Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Ben Linbergh is coming back. Announced on Effectively Wild, he'll be on the MLB Show. So excited, Bill needs to go get Jonah.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

How's everyone feel about The Ringer, now that howevermuchtimehaspassed has passed?

Personally, I think there's a noticeable change in quality of writing, but that's understandable I guess as he builds the talent back up. I like the baseball coverage (Baumann) and the MLB Show, I like the football coverage (Mays) and the NFL show, but the NBA writing leaves a lot to be desired IMO. Hard task going from Zach Lowe to basically anyone but that'll just take some getting used to. Some of the events (Next Thunder, Cleveland Week, etc) are alright. The Ringer NBA Show is just awful sometimes, who the hall are these people?

They got my favorite Shea Serrano back, and that's made a huge difference for me. I loved him on Grantland, followed him with his newsletter on his own, and now have been rewarded with his presence again on The Ringer. Reading the article about Denzel Washington and Chairs and im almost in tears, his style is so goofy but in a serious way it just cracks me up.

You ever check out Shea's book on Rap History?

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Dude I have not but I actually just this morning was thinking about getting it to read because I just finished Abrams Prep to Pro book yesterday and need something new to start.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Yeah I want to check that out as well, but I just haven't seen or heard many reviews about it though.

[areobee401]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Bill Simmons and crew have failed miserable to spark the magic Grantland once had. The Ringer stinks and Any Given Wednesday on HBO is even worse. Reached the point now where I no longer bother checking Ringer content at all, unless something is recommended by someone I trust. And even then I'm skeptical.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Yep, the Ringer has lost me already as well. Don't get HBO so can't comment on that.

[dsallupinyaarea]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Not to pile on, but I'm out on The Ringer as well. I don't even really know why it's but it's just really bad.

[slickdtc]

ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

The majority of the content are hot takes that other, crappy websites have handled. We don't need another.

We went to Grantland for long form, well thought out, articulate pieces. There were some quick headlines, but they were the exception.

In an effort to be more appealing, they've alienated a lot of their existing, migrated fanbase. I mean, Simmons doesn't even write anymore. It's fallen to the same fate as all the websites of its ilk, bloated with fluff pieces and bull**** to cater to mindless drones for the sake of shares on social media.

I still think it's better then most crap out there, but it pales in comparison to what Grantland gave us. I respect that they have to make money to pay the people and the overhead of running a website, but there can be a move more towards a middle ground.

[SPTO]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

The few times i've looked at The Ringer I could tell it was going down the road of reaching for mass appeal rather than the long form intelligent articles that made Grantland special. Tis a shame that Simmons took the easy road rather than pushing forward for journalistic excellence.

As for Simmons' TV presence, he's the epitome of the "better in short bursts" type of personality so it's not surprising that his HBO show sucks.

[pietasterp]

Re: ESPN Shuts Down Grantland

Which begs the question....did ESPN need Simmons, or did Simmons need ESPN?