OT: Bill Simmons + Rick Reilly

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December 15th, 2009 at 2:57 PM
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blueloosh
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OT: Bill Simmons + Rick Reilly

I already find it hilarious that ESPN.com's front page puts Bill Simmons side-by-side with Rick Reilly, since Simmons proudly represents everything Reilly is not and not too long ago was just a random bartender with a blog while Reilly filled the inside cover of every SI issue (back when it was far and away the best sports magazine). I also enjoy Simmons' willingness to mock and critique ESPN. I mention this because their current side-by-side offerings have set a new gold standard for stunningly awkward coexistence.
http://espn.go.com/

Reilly has a column up, posted Dec. 9, giving Tiger Woods a very detailed action plan on how to restore his image, titled: "An image-rehab plan for Tiger Woods." http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=47...

Simmons, meanwhile, has a Dec. 10 column on the Tiger saga, which states: "I got a kick out of talking heads and writers arrogantly dispensing life advice like Dr. Phil wannabes." http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/091211

I wish they actually shared an office and ran into each other getting coffee. And I wish those interactions were recorded.

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December 15th, 2009 at 3:06 PM | I hate how ESPN feels the (Score:1)
sjastrz
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I hate how ESPN feels the need to put Reilly on Sportscenter. He is terrible.

December 15th, 2009 at 3:10 PM | They have never been "friends" (Score:1)
NorthSideBlueFan
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Simmons always has made snide remarks to this fact before Riley came to TWWL.
They even talked about their "supposed" (their words) rivalry when Reily did a Sports Guy podcast a few months back. They tried to bury the hatchet, but there was plenty of tension during the chat, IMHO.

Deadspin has documented a lot of this.

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December 15th, 2009 at 3:15 PM | i need to listen (Score:1)
blueloosh
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I didn't realize Reilly had been on a podcast. I will look up that segment and see if that gives me my awkwardness fix...

December 15th, 2009 at 3:10 PM | Reilly has been mailing in (Score:1)
Tacopants
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Reilly has been mailing in columns for years now. It's a shame, because his older stuff is pretty amazing.

December 15th, 2009 at 7:25 PM | To be fair, many long-time (Score:1)
loosekanen
Joined: 10/03/2009
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To be fair, many long-time Simmons readers will say the same thing. I'm of the opinion that his stuff hasn't been as good since his first book.

December 15th, 2009 at 3:17 PM | You can't imagine the kind of (Score:1)
Marshmallow
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You can't imagine the kind of hero-worship Simmons receives from Bostonians. I lived there for awhile and liked it a lot, but some things really grated on me. He is one of them.

December 15th, 2009 at 3:17 PM | Over the weekend, Rick Reilly (Score:1)
jg2112
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Over the weekend, Rick Reilly anchored some late editions of Sportscenter.

That was the cure for my insomnia.

December 16th, 2009 at 12:27 PM | Don't know about that--I saw (Score:1)
geigerm
Joined: 06/30/2008
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Don't know about that--I saw Simmons on TV promoting his second book (PTI, Colbert Report) and thought he was absolutely awful.

December 15th, 2009 at 3:22 PM | Who really wants to be Dr. (Score:1)
mejunglechop
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Who really wants to be Dr. Phil?

Galileo was also chastised.

December 15th, 2009 at 3:25 PM | Reilly at SI = Big reason why (Score:1)
Mattinboots
Joined: 11/21/2008
MGoPoints: 534

Reilly at SI = Big reason why I had a subscription (plus the action shots).

Reilly at ESPN = One of many reasons I can't stand their website.

Reilly on Sportscenter (or Reilly commentating anything for that matter) = change the channel. He's one step above "Boom goes the Dynamite" in terms of talent and 8 million steps below in hilariousness.

December 15th, 2009 at 3:31 PM | The difference (Score:1)
JohnMick
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Reilly in SI was refreshing - he took a humanistic stance on interesting stories, which contrasted well with the heavy sports output of the magazine.
Reilly on ESPN is redundant - they don't have nearly enough actual sports analysis and are far too heavy on the sappy stuff - which Reilly gets off on.
He's a good writer, with a good insight, but his arrogance and shallowness shine through far too much on t.v.

December 15th, 2009 at 4:32 PM | Bottom line: Reilly is past (Score:1)
Professor Greenberg
Joined: 06/30/2008
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Bottom line: Reilly is past his prime, whereas Simmons is in his.

December 15th, 2009 at 4:39 PM | I also enjoy Simmons' (Score:1)
jmblue
Joined: 11/07/2008
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I also enjoy Simmons' willingness to mock and critique ESPN. I mention this because their current side-by-side offerings have set a new gold standard for stunningly awkward coexistence.

Anytime I read the line "new gold standard" in reference to ESPN, I have to chuckle.

December 15th, 2009 at 4:44 PM | Reilly This Weekend on SC (Score:1)
akearney50
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This weekend on SportsCenter Reilly said "...but that's kind of like being the tallest midget." I have done and said some things that I shouldn't have, but I am pretty sure you can't say that on the air.

I don't remember what he said it about. I was too shocked with him actually saying it.

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