Grantland on ESPN

[GoMuskies]

Can anyone explain to me why this exists (at least on ESPN)? A good deal of the articles have nothing to do with sports. Is this ESPN trying to emphasize the "E" part of their name?

It just seems strange and out of place to me.

[Juice]

Can anyone explain to me why this exists (at least on ESPN)? A good deal of the articles have nothing to do with sports. Is this ESPN trying to emphasize the "E" part of their name?

It just seems strange and out of place to me.

It provides a place for Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman and the rest of the staff to smell their own farts and talk about how edgy and ground breaking they each are.

[DC Muskie]

It provides a place for Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman and the rest of the staff to smell their own farts and talk about how edgy and ground breaking they each are.

I was going to write something similar, but this was just well said. Reps.

[SixFig]

It provides a place for Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman and the rest of the staff to smell their own farts and talk about how edgy and ground breaking they each are.

Exactly. How cool we are to make references to pop culture and the 1970's Boston Celtics every other sentence.

Bill Simmons sucks.



There is a highly entertaining twitter account to mock grantland

Gruntland33 Thag Simmons
coming soon: ironically earnestly detached column about true blood. again

Gruntland33 Thag Simmons
we like think we show how hard it is to make good sport writing by producing so little of it

Gruntland33 Thag Simmons
tomorrow on gruntland we try something new: stories whose subject is not author

[smileyy]

Good to see that Thag recovered from his horrifying Thagomizer injury: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thagomizer

[Juice]

Gruntland33 Thag Simmons
tomorrow on gruntland we try something new: stories whose subject is not author

This may be the most accurate one. Every story by every God damn writer on that site has correlation or story from their life interjected in it. Christ almighty, just write something from the third person perspective.

[paulxu]

This may be the most accurate one. Every story by every God damn writer on that site has correlation or story from their life interjected in it. Christ almighty, just write something from the third person perspective.

Is that Swampy guy on there?

[GuyFawkes38]

yes, disappointed in Grantland.

Sort of a strange concept. But Simmons is coming off his big "30 for 30" success. I bet that made ESPN more open to this project.

[MuskieCinci]

Does Bill Simmons have kids? Does he have wacky friends who are super into sports and who he knows from a long time ago so he still calls them by their kooky college nicknames? Will he refund all of your money if you decide to read one of his free columns but don't like it (LOL ROFL shoots self in head insert Roger Clemens joke here).

[XULucho27]

Nobody does Vegas like Bill Simmons and his buddies House and Jack-O. They drink and gamble like you wish you could drink and gamble.

I hate Bill Simmons.

[Juice]

yes, disappointed in Grantland.

Sort of a strange concept. But Simmons is coming off his big "30 for 30" success. I bet that made ESPN more open to this project.

I think this was part of his contract negotiations. He was threatening to walk a few years ago.

[GuyFawkes38]

I think this was part of his contract negotiations. He was threatening to walk a few years ago.

Didn't know that. He must have a good agent.

[94GRAD]

It provides a place for Bill Simmons, Chuck Klosterman and the rest of the staff to smell their own farts and talk about how edgy and ground breaking they each are.

There is a smug alert in Bristol!

[pimpinthebox]

Not saying this to be a contrarian, but I'm a big fan of both Simmons and Grantland. I can't be the only XH member who thinks this way. And as always, if you don't like it, you don't have to read it.

[Juice]

Here is a FJM style attack on a Simmons' article by Drew Magary of KSK and Deadspin

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2011/07/bill-simmons-is-commissioner-of-fictional-presidents.html

[GoMuskies]

Here is a FJM style attack on a Simmons' article by Drew Magary of KSK and Deadspin

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2011/07/bill-simmons-is-commissioner-of-fictional-presidents.html

Sorry, but on another thread Mr. Fawkes pointed out how brilliant this Simmons column was. How dare you disrespect Fawkes like that?!?

[dc_x]

Not saying this to be a contrarian, but I'm a big fan of both Simmons and Grantland. I can't be the only XH member who thinks this way. And as always, if you don't like it, you don't have to read it.

I still like his weekly NFL column, but the rest of his work has gone down hill.

[smileyy]

Here is a FJM style attack on a Simmons' article by Drew Magary of KSK and Deadspin

http://kissingsuzykolber.uproxx.com/2011/07/bill-simmons-is-commissioner-of-fictional-presidents.html

The "satire" did nothing for me.

Schtick aside, its mostly a good article. Though his comments on the luxury tax not impacting salaries like they wanted didn't seem to have anything to do with the fact that the players get 57% of all BRI. The luxury tax would seem to suppress salaries of large-market teams, forcing smaller market teams to pay out a larger portion of that 57%.

[smileyy]

I think this was part of his contract negotiations. He was threatening to walk a few years ago.

Simmons has grated under editorial control over the past few years, but he and ESPN both realize they're more successful together, than apart.

[Xavgrad08]

I have mixed feelings about Bill Simmons. Originally I liked his earlier articles because I thought he was funny, and had a fans view of things. However, his style has gotten old imo, becuase he uses the same pop culture references and jokes. I do think he helped pave the way for sports blogs etc.

[Juice]

I guess I am the resident anti-Grantland guy on the board but they have hired a guy named Mike Barnicle who had to resign from the Boston Globe in 1998 for making a story up and plagiarizing multiple times.

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/07/11/mike-barnicle-fabricator-plagiarist-and-now-a-grantland-contributor/

[DC Muskie]

Well ESPN also keeps Death Obsessed Creepy Writer Mitch Albom who filed a story that wasn't true six years ago. So they do that sort of thing.

[Juice]

Well ESPN also keeps Death Obsessed Creepy Writer Mitch Albom who filed a story that wasn't true six years ago. So they do that sort of thing.

What is worse is that he continues to win sports writing awards. He is awful too.

Everyone should just read Joe Posnanski and make the rest of these old, entitled farts retire.

[DC Muskie]

Seriously his obsession with death is scary. Four books outside of sports...ALL about death. And when he writes about sports, he makes stuff up and wins awards.

Somehow Mitch must think he has already died and is in heaven.

[smileyy]

Ugh. Those columnists don't make me think good thinks about Grantland. I was hoping it would be something more than the Bad Writers From Old Media Finding A New Home.

[GoMuskies]

Seriously his obsession with death is scary. Four books outside of sports...ALL about death. And when he writes about sports, he makes stuff up and wins awards.

Somehow Mitch must think he has already died and is in heaven.

I read Tuesdays with Morrie. Decent enough read once you got past all the "Oh, poor me, I'm a sportswriter and have to watch sports all the time and talk to all these athletes. My life is so terrible compared to everyone other than this dying guy."

[SixFig]

I have a theory the Bill Simmons, Chris Berman, Rick Riley, John Anderson, Mike + Mike and all the other hacks at ESPN went to a party and took pictures of the CEO of ESPN doing blow off a transvestite or something and that's why they still have jobs.

Same thing with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver at Fox.

[GuyFawkes38]

yeah, honestly don't mind Bill Simmons.

He writes extensively on the NBA, a league which for some reason sportswriters don't write extensively on.

I enjoy his podcasts.

At the very least, Simmons attracted some talent to direct "30 for 30".

Definitely agree with the other ESPN personalities sixfix noted. So tired of them.

[Juice]

I read Tuesdays with Morrie. Decent enough read once you got past all the "Oh, poor me, I'm a sportswriter and have to watch sports all the time and talk to all these athletes. My life is so terrible compared to everyone other than this dying guy."

And he has to do it in a city like Detroit! He is a living saint!

[pimpinthebox]

Yes, allow me to clarify. I am a big Simmons' podcasts and most of his articles. He tends to get a bit long-winded at times, but as I mentioned above, you can always just stop reading or tune out. As for Grantland, I enjoy reading about half of the articles (which is fine with me).

Simmons has also done a great job on PTI spelling Kornheiser and Wilbon who seem to get as much vacation time as Mike and Mike (seemingly 12 weeks a year). Must be nice.

[Juice]

Another guy criticizes Grantland

http://bryanjoiner.com/2011/08/17/garbageland/

[GoMuskies]

I would like to point out that Grantland just gets worse and worse. I wish they'd take it off the front of ESPN so I wouldn't accidentally click on it sometimes. The "College Basketball Preview" that was actually just an article about UNC today was vomit inducing.

[chico]

Bill Simmons is quickly becoming EPSN's internet version of Chris Berman. The same pop culture references are getting tired, and maybe I'm just sheltered but I really don't know many 40 year old males that watch MTV.

[GoMuskies]

I mostly ignore Grantland now, but there was an article about the Big East with a picture of Rick Pitino, so I couldn't resist. This is the strangest article I've read since Erardi's musings about the bird who got chopped up and sprinkled on the A-10 Tournament at Riverfront Coliseum. Can someone tell me if this article is about the Big East, college basketball, Rick Pitino or the writer? Or is it just pointless rambling that ends suddenly?

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7675694/watching-demise-once-mighty-basketball-super-conference

[DC Muskie]

I stopped reading after the first paragraph. Does this really want you to read more:

On Saturday night, Louisville beat Cincinnati, 50-44, to win the Big East championship in what was one of the more singularly preposterous matchups of the entire run-up to the NCAA tournament. Prior to this weekend, these two teams had played each other in championship games in two other conferences — the Metro and Conference USA. One of those conferences even still exists.

One of those conferences still exists? Wow, I need to read more.

Seriously, the concept of Grantland or whatever it is called is simply stupid.

[Helen]

I mostly ignore Grantland now, but there was an article about the Big East with a picture of Rick Pitino, so I couldn't resist. This is the strangest article I've read since Erardi's musings about the bird who got chopped up and sprinkled on the A-10 Tournament at Riverfront Coliseum. Can someone tell me if this article is about the Big East, college basketball, Rick Pitino or the writer? Or is it just pointless rambling that ends suddenly?

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7675694/watching-demise-once-mighty-basketball-super-conference

I guess you could say John needs to Eradi-cate his verbiage. Whooeee, that was a tickler.

[More Cowbell]

Here is a solid article from Grantland about the NBA age limit:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7883540/steve-kerr-problems-age-limit-nba

[DC Muskie]

Here is a solid article from Grantland about the NBA age limit:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7883540/steve-kerr-problems-age-limit-nba

Disagree.

Adding another year to a college player isn't going to make him understand what a "best of five" series means.

I don't like the rules that tell adults how old they need to be before they can work for a living. If we follow Kerr's premise, why don't more NBA teams go out and get all the talent in Europe then? I bet those guys have the necessary life experiences to know they don't get a week off for Christmas.

Seriously if you are going to make an argument for this stuff, be mature enough to realize, maturity shouldn't be the first thing on the list. There are guys who have been in the league long enough and are still idiots. Mostly because they have never matured.

[More Cowbell]

No one is saying that you have to be a certain age to make a living playing basketball. If you are 18 years, you can go to the D-League or Europe. The NBA is about making money and the extra scouting they would get from another year in college or D-League or Europe would help them make better draft decisions.

[LA Muskie]

The NBA is about making money and the extra scouting they would get from another year in college or D-League or Europe would help them make better draft decisions.

And there's nothing preventing individual teams from drafting on that basis if they truly believe that.

[More Cowbell]

The NBA has to work to keep from killing itself. They need it for the same reason that sports need salary caps. If there were no age limit, i could definitely imagine a team drafting high school juniors to get a leg up. Then that would become the norm.

[DC Muskie]

The NBA has to work to keep from killing itself. They need it for the same reason that sports need salary caps. If there were no age limit, i could definitely imagine a team drafting high school juniors to get a leg up. Then that would become the norm.

An age limit is going to help with this.

Stop hiring guys like Steve Kerr will.

[GoMuskies]

A perfectly pointless article about Jose Canseco. They got me to click because I was a huge Canseco fan growing up, and the guy fascinates me.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7961970/an-evening-new-worcester-tornadoes-designated-hitter-jose-canseco

[bobbiemcgee]

Game of the Year:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/digging-in-the-tournament-crates-xavier-kansas-state-the-sweet-16-dream-2010/

Thx to 94 Grad for getting me a ticket.

[94GRAD]

Game of the Year:

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/digging-in-the-tournament-crates-xavier-kansas-state-the-sweet-16-dream-2010/

Thx to 94 Grad for getting me a ticket.


I'm here for the Masses

[Masterofreality]

I'm here for the Masses

Screw the "masses" . I just want you there for ME!!

[GoMuskies]

This article is on the front page of ESPN.com. I hate you Grantland!

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-american-middle-class-hasnt-gotten-a-raise-in-15-years/

[GoMuskies]

Hopefully with Bill Simmons leaving ESPN, ESPN.com will finally be free of Grantland.

[DC Muskie]

Hopefully with Bill Simmons leaving ESPN, ESPN.com will finally be free of Grantland.

I think that space will now be filled with the Black Grantland brought to you by Jason Whitlock.

[GoMuskies]

I think that space will now be filled with the Black Grantland brought to you by Jason Whitlock.

So it's going to get marginally better but still suck?

[SemajParlor]

Grantland is awesome.

[THRILLHOUSE]

ESPN owns Grantland, not Simmons, so it's not going anywhere.

[chico]

Hopefully with Bill Simmons leaving ESPN, ESPN.com will finally be free of Grantland.

But where will I be able to read dated pop culture references and movie quotes? Other than my posts?

[Smails]

Grantland blows...I mean it really blows.

[American X]

But where will I be able to read dated pop culture references and movie quotes? Other than my posts?

Outkick The Coverage (http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/outkick-the-coverage)

[SemajParlor]

But where will I be able to read dated pop culture references and movie quotes? Other than my posts?

Do you guys read Grantland other than Simmons? There's some pretty good guys on there.

[SemajParlor]

Once in a while Deadspin will have a good feature, but mostly it's just nerds trying to be edgy and it comes off as awkward.

[danaandvictory]

Do you guys read Grantland other than Simmons? There's some pretty good guys on there.

About 40 % of it (including Simmons and the execrable music criticism) is garbage, the other 60% is the best collection of writing talent on the Internet. Curtis, Phillips, Lowe, Barnwell and Mays, Lambert, Anderson, Greenwald - just a wrecking crew, all of them getting paid like professionals to do quality work without regard for traffic.

That won't happen without Simmons. It was his vanity project and there's no way ESPN lets it alone with its cash cow gone.

[SemajParlor]

About 40 % of it (including Simmons and the execrable music criticism) is garbage, the other 60% is the best collection of writing talent on the Internet. Curtis, Phillips, Lowe, Barnwell and Mays, Lambert, Anderson, Greenwald - just a wrecking crew, all of them getting paid like professionals to do quality work without regard for traffic.

That won't happen without Simmons. It was his vanity project and there's no way ESPN lets it alone with its cash cow gone.

Agreed 100 percent. The content is at an elite level. Just need to know who you're reading.

[chico]

Do you guys read Grantland other than Simmons? There's some pretty good guys on there.

I actually have. A lot of it seems fairly self-indulgent, or else it seems like the "kiddies" are trying to impress Simmons, but that my be my own bias. I do like Jonah Keri, though. He seems to know his stuff. Tried to read Barnwell but it's just too long and dry.

[SemajParlor]

Saw Rembert Browne on the train the other day and talked to him. Very nice guy.

[THRILLHOUSE]

ESPN has ended grantland:

http://deadspin.com/espn-has-killed-grantland-1739659651

[GoMuskies]

ESPN has ended grantland:

http://deadspin.com/espn-has-killed-grantland-1739659651

Private and public reps for the good news!

[Masterofreality]

Gonzo. Although I did enjoy Titus occasionally.

[Xville]

Was never a big fan of grantland, but I do feel bad for the people who lost their jobs because of this. I also hate it because although I am not a fan of Simmons and his Boston douchery, I did enjoy what he said about espn after he left. Espn can burn in hell.

[Juice]

I did enjoy Rembert and Shea Serrano because they wrote about hip hop in interesting and funny ways and that's sorely lacking on the internet.

[xu82]

I did enjoy Rembert and Shea Serrano because they wrote about hip hop in interesting and funny ways and that's sorely lacking on the internet.

There is a void you can fill!

Please don't do it here.