Bill Simmons: Good Luck With Your Life.

[luckiestman]

Yeah, basically the same concept happens with airlines (first class), hotels and car rentals (separate speedy check in lines) for people with "status", wouldn't surprise if Sbux did something like this. There are apps now to auction off a public parking place.

Once anyone accepts the market pricing system for anything, it is real sketchy when they decry it somewhere unusual. For example, take ticket prices to a ball game. You're going to say "No luckiestman, you (insert this month's cool insult), you just don't get it, different viewing angles and closeness to the action all warrant a premium price"
 
All I'm asking is why isn't a shorter wait time something that warrants a premium price? Forget starbucks, I'd love a reduced wait time DMV. I'd be willing to pay.
 
Another aside, once you make that call to buy a $5 coffee drink, you should lose the ability to bemoan anyone "throwing money in your face"

 

[DJnVa]

 
Think about this a little more. 

 
I have. And the time I used TSA preboard I went to a completely different set of TSA folks, scanners, etc.
 
So, what I was asking, of people that have traveled a little bit more than I have recently, if, when they started the preboard thing, they increased staff to help, which wouldn't slow down everyone else, or if they kept staffing the same?
 
But I like your condescension though.

 

[joe dokes]

Having the tooth fairy give your kid >$1 for a tooth is just showing off.

 
Talking about it is what's showing off.

 

[URI]

He was talking about strabucks at the airport. TSA pre is a pretty close comp.

 
No it's not. TSA precheck is a completely different line. It's not jumping in front of people already waiting.

And most Starbucks don't have the counter space to accommodate a different line.
 

I'm working under the assumption you don't think people are assholes for paying $80 to more or less skip the security line at the airport.

My problem with the TSA pre-check is on the TSA, not on the passengers, and the obvious difference between getting a coffee and getting on a flight.

But given Simmons is pretty much indistinguishable from Peter King in a some ways now, I'm not inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to him not thinking that the world should bend to his whim.

 

[luckiestman]

 
I have. And the time I used TSA preboard I went to a completely different set of TSA folks, scanners, etc.
 
So, what I was asking, of people that have traveled a little bit more than I have recently, if, when they started the preboard thing, they increased staff to help, which wouldn't slow down everyone else, or if they kept staffing the same?
 
But I like your condescension though.

 
 
Man, it's not condescension, you already have the push pull figured out. If starbux had enough people paying premium they would get their own line and staff. If only 10 people were using it a day it would be more like the first class check in. It is the same rationing device where the implementation can vary due to demand.

 

[luckiestman]

 
No it's not. TSA precheck is a completely different line. It's not jumping in front of people already waiting.

And most Starbucks don't have the counter space to accommodate a different line.

 
Personally,  I find TSA pre a lot more gross that line skipping starbucks when TSA shit is supposed to be about terrorists. I dont want to go down that rabbit hole though.

 

[Leather]

My kids didn't lose any teeth yet but anyone listening to a podcast on a smartphone with a data plan talking about 10 bucks for your kids tooth being "too much" is good stuff

 
You realize the issue isn't whether people can afford the $10, right?

 

[luckiestman]

 
You realize the issue isn't whether people can afford the $10, right?

 
I don't know what afford means in this context. Let me know what the exact issue is since it seems to have been lost on me. 

 

[DLew On Roids]

Let the glibertarian have his fun.

 

[Ralphwiggum]

 
Personally,  I find TSA pre a lot more gross that line skipping starbucks when TSA shit is supposed to be about terrorists. I dont want to go down that rabbit hole though.

 
You realize the TSA pre-check is more than just paying your $80, right?

 

[JohntheBaptist]

Let's be fair, standing in line for coffee--doing anything, really--on a huge line with kenneycb up your ass would probably have you searching for ideas on how to get things moving too.

 

[luckiestman]

 
You realize the TSA pre-check is more than just paying your $80, right?

Yes I do. 

 

[DLew On Roids]

The point here, for the incredibly fucking tone deaf, isn't whether people with more resources should be allowed to buy their way to better outcomes.  That ship sailed long ago with education, health care, and the justice system.  The point is that when announcing that he has waaaaaaaay more money than time, Simmons also announces himself as an entitled asshole.
 
Waving around one's cash was once considered gauche and embarrassing, especially in the land of yankee frugality.  If that's no longer the case, I'm proud to be a dinosaur.

 

[JayMags71]

I just love that someone played the "You're letting the terrorists WIN!" card unironically.

 

[luckiestman]

I just love that someone played the "You're letting the terrorists WIN!" card unironically.

Where did that happen?

 

[MyDaughterLovesTomGordon]

The point here, for the incredibly fucking tone deaf, isn't whether people with more resources should be allowed to buy their way to better outcomes.  That ship sailed long ago with education, health care, and the justice system.  The point is that when announcing that he has waaaaaaaay more money than time, Simmons also announces himself as an entitled asshole.
 
Waving around one's cash was once considered gauche and embarrassing, especially in the land of yankee frugality.  If that's no longer the case, I'm proud to be a dinosaur.

 
Ding-ding-ding-ding-ding. 
 
We have a winner. 
 
In general, I don't have a problem with people earning money from rich people unwilling to mingle with the hoi polloi, but I do have a problem with the people who once proclaimed themselves a representative of the everyman pining for said opportunity to exist.

 

[luckiestman]

The point here, for the incredibly fucking tone deaf, isn't whether people with more resources should be allowed to buy their way to better outcomes.  That ship sailed long ago with education, health care, and the justice system.  The point is that when announcing that he has waaaaaaaay more money than time, Simmons also announces himself as an entitled asshole.
 
Waving around one's cash was once considered gauche and embarrassing, especially in the land of yankee frugality.  If that's no longer the case, I'm proud to be a dinosaur.

I actually agree with what you are saying generally. When I listened to Simmons, and maybe I give him leeway because I am entertained by his show, I took him to be saying "I am such a degenerate for coffee in the morning that I would pay $25 for a cup of coffee" Not "I AM SO RICH, I SHIT HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS FOR BREAKFAST!!!" 
 
It wasn't that his time is so valuable compared to the "plebs", it was that he REALLY wanted coffee. Anyone that ever won an auction has pretty much exhibited the same behavior

 

[JayMags71]

Where did that happen?

Here:

Personally,  I find TSA pre a lot more gross that line skipping starbucks when TSA shit is supposed to be about terrorists. I dont want to go down that rabbit hole though.

I know you're going to duck behind the fact they aren't your *exact* words. But it's functionally the same thing.

 

[luckiestman]

No it isnt. I'm not saying let me board without going through security or else the terrorists have won. My issue is the TSA says that you have to do all this stuff because of the threat of terrorism but....you can pay your way out of it. They are appealing to us as citizens but then treating us like consumers; that is my problem with it.  If you think the application process and not the money is what is making people not become TSA pre, then my point does not stand. 

 

[kenneycb]

Let's be fair, standing in line for coffee--doing anything, really--on a huge line with kenneycb up your ass would probably have you searching for ideas on how to get things moving too.

Good thing I don't drink coffee and I'm sorry someone took a shit in yours today.

 

[JohntheBaptist]

Good thing I don't drink coffee and I'm sorry someone took a shit in yours today.

I was just busting your balls man. And I don't drink coffee.

 

[luckiestman]

Good thing I don't drink coffee and I'm sorry someone took a shit in yours today.

 
I cannot figure out the culture (nice pun about shit, huh?) of this board. I thought that comment was meant to be funny in a a good natured way. 

 

[DJnVa]

you can pay your way out of it. They are appealing to us as citizens but then treating us like consumers;

 
Well, there's a bit more than that. They fingerprint you and do a background check.
 
That's why URI doesn't like it. He failed.

 

[Kliq]

I think this thread is a little too hard on Simmons. Yeah, I think the guy is kind of overstreatching what he should be talking about, but that is only because I like him so much. For instance, this past month or so, we didn't get a NBA Trade Value or NBA Draft Diary, but instead we got Simmons spending a ton of time writing about mostly crappy romantic comdedies. Yeah it sucks, but the only reason I'm really mad about it is because I like him in the first place.
 
I haven't listened to the podcast, but my impression is that it is a tounge-and-cheek comment that was supposed to be funny. Some of you guys are diagnosing it way too much with all this "Simmons is detatched from reality, how could he leave a comment like that in his podcast!" nonsense.

 

[kenneycb]

 
I cannot figure out the culture (nice pun about shit, huh?) of this board. I thought that comment was meant to be funny in a a good natured way. 

I misread it and am in general a miserable asshole. Nothing to do with culture.

 

[JohntheBaptist]

I'm a miserable asshole too--you were right to be skeptical.

 

[moondog80]

I actually agree with what you are saying generally. When I listened to Simmons, and maybe I give him leeway because I am entertained by his show, I took him to be saying "I am such a degenerate for coffee in the morning that I would pay $25 for a cup of coffee" Not "I AM SO RICH, I SHIT HUNDRED DOLLAR BILLS FOR BREAKFAST!!!" 
 
It wasn't that his time is so valuable compared to the "plebs", it was that he REALLY wanted coffee. Anyone that ever won an auction has pretty much exhibited the same behavior

 
 
I heard the show and had the exact same reaction.  

 

[DJnVa]

Eh, doesn't everyone willing to pay Starbucks outrageous prices *really* want coffee?

 

[Dehere]

The difference between TSA Pre and the Starbucks example is that in one case you're dealing directly with the organization that provides and prices the service and in the other you are approaching an individual and implying that you can simply buy the time they spent waiting in line from them. Not everyone would be insulted by this but plenty of people would. I would. It's just a pretty shitty way to treat a stranger in public.

 

[luckiestman]

Dehere, are you talking about when Simmons went to the front and cut a deal with the guy in line? If so, he seemed to be freely admitting that is was not some achievement, he even joke "no commented" about the situation. The "half baked idea" was a separate line for sbux black card holders (so dealing directly with the organization). It is probably a bad business idea for sbux as you can tell by reading the thread.   

 

[Reverend]

Dehere, are you talking about when Simmons went to the front and cut a deal with the guy in line? If so, he seemed to be freely admitting that is was not some achievement, he even joke "no commented" about the situation. The "half baked idea" was a separate line for sbux black card holders (so dealing directly with the organization). It is probably a bad business idea for sbux as you can tell by reading the thread.   

 
Well, yeah, but isn't the problem that this is something that he apparently does?
 
Building on what MOH and MDLTG said, Simmons used to invoke a sense of solidarity with and among Boston fans. He was one of us and articulated the experience of being a Boston fan, something that was particularly poignant before the Sox won it all, but which remains intense in this sports-crazed city. Heck, he even gave the fans voice through the mail bags. That solidarity was a powerful thing and I think it is a huge part of what made him so enjoyable to read.
 
This Starbucks shit is basically the antithesis of solidarity.  

 

[moondog80]

One of my biggest gripes about BSG is that he's too sensitive to criticism. But I'm starting to see where he's coming from. Lighten up people. He was poking fun at himself.

 

[ifmanis5]

Totally enjoying his Love column today- it's in his wheelhouse and he's bossing it.
 
HOWEVER, he couldn't help but do something that bothers me about Simmons, and writers like King, who like to pose as insiders. He briefly mentions 'Rick Adelman's family issues' and he's brought it up on his podcast as well but that's as far as he goes. Bill likes to drop juicy tidbits like this every now and again to let us know that he knows inside dirt, but he's not sharing exactly what these things are (because he doesn't want to be seen as a gossiper? Or he he's sparing someone's feelings? What, exactly?). Well, Bill, what are these 'family issues' and if you're going to bring it up, may as well explain it and why it's important, rather than acting like a smug douche about it. If it's important enough to mention then do some reporting and give out some info; if not, then don't mention it in the first place. Piece of advice: nobody likes a tease.

 

[Blacken]

Um. Adelman's family issues are well-documented.

Simmons usually writes about the NBA with the expectation that you pay attention to the NBA. I do, so I enjoy him not filling every column with catch-ups.

 

[ifmanis5]

Um. Adelman's family issues are well-documented.

Simmons usually writes about the NBA with the expectation that you pay attention to the NBA. I do, so I enjoy him not filling every column with catch-ups.

Had no idea. Thanks for the link. You just explained more about it than Bill did. And now if you'd like to break down how that impacts Love's game, you can be a sports columnist.

 

[TheGazelle]

Had no idea. Thanks for the link. You just explained more about it than Bill did. And now if you'd like to break down how that impacts Love's game, you can be a sports columnist.

 
Adelman was distracted from coaching because of those issues, and did a terrible job on the bench.  The entire Wolves' team, including Love, suffered. If it didn't affect Love's "game" as an abstract concept, it affected the Wolves' record, which is Simmons' (and others') main critique of Love.  As Simmons points out his article, the list of players with Love's numbers who haven't had any playoff success basically starts and ends with Love. 

 

[nattysez]

Looks like he's done w/ NBA Countdown.
 

Hearing @BillSimmons leaving @NBACountdown to create Grantland themed prime time NBA show for @espn
 

 

New @BillSimmons show will generate add'l content for @SportsCenter @ @Grantland33 as well. Multi-platform, but not weekly. Maybe 20 eps.
 

Scheduling behind @NBACountdown always a problem for @BillSimmons particularly given demands of @Grantland33
 

 

Given rights issues between @NBA & @espn league would need to approve a @BillSimmons @Grantland33 show. Hearing that has been done.
 

 
https://twitter.com/JimMiller/status/499258303432904706

 

[Bergs]

 
I cannot figure out the culture (nice pun about shit, huh?) of this board. I thought that comment was meant to be funny in a a good natured way. 

 
 

I misread it and am in general a miserable asshole. Nothing to do with culture.

 
 

I'm a miserable asshole too--you were right to be skeptical.

 
 
There's your first lesson, luckiestman.

 

[nattysez]

 
Grantland, ESPN's digital outlet that focuses on sports, entertainment and pop culture, and the intersections therein, will get its own branded TV series on ESPN, "The Grantland Basketball Show," the network said Tuesday.
Grantland founder Bill Simmons will host the show, joined by a rotating panel of commentators and contributors, starting Oct. 21 at 8 p.m. ESPN will air as many as 18 one-hour episodes this season, including specials tied to the N.B.A. playoffs and draft.
ESPN is calling the program "the first Grantland-branded television series," implying that more may follow, marking a significant expansion of the digital franchise, which launched in 2011.
 

 
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2014/08/8550627/bill-simmons-host-grantland-branded-show-espn
 
 
This will play to Simmons's strengths and let him control the show (which I assume will not be live).  Based on his pre-season predictions video series with Jalen Rose, there's a chance this show could be really good.

 

[BS_SoxFan]

Hopefully Zach Lowe is heavily involved. I'm a very casual NBA fan and his columns and podcasts are still must reads/listens for me.

 

[Kliq]

I listen to pretty much all of his NBA podcasts and his video series with Jalen was really well done. I liked him on Countdown, and I thought he was really starting to build a good chemistry with Doug Collins. The good thing about Bill is that he has a lot of friends that are really good (Klosterman, Zach Lowe, Ric Bucher) that he can bring on that can make the show really good.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

I wonder if House will be making an appearance?
 
On another topic, as usual I really enjoyed his podcast with Chris Connelly about Robin Williams...but to be fair, that's mostly down to Connelly (I could listen to him talk about pop culture for hours).

 

[rmurph3]

 
On another topic, as usual I really enjoyed his podcast with Chris Connelly about Robin Williams...but to be fair, that's mostly down to Connelly (I could listen to him talk about pop culture for hours).

 
Agree that it was a good pod. I thought Connolly saved BS about 3-4 times in that pod where BS said something teetering into the gray area of douchey/obnoxious/insensitive, and CC came back with some variation of "that's not fair/i wouldn't go that far". Simmons was savvy enough to drop the point in all cases.

 

[ifmanis5]

I kind of skimmed his Goodell rip piece since it was so scattershot.
 
Bill accuses/praises Roger for making the NFL a 52-week sport but how is that the case? The company Bill works for is the one who is guilty of dragging out the Maziel/Sam storylines all summer in attempt to troll for eyeballs. That has nothing to do with Roger. It's a popular league that ESPN, more than anyone else, will trot out ahead of virtually anything else (even in season baseball and hockey) because money. You'd think Bill would bring that part up to be fair.

 

[Detts]

In his picks column, he posted a 'picture of his dog'.
 

 
 
Bullshit....it's a picture of his beach front property with the dog hanging out to the side.
Good old humblebrag.

 

[JimBoSox9]

Humblebrag is literally his voice now.  He's the exact same tunnel-vision stream of consciousness from the couch guy as he always was, but his couch is now situated directed at the intersection of A-list sports and B-list Hollywood.  It's not actually possible for him to speak or write without humblebrag unless he decides to explicitly brag.  He never owns it, either (does he seriously ever re-read his name-drops?).  If he ever loses the last bit of 'holy shit wow' view that any of us sportz guyz would have in the same position, stick a fork in him.

 

[m0ckduck]

I thought his denouncement of Godell on yesterday's BS report was one of best recent moments, and bought into focus all the things I once found (still find?) refreshing about Simmons vis-a-vis the general press corps. He didn't climb up on his soapbox to deliver some self-conscious, important-sounding pronouncement where he tries to channel the moral outrage of the community around him. He just responded personally, as a disgusted fan/human being would, calling Godell's press conference '{beep]ing bull[beep]' several times and venting about the fact that it legitimately ruins his ability to enjoy football. Despite all the amputation, Simmons remains a recognizable human being for most of the time he is on mic. 

 

[Spacemans Bong]

I might need to hear that, because I decided to listen to a long ago podcast with JackO about the Lester trade and heard two whoppers from him.
 
He had no idea Kershaw was so good, then asked whether he was having the best season ever. Jesus wept Bill, you were THERE for Pedro. You wrote a good half-dozen, if not more, columns on how great Pedro was. 
 
Then he said Oakland's ballpark has a crappy atmosphere and that the fans don't care. They have attendance problems (though their attendance has gone up by about 2300 a game and they'll break 2 million this year) but they might be the most engaged set of fans in MLB. The atmosphere at their park is probably as good as any in baseball in terms of fans making noise. If you've watched a game on TV or at the Coliseum, you know this. 
 
The guy is just so bad at baseball. 

 

[Rook05]

The picks podcast is worth it for his Goddell comments, punctuated by a "I dare someone to come down here and tell me they're editing them out". Even Sal didn't seem to know how to respond. I was refreshing.

Of course, he shortly thereafter makes an offhand comment that he can go to any sporting event he wants while trying to decide if he wants to go to next week's MNF game.

And that's what you get with Bill these days.

 

[m0ckduck]

I might need to hear that, because I decided to listen to a long ago podcast with JackO about the Lester trade and heard two whoppers from him.
 
He had no idea Kershaw was so good, then asked whether he was having the best season ever. Jesus wept Bill, you were THERE for Pedro. You wrote a good half-dozen, if not more, columns on how great Pedro was. 

 
Ugh, that was horrible. I remember that exact statement-- him saying it and me cringing. 
 
 

Then he said Oakland's ballpark has a crappy atmosphere and that the fans don't care. They have attendance problems (though their attendance has gone up by about 2300 a game and they'll break 2 million this year) but they might be the most engaged set of fans in MLB. The atmosphere at their park is probably as good as any in baseball in terms of fans making noise. If you've watched a game on TV or at the Coliseum, you know this. 

 
Really? I lived in the Bay Area for ten years (up to '06) and used to go to games at the Coliseum and found it pretty crappy, all in all. The aesthetics of park definitely suck. In the 'fans don't care' department, I remember getting a ticket to the '03 ALDS deciding game 5 on the day of the game and there were all kinds of tickets available, plus the A's fans were drowned out by Sox fans at many points in the game. I don't remember thinking that it seemed like a very locked-in fan base during those years. Now, it's entirely likely that the culture has probably changed in recent years. But just to say that Simmons' POV doesn't seem so much unfounded as just a bit outdated to me. But he does sucksucksuck at baseball-- not arguing that point.