Simmons coming to Portland this week... (2 Viewers)

[Natebishop3]

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/11/bill_simmons_is_coming_blazers.html

When ESPN columnist Bill Simmons dubbed this year's Portland Trail Blazers the "You Thought We'd Take Another Leap, But Instead We Went Backward Because Expectations Were Too High, We Tinkered With Our Chemistry And Our Young Guys Tuned Out Their Coach" team and picked them to finish 41-41, he knew he'd hear it from Portland fans, but even he was surprised at the vehemence of their reaction.

"Blazer fans went ballistic," he said. "They became really, really super, super crazy upset about it. Saying stuff like, 'You're crazy! You're the biggest idiot! Don't come here for your book tour!' It's like, whoa, settle down, I just picked you to go 41-41, it's not like I built a Brandon Roy voodoo doll or something."

He just can't help himself though. He STILL takes a shot at us.

As excited as Simmons is to interact with what he deemed one of the "maybe six or seven fan bases that really give a (care)," seeing his first NBA game in Portland is the real attraction.

"I'm more excited to just see the passion of the fans and (how) every Oden dunk will be treated like game seven of the finals," he said. "That's the stuff I'm excited about."

Simmons said the passion Portland fans bring to the NBA is unique.

"They're so invested in Oden and it's like anytime he does anything he gets showered with glee," he said. "They're so happy every time he has one good moment. I think it's great."

I personally hate the guy. He has some kind of vendetta against us. He likes to compliment us, and then make fun of us in the same sentence.

I'm thinking about going to his book signing and giving him shit. Who's with me?

 

[chris_in_pdx]

By showing up, you validate his argument. The best way to show him what a douche he is is to organize a boycott of his book signing and make sure that there's NO ONE at his signing desk for the entire time he's there. Hit him in the pocketbook.

 

[Natebishop3]

By showing up, you validate his argument. The best way to show him what a douche he is is to organize a boycott of his book signing and make sure that there's NO ONE at his signing desk for the entire time he's there. Hit him in the pocketbook.

But we could wear Celtics jerseys and have fake Boston accents!

 

[MrJayremmie]

LOL, he is kind right about the Portland fan base in what he said there. I also think it is great.

We do really want Oden to succeed so bad, we almost find ourselves willing him to succeed, lol.

GO BLAZERS!

 

[ABM]

I'm bringing a Bill Simmons voodoo doll. I wonder if he'll sign it?

 

[Ed O]

I put Simmons on RL Ignore. I would recommend you all do the same.

Ed O.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm a fan of simmons, for the most part. He's been way off on the Blazers since Lotto Night 2007, but the dude watches a lot of ball and gets some pretty decent access to players. I get a lot of his humor (though not so much the reality TV stuff), and I'm sad that I'm going to be out of town for both the Seattle and Portland signings (though I will be at the MIN game, so maybe I can hit him up there).

He's right that every dunk in POR is the same volume as a Game Seven elsewhere

 

[BengalDuck]

Ironically, Oden thus far has a higher PER than any Celtic.

 

[andalusian]

I like Simmons as well for the entertainment value. I do not get too upset about the slams. It's part of the comedy routine. If you do not like it, don't read it.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I still like my idea here

Or maybe just show up in my Greg Oden jersey, hand him the Richard Simmons book to autograph, and say, "You sure look a lot different in person".

And then we he says, thanks and makes some snarky comment about Richard Simmons, I'd respond with, "I said different, not better. You should have kept the 'fro."

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

I still like my idea here

Or maybe just show up in my Greg Oden jersey, hand him the Richard Simmons book to autograph, and say, "You sure look a lot different in person".

And then we he says, thanks and makes some snarky comment about Richard Simmons, I'd respond with, "I said different, not better. You should have kept the 'fro."

BNM

hahahaha

 

[ABM]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/business/media/16simmons.html

 

[Natebishop3]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/business/media/16simmons.html

It all makes sense now.

As Mr. Simmons tells it now, all he really needed to know about Internet success he learned as a nearly anonymous blogger — the term had not gained currency, but it still fits. “The question was, how do you keep people coming back?” he said. His insights were to update his posts frequently and to be provocative, to get a discussion going among and with his readers.

Simmons sees Portland fans as one of the most active fan bases in sports. The only reason why he continually takes shots at us (and Oden) is to keep us hooked on his column. "What is that asshole gonna say next?"

 

[Boob-No-More]

It all makes sense now.



Simmons sees Portland fans as one of the most active fan bases in sports. The only reason why he continually takes shots at us (and Oden) is to keep us hooked on his column. "What is that asshole gonna say next?"

Yup, him and Canzano practice the same journalistic philosophy - it's better to be controversial than to be good.

BNM

 

[LittleAlex]

Simmons is a funny guy who makes the occational crazy prediction to stir shit up.

I like his column. Read it all the time.

His odd obsession with Durant Vs Oden is hysterical to me. He says crazy shit like Durant will be better the LeBron.

He is a sports comedian. Don't take anything the man says without a boulder sized piece of salt.