Do people actually like Rick Reilly?

bruin · #1 08-08-2007, 11:30 PM

I've never gotten what the big deal is about this guy. Obviously a huge part of his fame/respect is the fact that he has a weekly column on the back page of SI, but aside from that, why is this guy so big (he's won national sportswriter of the year 11 times or something)?

I read him a lot, but think he's out of touch with the world, way too arrogant/pretentious/idealistic/cynical and overall pretty annoying. He's a great writer, but I can hardly ever stand what he says.

What does everyone else think of Reilly?

72off · #2 08-08-2007, 11:36 PM

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...What does everyone else think of Reilly?

[/ QUOTE ]

Bill Simmons in 10 years.

But more seriously, I agree. I don't get the fascination with Reilly.

bruin · #3 08-08-2007, 11:37 PM

Bill Simmons is at least funny, has good takes and doesn't come off as a huge tool all the time...

Dudd · #4 08-08-2007, 11:37 PM

He has to have the best job in America. Write one page a week about whatever you want, use whatever stupid gimmick you want to fill up space, you don't have to actually put any thought into the story, just make sure it's about somebody who's sick or disabled and tailor the story around a few emotional quotes. An hour later, and bam, your week is wide open.

Simmons is a horrible comparison, at his peak he was probably writing more in a single week than Reilly wrote in a few months. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't remember reading anything by Rick Reilly other than the SI last page.

Max Raker · #5 08-08-2007, 11:39 PM

He writes some of the sappiest crap I have ever read.

prohornblower · #6 08-08-2007, 11:44 PM

Wait, people still read SI? lol.

There is a thread in BBV4Life about Rotary Telephones you might enjoy.

g-bebe · #7 08-09-2007, 12:12 AM

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Bill Simmons is at least funny, has good takes and doesn't come off as a huge tool all the time...

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Everything Simmons writes is a total hit-or-miss for me: either the entire article actually makes me lol, or I can't read more than one line of his wallowing depression about the Celtics or whatever else he writes about in those articles.

I think Reilly is a far, far better writer, but what he writes about is, well, boring.

Your Mom · #8 08-09-2007, 12:30 AM

never have liked reilly.

bec1972 · #9 08-09-2007, 12:40 AM

[ QUOTE ]
He has to have the best job in America. Write one page a week about whatever you want, use whatever stupid gimmick you want to fill up space, you don't have to actually put any thought into the story, just make sure it's about somebody who's sick or disabled and tailor the story around a few emotional quotes. An hour later, and bam, your week is wide open.

Simmons is a horrible comparison, at his peak he was probably writing more in a single week than Reilly wrote in a few months. Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't remember reading anything by Rick Reilly other than the SI last page.

[/ QUOTE ]

I can see where you guys are coming from. (and I respect that and your opinions) I do like Reilly. I also like Simmons. But WAY more than his weekly page in SI, I REALLY liked "Who's your caddy?" by Reilly. If you like to golf, whether you are good or bad, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ! An entire chapter dedicated to poker player Dewey Tomko, as he looped for him once.

I think Reilly was probably in the right place at the right time, and has made the most of it.

Check this book out, even if you do not like Reilly, you will enjoy it.

tuq · #10 08-09-2007, 12:49 AM

bec beat me to it, "Who's your caddy" is awesome, both the Dewey Tomko chapter (easily my favorite in the book) and the Donald Trump chapter were pure gold, but it was all good.

I find Reilly hit-or-miss based on his subject matter. If I care I generally enjoy it; if not I pretty much skip it. I've read too many of his sappy articles about people I've never heard of to keep putting myself through that, but with the right subject I enjoy reading his stuff.