Without question, the worst Bill Simmons article ever.

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]

Wow, did he really write something like that? Wow, how stupid. Soccer in the US reached it's zenith back when Pele came to the states, there's no goddamn way it's going to get any more popular in this day and age

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, Tuq, he didn't. In fact, his exact comment from the article is on point and complimentary if anything:

Every five years, people predict soccer could "take off" in America. Every five years, it doesn't happen. Why? Because Americans don't want to watch anything less than the best possible athletes. That's why the USFL and Arena Football failed as TV sports, that's why the CBA doesn't have a TV contract, and that's why ESPN2 doesn't show minor league baseball every night. Pro soccer can't become a major American sport when 99.7% of the quality players play overseas. It's a fact.

He is pointing out a reason why soccer does not take off in the states, not belittling soccer or the MLS for failing to do so.

[Jack of Arcades]

That's not the quote I think people were thinking of. I can't find it off hand, but he was talking about soccer specifically.

EDIT: In respect to AI.

[StevieG]

[ QUOTE ]
That's not the quote I think people were thinking of. I can't find it off hand, but he was talking about soccer specifically.

EDIT: In respect to AI.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, found it here.

By the way, I've been watching the World Cup for four weeks trying to decide which NBA players could have been dominant soccer players, eventually coming to three conclusions. First, Allen Iverson would have been the greatest soccer player ever -- better than Pele, better than Ronaldo, better than everyone. I think this is indisputable, actually.

[kyleb]

LOL

what a gdi

[Max Raker]

Have you guys been listening to his podcasts? I think they are pretty good.

One thing I think Simmons dosen't get enough credit for is being one of the first sports writers to get how writing on the internet is different from print. I think most guys just wrote the same crap they where writing without thinking about the advantages the new medium had.

Now I think alot of people get this so his work seems less special (Boston winning everything also probably didn't help). I think if he changed formats and focused on his podcast he could maybe break out of his funk since he is good at seeing the benefits of new formats.

[Bulldog]

Is there a name for the internet phenomenon when it becomes universally cool to rip something that was previously believed to be awesome, just because others are ripping said thing?

[ThaSaltCracka]

it's called "bulldogging".

[Dids]

Max,

I don't think many of us would argue that Simmons wasn't fantastic when he first started. He's just become pretty inarguably (although it appears Bulldog might try) worse.

I think his podcasts are great. He still says some occasionally stupid stuff, but they mos def play to his strengths.

[Max Raker]

[ QUOTE ]
Max,

I don't think many of us would argue that Simmons wasn't fantastic when he first started. He's just become pretty inarguably (although it appears Bulldog might try) worse.

I think his podcasts are great. He still says some occasionally stupid stuff, but they mos def play to his strengths.

[/ QUOTE ]

No i pretty much agree. I think his columns are still ok but when he first started they where must reads. I remember thinking how unique his style was when he first came out. I really wish I had thought of it, it seems so obvious now, a dude that likes sports and pop culture writing about whatever he feels like. I think now alot of people do this so it isn't as fresh and he has probably stopped trying as hard as he used to.

I feel like in his podcasts he is still bringing his A game so to speak because he is afraid of looking like a moron since it is pretty new to him.

I love the part when he calls his buddy at the end who is a yanks fan. Being a internet poker player when I get bored during the day I call my friends at work to kill time. The first five seconds are exactly the same; the guy at work answers really professional sounding like this is John Mitchell and I say somthing stupid like Yo Johnny Boy or whatever. Then he can relax and talk like a normal person again. Simmons' strength was always his ability to relate average dudes i guess.

[tuq]

I would also posit that long-time readers are just worn out on his shtick. A lot of his columns are of the style where every sentence he's trying to make a joke or be cute and quite frankly I find it exhausting at times. It's like David Sedaris - the guy is a hella good writer IMO but I stopped reading his stuff because every sentence was a bunch line and it became almost annoying.

I might not be explaining that too well but hopefully it made sense.