we discuss why Mark Titus and others have left The Ringer - is Bil
#70: Bill Simmons' Descent From Apex Mountain to Nadir Canyon; Plus Guess the Lines & Russillo Pods are Stale, Does Bill Even Like the NFL, Bill's Growing Arrogance and The Ringer's Disappointments
Welcome to Episode 70! We bring on Doug from Twitter (@dougie_fresh055) for a rollicking ride of all things Bill Simmons.
We first hit on Bill Simmons current events, including what will surely be a hilariously petty response to LeBron's podcast with JJ; in fact, this likely explains the uptick in cheap shots Bill's taken at LeBron lately.
Next we look back at Doug's Bill Simmons tweet
#69: RINGER UNION UPDATE — Bill Simmons Passes the Buck
That’s right — an entire show talking Ringer Union. The BS Pod has continued to be released despite no contract after it expired, yet Bill added a disclaimer today that The Ringer is “owned, managed and operated by Spotify” - was this an attempt to pass the buck? We say yes. Bill not only has significant influence at Spotify, but he’s also Head of Podcast Monetization & Innovation!
We then get
#68: The 3-Man Weave is Back! r/BS Pod OGs Bob & Pop Talk Derek Thompson on the BS Pod, How Russillo Acts on PMT vs. the BS Pod, McAfee vs. Simmons and Doc's Media Tour; Plus an r/BillSimmons Check-In
Welcome to another episode! We bring back r/BS Pod OGs Pop & Bob — these guys have been here from the beginning. We haven't done a 3-man weave since late October, so we needed to get another evolutionary Ric Bucher, Steiny Mo and BS Report-era Bill Simmons 3-man weave episode out with so much going on in BS Land.
We start with how we're holding up during this BS Pod break (some Russill
#67: Assessing The Ringer & Bill Simmons's Video Progress in 2024 — The Next Needed Improvement is Social Media; Plus, Bill Simmons Current Events & More NBA Rights Deal Discussion
Welcome to Episode 67! We bring back fan favorite Zach (@_zachblatter) from Episode 55 for a return visit to The Ringer & Bill Simmons' video, social media and growth strategies. Zach (Brand Manager at The Strickland) is highly experienced in the field as anyone who listened to #55 can attest to and once again brings a variety of excellent ideas to the pod.
We first discuss The Ringer'
#66: Mark Titus & Bill's Falling Out, McAfee vs. Simmons Update, Behind the Scenes of the DC Live Rewatchables, Guess the Lines History & Looking Back at Bill's Baseball Book 'Now I Can Die in Peace'
Welcome to a jam packed episode with Jake from Twitter (@DeAnime69)! We start off with Bill Simmons current events. Mark Titus recently spoke not so glowingly about Bill on a podcast, so we discuss their falling out - Bill used to refer to Mark as his "illegitimate son" - as well as Titus' career progression to date, including some drawbacks of being at Barstool, and why he and Tate
#65: EMERGENCY BEEFCAST: Pat McAfee Fires Back at Bill Simmons & Lands Nuclear Blast — It's Officially a Feud!
Bill Simmons has been chirping at Pat McAfee for months. A few weeks back Bill ripped off a lengthy impression making in fun of McAfee on his show. This closely followed Bill & Cousin Sal's buddy Jimmy Kimmel being miffed at McAfee guest Aaron Rodgers.
McAfee waited a month, but today landed what I consider a nuclear blast on Simmons - audio included in the first two minutes of the pod.
In
#64: Spotify Expert Breaks Down Their Music Business & Podcasting Venture, Reviews The Ringer's Contributions & the Implications of Joe Rogan's New Deal, Plus His Prediction of Bill Simmons' Next Move
Welcome to Episode 64! We bring on Brett (@CCM_Brett) from the Chit Chat Stocks Podcast (@chitchatstocks) for a deep dive into Spotify. The company's been in the news lately following a robust earnings report celebrated by Wall Street and their new deal with Joe Rogan, where he will still be with Spotify, but non-exclusive to their platform.
On the pod we discuss 1) Why investors liked the rec
Episode 63: Joe Rogan Re-Ups at Spotify & Now Will be Non-Exclusive — What Does it Mean for Bill Simmons, The Ringer, Spotify and the Future of Audio; Plus, Larry David Pod Recap
Welcome to Episode 63! We had massive news last week with Joe Rogan re-upping his Spotify deal, but with major changes to his initial contract. We bring back Neil from Episode 62 to break it all down.
First, this deal is much different than Joe's previous deal, as he's going non-exclusive and Spotify will help with ads and distribution, including on YouTube. The contract is also structured
Episode 62: From Bill to Shill Simmons — One Fan’s Journey Through the Stages of BS Pod Listening, and the Making and Breaking of a Pod Friendship (Pod-ship); Plus, Why Did Bill Abandon Baseball?
Welcome to Episode 62! We bring on Neil from Twitter (@NeilYayamanj) to discuss his journey of Bill Simmons fanhood over the last several years. This is the spiritual sequel to the fan favorite 4-hour Epic, Definitive Bill Simmons Retrospective, this time exploring in depth the period of Bill Simmons from 2017-2024.
We kick off the pod talking about Neil's introduction to Bill and how he immed
Episode 61: Bill's Fascination With Pre-Game Shows, the Downfall of The Rewatchables, Are Bill's NFL or NBA Takes Worse, and KD Isn't a Pantheon Guy According to The Book of Basketball
Welcome to Episode 61! We bring on Henry from Twitter for a classic r/BS Pod episode. After discussing our backgrounds with Bill, we hit on several topics:
— Why does he focus so much on announcers & pre-game shows?
— What's worse these days, his NFL takes or NBA takes?
— Ringer employees: Who is good, who isn't?
— Downfall of The Rewatchables
— His overall hypocrisy
We also discuss Bi
Episode 60: 'Disaster' Peacock Game Was a Massive Success for NBC & the NFL
We break down the much maligned Peacock game! Enjoy
— 23 Million viewers much better than predictions
— Financials mean it was a great buy by NBC
— There will be a bidding war for next year's game(s)
— NBA on NBC/Peacock now close to locked in
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