Bill Simmons! Bill Simmons! Bill Simmons!
1-liner, Bill Simmons, ESPN, Media Gossip/Musings November 12th. 2009, 11:50amBill Simmons: Finally, someone who isn’t friends with Bill Simmons writes about him with a critical eye. We haven’t read his book, but after sifting through many fawning reviews, this is the best we’ve read: “The book is more a collection of extended blog posts than a work of literature, an anthology that’s best read in short bursts. Instead of taking my time, I devoured the book in a couple of sittings because it was so fun to read—until it got a lot less fun when the jokes and pop-culture comparisons started repeating themselves. How’s this for an analogy: Pounding on Bill Simmons for The Book of Basketball’s excesses is like scarfing down 20 ice cream sundaes and blaming Baskin-Robbins for the stomachache.” [Slate]
37 Responses to “Bill Simmons! Bill Simmons! Bill Simmons!”
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November 12th, 2009 at 11:54 AM
Not sure why Deadspin is linked up top, but that Leitch piece was solid.
Man, when that guy was running the ship at DS, it was awesome.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:57 AM
sounds like i will have something to read on the shitter for an entire year
November 12th, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Sounds a lot like his Red Sox “book”. I’d like to see him write something completely original at some point.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:59 AM
sounds like i will have something to read on the shitter for an entire year
That’s where it wants to be read, but it’s really heavy for pooper material. Not weighty material, just a heavy bo ok.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Yup.
This book is all new material.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Fully seconded
somewhat seconded.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
This book is all new material.
that’s not entirely true. I’m on chapter three or four or something, and I’ve already read about 7 expanded columns that he worked into his “premise” (that being that he is a basketball genius beyond measure).
November 12th, 2009 at 12:02 PM
He’s covering, essentially, the entire history of the NBA. If it was done solely as a straight narrative it would get boring and lack context.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:04 PM
I don’t think that using an excerpt from a column for a page and a half of a 30+ page chapter necessarily qualifies as an expanded column.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:07 PM
I don’t think that using an excerpt from a column for a page and a half of a 30+ page chapter necessarily qualifies as an expanded column.
That’s not what I said, and you’re just proving my point. He’s expanding on things he’s already written about in greater detail and with research. He’s put 7 of his “essays” into this “thesis.”
November 12th, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Leitch and Simmons are friends? I don’t think so.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:09 PM
I can’t wait to read it. I like alot of his theories. I’m interested to read his top 100 player of all time list to see how he compares/contrasts Magic and Bird, whom he calls “basketball Jesus”. It seems like the general opinion on that one is that Magic is better, right? I also liked the excerpt that was entitled “why Patrick Ewing is the 39th best player ever”. I always thought he was violently overrated.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
So did many of the “knowledgeable” Knicks fans. You don’t realize a good thing until its gone.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
Never read Deadspin back in the day. What was so different then?
November 12th, 2009 at 12:12 PM
That’s not what I said, and you’re just proving my point. He’s expanding on things he’s already written about in greater detail and with research. He’s put 7 of his “essays” into this “thesis.”
Well he has been writing since 1996 and basketball is his favorite sport, so realistically he’s gonna go over some things again. But it’s not like his Red Sox book, which actually was a collection of old columns, edited and with footnotes.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Is it so bad to be the 39th best NBA player ever?
November 12th, 2009 at 12:14 PM
leitch is a good writer, for one.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:14 PM
I don’t know what article you read, TBL, but I don’t consider a reviewer who uses terms like “crazed genius,” “exhaustively curated,” and “the ultimate book for the connoisseur of sports minutiae” to have a “critical eye.”
November 12th, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Never read Deadspin back in the day. What was so different then?
When they got a picture of 8 rowing girls that all had cameltoes, they posted it with respect. Not like now.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Not exactly. The Isiah stuff is new. The NBA/ABA stuff is new. The MVP stuff is new, even if he previously said that Nash winning back to back MVPs was insane (which I’m pretty sure everybody said). You may have a fairer point on the HOF stuff, since he outlined it in a column, but the majority of that discussion (and the book, for that matter) is spent detailing the 96 players that belong, which is new.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:16 PM
They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Ooooh bop bop bop
November 12th, 2009 at 12:22 PM
I hate both of you.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Leitch’s post on Simmons was very good. I enjoyed it.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:23 PM
Is it so bad to be the 39th best NBA player ever?
No, not for me or you, or alot of people who’ve played. Maybe it’s bad for arguably the best player in the history of Georgetown and (arguably) the most dominating force in college during the 80’s. The excerpt doesn’t necessarily trash Ewing. It offer a fair analysis of his career and how it stacks up. He’s obviously been around alot of people who’ve overrated Ewing.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I would think 39th would be just about right? I’d have to see where he has him ranked amongst centers.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:26 PM
/high fives clown
November 12th, 2009 at 12:27 PM
I don’t know what article you read, TBL, but I don’t consider a reviewer who uses terms like “crazed genius,” “exhaustively curated,” and “the ultimate book for the connoisseur of sports minutiae” to have a “critical eye.”
Well, maybe the reviewer does have a critical eye, and the book is just really good. I mean, if this is the only “negative” review that was found, why not? The man knows his basketball. Love him or hate him. Sometimes his writing style may seem pompous(not to me), but he is a funny dude.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Leitch is friends with Bill Simmons? Facebook buddies!
November 12th, 2009 at 12:32 PM
if wordy — and i’m being very polite here — ramblings with non-stop references to boston sports and reaches for pop culture references are now considered “literature,” than so be it.
November 12th, 2009 at 12:35 PM
Where most my books reside. It took me two years to finish private parts.
/i take alot of shits
November 12th, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I actually think the Slate review is fairly accurate. Some parts of the book were great, others were overly self-indulgent on his own uniqueness. The opening chapter about “The Secret” might be one of the most retarded things I have ever read. However, I have enjoyed his comparisons of Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell and also contextualizing why Boston actually didn’t embrace Russell as their own.
November 12th, 2009 at 1:59 PM
Does Kobe receive fair treatment in this book?
/already know the answer
November 12th, 2009 at 2:00 PM
@cursed- good game last night. good win for your Cavs. Dont worry, R Lewis will be in the lineup next time to spread the floor
November 12th, 2009 at 2:03 PM
I consider myself the biggest Simmons apologist on Earth. The only column I didn’t read/finish was the Schilling question thing he did a few years ago. But I’m going to tell everyone right now: The book, while it has its moments, is not very good. If this is the “best book” Bill Simmons thinks he will ever right… I think he’s way off. It’s far too long and I don’t think any edited this thing (the number of mistakes and repeated jokes/stories are very annoying). Very disappointed with the book, if edited properly (let’s say only 450 pages and it’d still be long) this would be a work of art. But as it is… ugh. Don’t quote someone and tell me that it sums up a player perfectly and then launch into 4,000 words on why they player was good or overrated…
November 12th, 2009 at 2:04 PM
@ cursedcleveland.com. I thought Simmons was totally fair to everyone but Garnett who for some reason is ranked ahead of Isiah and Pippen… however, I’m of the thinking that Kobe is just a taller, slower Iverson.
November 12th, 2009 at 2:09 PM
however, I’m of the thinking that Kobe is just a taller, slower Iverson.
this is a mighty wrong assessment Otter, but it would be pointless to argue if that’s your position.