that article is actually really good

the "entertaining as hell" tournament is stupid for about a zillion reasons, but I agree that HORSE would be an awesome addition to the all-star break (1 on 1 would be cool too but it would never happen)

they had HORSE for a couple years but I think they got rid of it because it wasnt very popular

It was pretty good, though I could've done without the "our seats in Section 116" and the "[Welker drop] happened right in front of me — I was sitting on that side of the field, dead-even with the 13-yard line, 16 rows up" humblebrags.

Yeah that was vintage Simmons

Grantland should hire my 14 year old cousin who wondered at half time why everyone was trying to be like Lady Gaga now.

btw I agree that this is one of his best articles in a good while, he's definitely a better writer when his teams aren't winning

This blog entry wasn't written by Simmons, but it makes me wish Walt Frazier did color for every single NBA game ever.

He sure would be fantastic

Credit to my buddy who went Firejoemorgan on this latest column. Maybe TL/DR but I enjoyed it.


This was like watching one of those lazy movie sequels — like Another 48 Hours, or The Hangover Part II — when they don't have any inventive ideas, so they overpay everyone involved and shoot a script with the same beats.

- so it was like reading your columns?

Just like last time, I scurried out of the stadium as fast as humanly possible.

- I WAS THERE YOU GUYS

Unlike last time, I couldn't write anything.

- good to know the most well-paid sports writer in america, and the editor of the excellence in sports journalism website, who condescends and ****s on every writer and TV commentator around, is incapable of doing his job because his favorite team lost a game

How does this happen? How do you put this into words?

- a team that beat only one team with a winning record lost to a pretty good team in a very close game that could have went either way. that's how i put it into words.

This was like going back to Shea four years later to clinch the 1990 World Series, then blowing another two-run lead in the 10th with two outs.

- its exactly like the SAWX game 25 years ago, except for the part where its nothing like that.

So yeah, that's why I didn't write a column last night. I was in a dark place.

- presented without commentary

1. The Good Karma Game Day Swerve

- karma. yes, karma. remember, your coach admitted to cheating in EVERY GAME HE EVER COACHED until he got caught doing it.

That's why two of my buddies (Jacoby and Horowitz, both Patriots fans) and I tried to swing the karma that morning by driving to the Hoosiers gym. Yeah, THE Hoosiers gym.

- this just sum simmons up so perfectly.

Here's the point: Whenever I think about Super Bowl XLVI, I'm always going to think to myself, That day wasn't a total catastrophe … that's the same day we went to the Hoosiers gym!

- cool?

Hold on, there's more. Driving back to Indianapolis after our Hoosiers visit, we got pulled over for going 83 miles an hour in a 55-mph zone … and for the first time in my life, I talked myself out of a speeding ticket.

- so a quick editorial about what this guy has done to sports journalism: he goes to the super bowl and gets a speeding ticket and writes about it.

4. Developing "What to Do During a Crushing Sporting Event" Veteran Experience

A lesson from Super Bowl XLII: As soon as the game ends — again, the second it ends — you have to hightail it out of the stadium. Don't look at the field. Don't soak in those final images.

- says the millionaire sports writer who has been to five super bowls. yeah because most pats fans who bought tickets are going to erase this moment from their lives when they spent $4k making it happen

Readers always ask me, "How can you complain about sports ever again after seven Boston titles in nine years?

- your readers are correct in doing so. you have yourself written about grace periods, among many other "rules" of fandom.

Two things to remember about that "drop." First, it wouldn't have clinched the game. Eli would have gotten the ball back unless the Patriots finished the drive and scored. Second,it was a ****ty pass. That play happened right in front of me — I was sitting on that side of the field, dead-even with the 13-yard line, 16 rows up.

- is this a humble brag or is this telling people to go **** themselves at his awesomeness. true story: ZERO other sports writers were at this game.

Seeing the receivers line up, then guessing the play call the same way you would while playing Madden. Sometimes, you can tell exactly what's about to happen — and that play was one of those times.

- ...

Is any of this fair? Of course not. Tom Brady is one of the greatest Boston athletes of all time. But when that Gisele-fueled backlash kicks into fifth gear locally (and it's already started), for the first time in Brady's career, he might have to win back Boston fans. (Or, at least some of them.) I don't remember that happening to Larry Bird. Or Bobby Orr. Or Bill Russell.

- true story: media coverage, particulary at the super bowl, is EXACTLY THE SAME as it was when russell played int he 60s, orr in the 70s, and bird in the 80s

Just seems like a lot of ripping Simmons without any jokes.

Your buddy is not very good at this.

Amateur attempts at emulating the FJM style is #notagoodlook

Yeah that's a solid D effort, like half the things he's writing don't make any goddamn sense. I mean I'm not really much of a fan (anymore) but this is definitely one of his least worrisome articles and to take it apart for such tic tac reasons as that is pretty pathetic

F

yeah there is absolutely zero ingenuity there. just a lot of unfunny and meanness

#cmonson
#trippin
#notagoodlook

While Simmons tries to pretend he is a regular sports fan, when in actuality he is a privileged sports fan, that routine is a million times better than most of the national media who spout the bull**** of "I AM A JOURNALIST I CANT ROOT FOR A TEAM BECAUSE IT WOULD RUIN MY JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY"

While Simmons started out as a writer from the "real sports fan" perspective, he's pretty clearly not writing from that perspective any more. Nor does he really pretend to, aside from not watching from the press box.

Frazier also is the best dressed man in the building. He looks like a stone cold pimp every time I see him.

I have to agree that that Simmons article was really good - the XLII one was bitterness and absurdity, but this was a very good examination of the game from a Pats fan's perspective.

Also, I will watch parts of Knicks games, and it's mostly for Walt Frazier.

oh boy. new BS report

Sup, bro?

I didn't read the article, but loved Trading Places. I try to limit my BS exposure, so when I do read him, I still like him. (haven't read BS stuff since the 12 days of xmas..)

Listened to the Bird podcast today, and loved it.

scherer didn't u just discover this bill simmons guy like a month ago?