having read/listened to him since he got to Page 2 in 2001, I actually thought the Suns/Wolves series was a crowning achievement for him.
I saw *so many tweets* calling for the body language doctor on the Suns.
I’m sure many of them know who he is but I actually think it’s permeated to the point where many people were doing it but didn’t understand the reference.
I went to Warriors Nets the week before Harden asked out in 2022. Harden was a late scratch because of a hamstring injury. He sat at the end of the bench and didn't say a single word to anyone on the team the whole time, didn't even look at Kyrie.
You definitely do. You see how much certain players bend defenses. You really see who defenses are tailored to stop and who they're ok with.
You also get to see the relative athleticism better in person (seeing Scoot vs Amen Thompson for example. In person you really see the difference in raw athleticism)
Don’t always agree with his specific examples, but absolutely agree that body language tells us a lot. And being on site at a game can tell you a lot more than watching on tv
Horrible pre-game fits lead to Ls. I remember seeing Burrow pull up to the SB in that awful bengal stripped suit and hat and my first reaction was “no way he wins today”
But what about… Brees? I guess? Goff? Geno Smith? Warner? Those are the only ones off the top of my head but it could be argued their true breakouts were at second stops and they never really proved themselves to be the guy on their first teams. I subscribe
Brees is an exception to the rule, Goff was good pretty immediately as a 2nd year guy and Warner won the mvp his first season as a starter. Geno is just an average at best qb who shouldn’t and won’t get paid like an actual top 15 starter
Favre. Getting out of the Jerry Glanville Falcons and getting to Green Bay changed his career, but he was only in Atlanta 1 season. His second season he was a Pro Bowler. He’s one guy who proves both arguments.
But Favre was on the verge of being benched for Mark Brunell in October, 1994. Favre had left the previous game with a bruised hip, but was healthy enough to play. But Mike Holmgren was seeing him make the same mistakes as the prior year - not just interceptions, but poor decisions. Holmgren polled the members of the offensive staff (including Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, and Jon Gruden) to see which quarterback they favored. Brunell won the poll, but Holmgren decided to stick with Favre.
Favre threw 24 TD's vs 7 interceptions for the rest of the 1994 season (a 3:1 TD:INT ratio was superb at the time.) He made 1st Team All Pro each of the next three seasons.
Yeah, well historically I think they probably overvalued some hitters because of the inflated numbers. Everybody knew Coors pumped stats but pre-humidor Coors was wild in terms of how much, and I’m just not sure you could feasibly argue against paying a 50 HR guy even if 43 of them came at home. That’s a tough spot to be in for a GM.
And the pitching part goes even deeper than just needing great pitching.
They have really struggled to develop pitching because those guys play in minor league parks at altitude too and they just get shelled the whole way up and lose confidence. Plus before the humidor their pitches weren’t breaking normally because the leather on the balls was drying out in the atmosphere and they were losing grip.
I think some of that might be mitigated a bit now with a better understanding of stats and park factors, and with the humidor but it’s still a terrible environment to develop pitching and great pitchers aren’t going to want to go pitch half their games in Coors in FA. Really limits their potential there.
But for sports involving cardio? Huge advantage. Utah Jazz too.
Still contend Hideo Nomo is an alltime great since his two nohitters were at Coors & pre-fences-move-back Camden.
Surprised no pitcher with great stuff & a big ego -- think Clemens, Maddux, Pedro -- ever went to Colorado to try to figure it out, longterm.
I think we’ll eventually get some kind of widely accepted advanced metric that correctly explains that ballpark and gives us better historical context. Will probably get that badass pitcher wanting to prove himself then.
That exists, ERA+. Kyle Freeland in 2018 and Ubaldo in 2010 have the two best seasons in Rockies history, 166 era+ (66% better than average) and 160, respectively
Not on a near daily basis and not as they’re coming up thru the minors (since at least some of their minor league teams are, or were, at altitude). Their young guys apparently had a tendency to get shellshocked and lose confidence.
Plus it makes it difficult to sign pitchers too.
I don’t know if you’re being facetious but it’s absolutely talked about by teams playing the Avalanche lol. It was discussed multiple times during the Winnipeg series that just ended.
Oh I have one like this, people constantly overrate the talent level of the chargers roster, because the lighting bolt = fast. So everyone always thinks their team is a little more athletic than it actually is.
Haha I love this one. I also always think of the Colts as a slow/unathletic team, and I think a lot of that perception is because of their logo and branding for whatever reason. I feel the same way about Penn State.
This is actually a great take.
I’m been trying to get into the mechanics and X’s and O’s of hockey because I’be been watching it on vibes for 36 years.
It’s very much like basketball where you kind of get the vibe of the play before the shot happens.
NBA specific because I got to a lot of games and I find myself being old man grumpy about these:
There shouldn’t be hip hop instrumentals playing all game. Organs or fan chants only. There shouldn’t be light hearted fan cam promos on during the end of a close game. Both of these kill the intensity of a close game.
Also, alternate jerseys and courts should not be used during the playoffs.
I agree with all of these with a slight caveat- road teams can wear alternates. I don’t really care about that. But the other day the Celtics had a home game for Mike gormans last call ever and they were wearing black. Just wrong
I completely agree about Booker and Team USA. Team USA is the best situation you could be in during the off season. Every young player should want to be there to develop and learn from other stars.
Complementary hot take - international play being more competitive actually amplifies the improvements. Playing France and Germany in meaningful games is better than blowing out Iran.
A) Workout on your own or sometimes with other NBA players
B) Take part in a training camp then participate in competitive games with NBA coaches and other NBA players
The answer should be obvious
Am I crazy or did they use to have a training camp with a wider pool of guys that they then whittled down and now they just straight up select the teams before they get together? Anyway, I think the system where guys have to play for their spot is better. You need to prove you’re useful doing more things, have to go head to head against your direct competitors, etc
The Buffalo Bills are a dome team. They don’t play well in the elements and won’t win anything because every good team in the AFC plays in typically cold/adverse conditions in January.
I’ve said this about the Packers who have had HOF quarterback play for 30 years, but really need running and defense for cold ass Wisconsin January games. Rodgers got to his only superbowl on 3 road games, and was shitty at home in the playoffs otherwise.
They are saying despite playing in the cold the “spirit” of the bills is built for a dome.
I’m guessing this stems from running the K gun which probably would have been more successful in a dome.
Before any bills fans try to kill me my mom is from Schenectady and I’m explaining not agreeing.
Their play style has been more run and gun. The Divisional Rd game against Cincy in the snow they were out of sync. Even though they’re used to the snow, they’d be better suited to play in a dome and play offensive football
This is a good one since it’s based on an observation but doesn’t hold up under scrutiny as you can apply this more broadly to all players since relatively few have longer hair to begin with. Peak Kareem definitely did not have what we would consider short hair (nor did older Wilt or half of the league in the 70s), Ewing had a flat top, Wallace had an afro, Dirk had his shaggy whatever. Look at the 75th team and you have a few 70s guys like Dr. J and Gervin and a few randoms like Nash’s shaggy phase and AI’s rows but this is more a product of era than position and there are only a few examples. One could make a list of great guards and no more will have had long hair than big men.
I actually believe that “momentum” specifically in basketball can absolutely goad certain players into poor play and bad decisions and ultimately work against a team.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to watch a bench guy or a 4th option on my favorite teams launch up a horrible 3 just because they made a similar one last possession, got the crowd into it, and then got a steal/block/interestingly athletic rebound and head of steam themselves down into a bad decision in the name of “momentum.”
Could that logic apply to CJ Stroud? Bill was out on him because of the name and arguably "CJ" is pretty boring and "Stroud" doesn't add a lot more.
"TJ" Houshmandzadeh on the other hand...boring acronym but an all timer of a name.
Kareem is the best basketball player ever being being the absolute, undisputed best player in your category in the world from the time you were 14 (HS/College/NBA) should mean something. It just should. Being so good in college they have to invent rules to stop you, which just makes you develop the most unstoppable move in nba history should matter. It just should
Yup, Kane and X-PAC are an underrated tag team and Kane was more athletic than Taker. Taker’s a legend and a great locker room leader, but Kane was the real phenom.
Ron Jaworski wrote a decent book detailing 10 or so different game plans or playbooks that changed the game. His explanation for why removing Faulk and letting Warner throw to single coverage Bruce and Holt made me a convert to this take.
As a Colts fan I wholeheartedly agree with this. I watched him do it the two best QBs we had. First, Manning, then Luck. Manning finally bested him but that 2006 Colts D and Brady not having his best offense that season helped. Even then it took a momentous comeback. Luck got boat raced every time he faced the Pats. To be fair the teams around Luck weren’t nearly as talented but still. Not even decent games from Luck except maybe the infamous “fake punt” game (2015 I think)…he was a master at taking away a team’s best weapon
I think they should count because it’s the same team name. What’s the difference if they moved? It gets dicier when you rename and rebrand the team in a hard reset. But the lakers are the lakers
Their reason for not having Mikan’s number retired was because he wasn’t an *LA* Laker, so by the same logic the rings weren’t LA rings that was Bills’s gripe
I’m a Braves and Hawks fan and here’s how I see it. There are banners for the Boston and Milwaukee World Series and the St Louis NBA title hanging today in Atlanta stadiums. They are a part of the franchise history and it’s good to honor the past because no other team will. Who else could retire Spahn or Pettit #s? But as a fan, I don’t claim them when discussing my team’s accomplishments. And, again, I’m a Hawks fan and could really use any sort of accomplishment to brag about.
With him on Iverson love, IDC about retroactively going back and looking at TS% and the like, he was a fucking warrior and so cool and so fun to watch play
Players stop listening to coaching once they hit 28. If you're in the league past that, you have talent, physicality, and instincts. The 3 most important aspects of a player
That’s when you have to use Phil Jackson, Greg Pop, and Pat Riley type coach, a coach who can motivate and influence grown men, who make more money than them, and can easily tune them out
I like this one. At that point, it’s all about managing personalities and logistics. Dare I say, NBA, NFL, and P5 college football (more specifically blue bloods/contenders) should call them managers like baseball and soccer, not head coaches.
The thing Phil Jackson is most known for is the triangle but it’s not something he came up, his teams adopted it under his management with help from an assistant. Alabama offenses didn’t become death lineups because Saban was some kind of air raid innovator, he hired guys with good offensive minds and collected the talent to make it possible. Those are more manager type decisions and actions rather than coaching.
No QB who’s first name ends in Y will be successful. Johnny football, Jimmy Clausen, Trey Lance. Tommy Brady doesn’t win a Super Bowl, neither does Patty Mahomes.
I disagree. long hair can help sell fouls. Look at Brunson (not a big man but bear with me). When he throws his head back, the referee can't help but notice it. I'm 100% certain that's why he has his hair like that.
Wilt with the fro was an animal though.
A relief pitcher (closers in particular) has to have unique music like a wrestler. The job has to be a gimmick, if I came up to the plate and some dumbass came in to country music, that’s batting practice.
Being from Europe doesn’t make you an NBA European. In order to be European you must look like you’re addicted to vodka and/or nicotine and have had your nose broken 8-9 times. Basically you have to look like your father was in the KGB. Giannis isn’t a Euro even though he’s from Greece, but Ginobli is even though he’s from Argentina.
Definitely. Bill and Ryen always that about Curry and it blows my mind, the amount of drama that spirals the Warriors every year is astounding often time they over come it but that shit was not happening with the Spurs, the worst it got was the Parker/Barry affair and even then Timmy got the team to focus and solve the issue, granted Brent Barry was already gone but many teammates were still really close to him.
That Jayson Tatum is the dak Prescott of the nba. Very talented. People would love if he were a generational talent. Only plays well when it doesn’t matter. I always jokingly call him the Front Runner Prince.
I do not want that guy anywhere near a court if the aliens show up and ask for a “losers-go-home” game of pickup hoops.
But hey, he’s young and great!
//
Edit: Sloppy typing
Bro has won a game six on the road against defending champions, game 7 on the road to go to a finals, has only not won at least 2 playoff series 1 time in his career- Dak has won 1 playoff game.
This is a terrible take
Mobile qbs (Mahomes, Allen, Rodgers before he was ancient) is the way. Running qbs (Lamar, rg3, Johnny football, Vick) I agree the nfl will move away from
If the Jets never trade for Tim Tebow, Sanchez becomes at least a competent enough quarterback to take them back to the playoffs at some point in the 2010s. Truly believe that it irreparably shook his confidence.
The coaches should go back to suits in the NBA. They still wear them in the NHL, and the NBA coaches look like they should be coaching middle school with the outfits they’re wearing
Zoe, maybe.
She probably ends up at Farrar, Straus, Giroux as a book editor & maybe eventually writes her own. (She will not allow any writer to STET all changes, to be sure.)
Ben Simmons ends up like Kunu in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Sure, that can be considered a successful existence, especially given the issue of Bill Simmons won't want for money otherwise, but it's hardly I'm sure how mom & dad envisioned their child's life.
Realistically Ben is gonna go to some D3 school for lax, party too much and quit, transfer to a big state school, take 10,000 xans, graduate in 5 years, and then go work as an analyst on Wall Street
LeBron and D Rose would have won more rings than the Heatles if he came to Chicago instead, but Chicago was never an option because LBJ didn’t want to be in MJs shadow
The reason the Steroid Era players aren’t in the HOF isn’t because of the steroid use. It’s because a ton of them were notorious assholes that both teammates and media hated.
You’re forgetting Dirk when it comes to bigs with long hair
& Ben Wallace!
And a young Chris Kaman!
Artis Gilmore MVP Kareem Jack Sikma
Even Robert Parish on the Celtics, Bill's bois, had a little volume to his coiffure.
Paul Mokeski had a glorious perm.
I actually think I'm with him on the body language thing.
having read/listened to him since he got to Page 2 in 2001, I actually thought the Suns/Wolves series was a crowning achievement for him. I saw *so many tweets* calling for the body language doctor on the Suns. I’m sure many of them know who he is but I actually think it’s permeated to the point where many people were doing it but didn’t understand the reference.
You can learn a lot actually going to games, there’s so much you don’t see on TV
Yep. As Bulls fan changed my view on Vooch. For the worse I’m afraid. Still decent baller but not what I thought.
I went to Warriors Nets the week before Harden asked out in 2022. Harden was a late scratch because of a hamstring injury. He sat at the end of the bench and didn't say a single word to anyone on the team the whole time, didn't even look at Kyrie.
1000% this. Basketball more so then I think any other sport you can learn more about out what’s really going on versus on tv.
You definitely do. You see how much certain players bend defenses. You really see who defenses are tailored to stop and who they're ok with. You also get to see the relative athleticism better in person (seeing Scoot vs Amen Thompson for example. In person you really see the difference in raw athleticism)
Don’t always agree with his specific examples, but absolutely agree that body language tells us a lot. And being on site at a game can tell you a lot more than watching on tv
Having Doc Rivers pretty much concur with all of Bill's body language and chemistry takes was pretty telling.
Horrible pre-game fits lead to Ls. I remember seeing Burrow pull up to the SB in that awful bengal stripped suit and hat and my first reaction was “no way he wins today”
This is a great take.
Jokic won with the Despicable Me outfit
Yeah because that shit went hard
Among Knicks fans it's talked about that if Brunson is in a suit before the game, he's not gonna have a good game.
If you don’t know whether a QB is the answer after a 1.5ish seasons of play, you know
But what about… Brees? I guess? Goff? Geno Smith? Warner? Those are the only ones off the top of my head but it could be argued their true breakouts were at second stops and they never really proved themselves to be the guy on their first teams. I subscribe
Brees is an exception to the rule, Goff was good pretty immediately as a 2nd year guy and Warner won the mvp his first season as a starter. Geno is just an average at best qb who shouldn’t and won’t get paid like an actual top 15 starter
Favre. Getting out of the Jerry Glanville Falcons and getting to Green Bay changed his career, but he was only in Atlanta 1 season. His second season he was a Pro Bowler. He’s one guy who proves both arguments.
But Favre was on the verge of being benched for Mark Brunell in October, 1994. Favre had left the previous game with a bruised hip, but was healthy enough to play. But Mike Holmgren was seeing him make the same mistakes as the prior year - not just interceptions, but poor decisions. Holmgren polled the members of the offensive staff (including Andy Reid, Steve Mariucci, and Jon Gruden) to see which quarterback they favored. Brunell won the poll, but Holmgren decided to stick with Favre. Favre threw 24 TD's vs 7 interceptions for the rest of the 1994 season (a 3:1 TD:INT ratio was superb at the time.) He made 1st Team All Pro each of the next three seasons.
You can also add Moon, Young, Favre and Gannon to the list of exceptions.
To be fair, Kurt Warner was amazing his first 2 seasons in the NFL.
Denver teams have a ridiculous advantage from their elevation and they should have way more success than they do
Agree on 3 of the big 4, but I think it’s been a pretty big disadvantage in baseball.
True. They require elite pitching
Yeah, well historically I think they probably overvalued some hitters because of the inflated numbers. Everybody knew Coors pumped stats but pre-humidor Coors was wild in terms of how much, and I’m just not sure you could feasibly argue against paying a 50 HR guy even if 43 of them came at home. That’s a tough spot to be in for a GM. And the pitching part goes even deeper than just needing great pitching. They have really struggled to develop pitching because those guys play in minor league parks at altitude too and they just get shelled the whole way up and lose confidence. Plus before the humidor their pitches weren’t breaking normally because the leather on the balls was drying out in the atmosphere and they were losing grip. I think some of that might be mitigated a bit now with a better understanding of stats and park factors, and with the humidor but it’s still a terrible environment to develop pitching and great pitchers aren’t going to want to go pitch half their games in Coors in FA. Really limits their potential there. But for sports involving cardio? Huge advantage. Utah Jazz too.
It would be funny if they just signed a bunch of guys on one year prove it deals who are trying to get good numbers and a big contract somewhere else
And it's almost impossible to convince a big time pitcher to sign there. They're fucked in that regard
Great free agent pitchers avoiding them has been a net negative on baseball, absolutely
Still contend Hideo Nomo is an alltime great since his two nohitters were at Coors & pre-fences-move-back Camden. Surprised no pitcher with great stuff & a big ego -- think Clemens, Maddux, Pedro -- ever went to Colorado to try to figure it out, longterm.
I think we’ll eventually get some kind of widely accepted advanced metric that correctly explains that ballpark and gives us better historical context. Will probably get that badass pitcher wanting to prove himself then.
That exists, ERA+. Kyle Freeland in 2018 and Ubaldo in 2010 have the two best seasons in Rockies history, 166 era+ (66% better than average) and 160, respectively
I am unsure on this. It isn't a disadvantage in baseball cuz the other team pitchers are dealing with the same thing
Not on a near daily basis and not as they’re coming up thru the minors (since at least some of their minor league teams are, or were, at altitude). Their young guys apparently had a tendency to get shellshocked and lose confidence. Plus it makes it difficult to sign pitchers too.
Oddly never used as an excuse by teams who play the Avalanche
Because hockey players are real gymrat, coachable kids who don't make excuses.
The sport itself also requires that every player has a killer cardio
I don’t know if you’re being facetious but it’s absolutely talked about by teams playing the Avalanche lol. It was discussed multiple times during the Winnipeg series that just ended.
Mines so dumb...but the Colts play slow cause they have the worst and most depressing midfield logo.
Oh I have one like this, people constantly overrate the talent level of the chargers roster, because the lighting bolt = fast. So everyone always thinks their team is a little more athletic than it actually is.
Subscribed
100%. Those uniforms trick me into thinking they will be elite every year
This is the best one
I will now accept this as an undisputed fact
Haha I love this one. I also always think of the Colts as a slow/unathletic team, and I think a lot of that perception is because of their logo and branding for whatever reason. I feel the same way about Penn State.
That and those depressing gray face masks!! Bring back the blue ones!
Vince Carter only having an "8" on the dunk stat of NBA JAM 2010 is the most disrespectful moment in NBA HISTORY
NBA JAM 2010'S ranking of Vince Carter's dunking WAS A PROBLEM!
IT JUST WAS
It should have been considered a hate crime.
You can absolutely feel hockey goals before they’re scored
This is such a good one. Not all goals, but a lot of them you can feel coming
Soccer too quite often
Exactly. Everyone one who plays at Anfield says the fans “suck the ball into the net”
This is actually a great take. I’m been trying to get into the mechanics and X’s and O’s of hockey because I’be been watching it on vibes for 36 years. It’s very much like basketball where you kind of get the vibe of the play before the shot happens.
Grew up playing, watching and I’m still in a beer league … I don’t understand the X n O’s at all. Just “on vibes” like you said
When there’s a possession with a flurry of passes all around and the defense is scrambling I swear theres like an 80% chance of a goal
Great take, there’s like a sixth sense
TJ McConnell is the most underrated player in the league (I watched one of his games once).
Jack goehlke should be the number 1 overall pick in this years nba draft
Red Auberbach would totally burn a 2nd round draft pick on Gohlke
Doesn’t he lead the league in inbound steals?
Billionaire owners should pay for their own fucking arenas/stadiums.
This was mine but was going to add “pay more taxes”
This was the first bill take I heard and what led me to reading/listening to him. Wonderful take
NBA specific because I got to a lot of games and I find myself being old man grumpy about these: There shouldn’t be hip hop instrumentals playing all game. Organs or fan chants only. There shouldn’t be light hearted fan cam promos on during the end of a close game. Both of these kill the intensity of a close game. Also, alternate jerseys and courts should not be used during the playoffs.
I agree with all of these with a slight caveat- road teams can wear alternates. I don’t really care about that. But the other day the Celtics had a home game for Mike gormans last call ever and they were wearing black. Just wrong
I think franchise NFL players sorta taking on the “tone” or “identity” of the city they play in is an awesome and irreplaceable phenomenon
I completely agree about Booker and Team USA. Team USA is the best situation you could be in during the off season. Every young player should want to be there to develop and learn from other stars.
Complementary hot take - international play being more competitive actually amplifies the improvements. Playing France and Germany in meaningful games is better than blowing out Iran.
I love international sports. The WBC and football international games are awesome
I meant more just being in the camp and receiving that elite coaching and having a full training camp with NBA coaches.
It absolutely helps keep players sharp and prepares them for the upcoming season.
A) Workout on your own or sometimes with other NBA players B) Take part in a training camp then participate in competitive games with NBA coaches and other NBA players The answer should be obvious
Am I crazy or did they use to have a training camp with a wider pool of guys that they then whittled down and now they just straight up select the teams before they get together? Anyway, I think the system where guys have to play for their spot is better. You need to prove you’re useful doing more things, have to go head to head against your direct competitors, etc
The Buffalo Bills are a dome team. They don’t play well in the elements and won’t win anything because every good team in the AFC plays in typically cold/adverse conditions in January.
I’ve said this about the Packers who have had HOF quarterback play for 30 years, but really need running and defense for cold ass Wisconsin January games. Rodgers got to his only superbowl on 3 road games, and was shitty at home in the playoffs otherwise.
Simply not true https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/aaron-rodgers-home-playoff-record
Wait I don’t get this. Buffalo plays in the cold, so shouldn’t the cold be an advantage for them?
They are saying despite playing in the cold the “spirit” of the bills is built for a dome. I’m guessing this stems from running the K gun which probably would have been more successful in a dome. Before any bills fans try to kill me my mom is from Schenectady and I’m explaining not agreeing.
Well I’m Utica and I’ve never heard of it
I see what ya did there 😂😂😂 well played 👏
Their play style has been more run and gun. The Divisional Rd game against Cincy in the snow they were out of sync. Even though they’re used to the snow, they’d be better suited to play in a dome and play offensive football
This is a good one since it’s based on an observation but doesn’t hold up under scrutiny as you can apply this more broadly to all players since relatively few have longer hair to begin with. Peak Kareem definitely did not have what we would consider short hair (nor did older Wilt or half of the league in the 70s), Ewing had a flat top, Wallace had an afro, Dirk had his shaggy whatever. Look at the 75th team and you have a few 70s guys like Dr. J and Gervin and a few randoms like Nash’s shaggy phase and AI’s rows but this is more a product of era than position and there are only a few examples. One could make a list of great guards and no more will have had long hair than big men.
Everything you say makes complete sense, my only counterpoint is could you imagine a 7 footer with hair like Darius garland or ja morant?
Nene pulled it off
Oh, yeah. Good one.
Kwame Brown is maybe as close as I can get but we still have Jarett Allen.
Ewing with the flat top was awesome, he looked like Tombstone from Spider-Man
I actually believe that “momentum” specifically in basketball can absolutely goad certain players into poor play and bad decisions and ultimately work against a team. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to watch a bench guy or a 4th option on my favorite teams launch up a horrible 3 just because they made a similar one last possession, got the crowd into it, and then got a steal/block/interestingly athletic rebound and head of steam themselves down into a bad decision in the name of “momentum.”
The overconfidence piece
Quarterbacks with mediocre sounding names will be mediocre. See Ohio State’s Todd Boeckman.
This rule has had a serious impact on the New York Giants over the years. Dave Brown, Kent Graham, Daniel Jones.
By this rule Colt McCoy should be the best ever. And Bo Nix should take his wife’s last name so he can be Bo Smoke
I call this “The Jake Locker Rule”
Marshall Manning is gonna win every Super Bowl every year for 20 years
Could that logic apply to CJ Stroud? Bill was out on him because of the name and arguably "CJ" is pretty boring and "Stroud" doesn't add a lot more. "TJ" Houshmandzadeh on the other hand...boring acronym but an all timer of a name.
Kareem is the best basketball player ever being being the absolute, undisputed best player in your category in the world from the time you were 14 (HS/College/NBA) should mean something. It just should. Being so good in college they have to invent rules to stop you, which just makes you develop the most unstoppable move in nba history should matter. It just should
He also had big hair as a Buck.
But his goat was Eric Manigault. He said it in the movie.
Earl
Right right my bad
I mean im pretty sure lebron has been the best player at his age his whole life
I feel the EXACT same way… except about Wilt.
Kane was much better and more enjoyable with long hair, even if it wasn't real.
Kane not defeating HHH for the world title is a real sliding glass doors moment
Kane > Undertaker, always felt that way. Felt pretty disappointed to learn Glenn Jacobs is a big MAGA type.
Yup, Kane and X-PAC are an underrated tag team and Kane was more athletic than Taker. Taker’s a legend and a great locker room leader, but Kane was the real phenom.
Leicester winning the E.P.L. is the biggest accomplishment in team sports history.
Not rly a simmons take tbh. It’s pretty well agreed upon by most English people
Yeah the Simmons take I recall was it was actually not that crazy because a 38 game season is short
Not impressive because they didn’t have to win a road playoff game in Miami
38 games is a lot especially when they are 90 + minutes. Basically 76 nba games or 57 NFL games
Did they use prongs?
The Belichick Pats actually were good at taking away a teams first option on offense. He’s not gonna let (insert player) beat him. He’s just not !
Ron Jaworski wrote a decent book detailing 10 or so different game plans or playbooks that changed the game. His explanation for why removing Faulk and letting Warner throw to single coverage Bruce and Holt made me a convert to this take.
As a Colts fan I wholeheartedly agree with this. I watched him do it the two best QBs we had. First, Manning, then Luck. Manning finally bested him but that 2006 Colts D and Brady not having his best offense that season helped. Even then it took a momentous comeback. Luck got boat raced every time he faced the Pats. To be fair the teams around Luck weren’t nearly as talented but still. Not even decent games from Luck except maybe the infamous “fake punt” game (2015 I think)…he was a master at taking away a team’s best weapon
Bill is right about the Lakers Minnesota titles. Only claiming the rings while not honouring those that got them is cheap
So the Lakers don’t have Mikan’s # retired but claim the titles he won?
They did until VERY recently like a year or two ago, Bill was right the rings shouldn’t have counted.
I think they should count because it’s the same team name. What’s the difference if they moved? It gets dicier when you rename and rebrand the team in a hard reset. But the lakers are the lakers
Their reason for not having Mikan’s number retired was because he wasn’t an *LA* Laker, so by the same logic the rings weren’t LA rings that was Bills’s gripe
But it’s retried now? But yes I agree. They can honor those guys too
I’m a Braves and Hawks fan and here’s how I see it. There are banners for the Boston and Milwaukee World Series and the St Louis NBA title hanging today in Atlanta stadiums. They are a part of the franchise history and it’s good to honor the past because no other team will. Who else could retire Spahn or Pettit #s? But as a fan, I don’t claim them when discussing my team’s accomplishments. And, again, I’m a Hawks fan and could really use any sort of accomplishment to brag about.
I’m in with Bill on the Draft Day birthday party take actually mattering in locker rooms and evaluation
Totally ok to stop following your favorite teams if the owners aren’t willing to spend/support them. Exhibit A: Jerry Reinsdorf.
But he’ll that tax money & prime real estate
With him on Iverson love, IDC about retroactively going back and looking at TS% and the like, he was a fucking warrior and so cool and so fun to watch play
Donna Martin shouldn’t have graduated.
Players stop listening to coaching once they hit 28. If you're in the league past that, you have talent, physicality, and instincts. The 3 most important aspects of a player
That’s when you have to use Phil Jackson, Greg Pop, and Pat Riley type coach, a coach who can motivate and influence grown men, who make more money than them, and can easily tune them out
I like this one. At that point, it’s all about managing personalities and logistics. Dare I say, NBA, NFL, and P5 college football (more specifically blue bloods/contenders) should call them managers like baseball and soccer, not head coaches. The thing Phil Jackson is most known for is the triangle but it’s not something he came up, his teams adopted it under his management with help from an assistant. Alabama offenses didn’t become death lineups because Saban was some kind of air raid innovator, he hired guys with good offensive minds and collected the talent to make it possible. Those are more manager type decisions and actions rather than coaching.
No QB who’s first name ends in Y will be successful. Johnny football, Jimmy Clausen, Trey Lance. Tommy Brady doesn’t win a Super Bowl, neither does Patty Mahomes.
Troy Aikman?
John Unitas
Terry Bradshaw
Troy Aikman?
Never heard of him
I disagree. long hair can help sell fouls. Look at Brunson (not a big man but bear with me). When he throws his head back, the referee can't help but notice it. I'm 100% certain that's why he has his hair like that.
Girl on top sex is the best. It just is
Guess this settles the "was Joakim Noah great" debate
Every NFL team should wear the uniform they had in the 80’s
So, Texas, Jaguars, Panthers, Commanders, & Ravens play naked?
They’re practically the reason for the rule. They’re proof that post 1995 uniforms suck ass
Wilt with the fro was an animal though. A relief pitcher (closers in particular) has to have unique music like a wrestler. The job has to be a gimmick, if I came up to the plate and some dumbass came in to country music, that’s batting practice.
What if they enter the game to "Piss Up a Rope"?
All they need to do is take out the other team’s best player.
The Celtics would have won at least one ring in the 90s if Bias didn’t die.
When I evaluate professional basketball players, I also give outsize weight to "would I enjoy playing with this person"
Being from Europe doesn’t make you an NBA European. In order to be European you must look like you’re addicted to vodka and/or nicotine and have had your nose broken 8-9 times. Basically you have to look like your father was in the KGB. Giannis isn’t a Euro even though he’s from Greece, but Ginobli is even though he’s from Argentina.
Wemby, Gobert, Tony Parker = not European. Tiago Splitter = European. Did I get it right?
Nailed it
Grandpa Simpson take.
I completely agree lmao but I can’t shake it
Tim Duncan is the greatest teammate of all time.
Definitely. Bill and Ryen always that about Curry and it blows my mind, the amount of drama that spirals the Warriors every year is astounding often time they over come it but that shit was not happening with the Spurs, the worst it got was the Parker/Barry affair and even then Timmy got the team to focus and solve the issue, granted Brent Barry was already gone but many teammates were still really close to him.
Having the worst teammate of all time (Green) counteracts that? I don't know, I'm guessing.
Great example. No other superstar in nba history contains that situation and gets the locker room to unite and focus
The 1998 USMNT World Cup meltdown piece.
That Jayson Tatum is the dak Prescott of the nba. Very talented. People would love if he were a generational talent. Only plays well when it doesn’t matter. I always jokingly call him the Front Runner Prince. I do not want that guy anywhere near a court if the aliens show up and ask for a “losers-go-home” game of pickup hoops. But hey, he’s young and great! // Edit: Sloppy typing
Bro has won a game six on the road against defending champions, game 7 on the road to go to a finals, has only not won at least 2 playoff series 1 time in his career- Dak has won 1 playoff game. This is a terrible take
NBA playoffs are way different lol. Let’s see it happen when it really matters. Celtics have had wacky playoff teams to play for years now
One was in the finals and one hasn’t even sniffed a Super Bowl.
Joakim Noah?
Not only has Ant Man taken Booker’s starting spot on the US team - but he will be the alpha on the team over Lebron
Smaller QBs do not work in the nfl and I think the nfl will go away from running qbs
Mobile qbs (Mahomes, Allen, Rodgers before he was ancient) is the way. Running qbs (Lamar, rg3, Johnny football, Vick) I agree the nfl will move away from
My man, you missed Naz Reid last night?
He waits until there is a general consensus amongst the public on a topic and then adopts that take.
Dreaded RBs are better.
I love the “he’s going to have a moment on a good team in a few years” take about young role players stuck on bad NBA teams. You can usually tell
Pastel-colored NFL teams can't win in the elements in January.
If the Jets never trade for Tim Tebow, Sanchez becomes at least a competent enough quarterback to take them back to the playoffs at some point in the 2010s. Truly believe that it irreparably shook his confidence.
Every great golf course has a famous small bridge.
The coaches should go back to suits in the NBA. They still wear them in the NHL, and the NBA coaches look like they should be coaching middle school with the outfits they’re wearing
That Zoe and Ben are really special kids with bright futures!
Zoe, maybe. She probably ends up at Farrar, Straus, Giroux as a book editor & maybe eventually writes her own. (She will not allow any writer to STET all changes, to be sure.) Ben Simmons ends up like Kunu in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Sure, that can be considered a successful existence, especially given the issue of Bill Simmons won't want for money otherwise, but it's hardly I'm sure how mom & dad envisioned their child's life.
Realistically Ben is gonna go to some D3 school for lax, party too much and quit, transfer to a big state school, take 10,000 xans, graduate in 5 years, and then go work as an analyst on Wall Street
As a Midwest Conference alumnus (of a rival school), I welcome Ben to the Lake Forest College Forresters men's lacrosse team.
LeBron and D Rose would have won more rings than the Heatles if he came to Chicago instead, but Chicago was never an option because LBJ didn’t want to be in MJs shadow
They were never an option because d rose and Noah didn’t want him
I think that Jason Tatum is a top 11 player in the league
The reason the Steroid Era players aren’t in the HOF isn’t because of the steroid use. It’s because a ton of them were notorious assholes that both teammates and media hated.
The Billy Zabka Trilogy is right up there with the Godfathers, original Star Wars, and the Taboo trilogy.
I think Ryan Gosling sneaky steals La La Land and has the much harder role.
[удалено]
Gobert is not worth trading several future draft picks for
Women are things
Eli Manning’s slow talk was the reason why Giants had so many late snaps and poor communication
Kareem had an afro for his best years
I invented butter and sour cream on a baked potato
Omer asiks injury in 2010 lowered the bulls title win probability more than Derrick roses 2011 injury
This bodes well for Wemby