HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on James Harden's next team, the only two serious contenders in the Harden sweepstakes, and how the deal can get done (3:00). Then Bill talks with Joe House about the Russell Westbrook–John Wall trade, how Westbrook upgrades the Wizards, what John Wall meant to the DMV area, and more (21:00). Finally, Bill is joined by Ryan Shazier to discuss the 11-0 Pittsburgh Steelers, linebacker Bud Dupree's season-ending injury, a behind-the-scenes look at head coach Mike Tomlin, and Bill's Million-Dollar NFL Picks (1:04:00)
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser to discuss the NFL’s approach to dealing with COVID-19, the evolution of sports coverage, 20 years of ‘Pardon the Interruption,’ Patrick Mahomes, baseball’s shrinking national interest, golf, and more (3:00). Then Bill talks with chef and media mogul Dave Chang, who just became the first celebrity to win ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.’ They discuss the million-dollar question; Dave's help from Mina Kimes and Alan Yang; the Southern Smoke Foundation, the charity he donated his winnings to; the current state of the restaurant industry amidst the pandemic, including innovations from companies like Gold Belly; and more (49:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Saints' win over the QB-less Broncos, the Falcons' shellacking of the Raiders, the Rams' loss to the 49ers, plus Chiefs-Buccaneers, Chargers-Dolphins, Patriots-Cardinals, NFC East–watch, and more (3:00). They discuss the Mike Tyson–Roy Jones Jr. and Jake Paul–Nate Robinson boxing matches (38:00), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 13 (49:00). Then they close the show with Parent Corner (1:10:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Tony Romo to discuss his post-NFL career, Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, how limited fan attendance can work to a defense’s advantage, Tua Tagovailoa, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahomes, Super Bowl sleepers, Golf, and more (2:00). Then Bill gives out his Million Dollar NFL Picks (56:00); Before talking with author James Andrew Miller about the Showtime documentary ’Belushi’, the copious amount of never before seen photos, letters, and videos, John Belushi’s impact on SNL, and more (1:05:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Jackie MacMullan to discuss a whirlwind of NBA free-agency moves and trades as they look ahead to the rapidly approaching NBA season (3:00). Then Bill gives out his Million-Dollar NFL Picks for the Thanksgiving games (1:30:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on Gordon Hayward turning down his $34 million player option to become a free agent, ultimately ending up on the Charlotte Hornets (2:00). Then Bill is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Chiefs' comeback win over the Raiders and Patrick Mahomes’s ironclad case for MVP. They also cover the Dolphins’ flop against the Broncos, Joe Burrow’s season-ending injury, an ugly Browns win over the Eagles, plus Packers-Colts, Saints-Falcons, Vikings-Cowboys, the competitive AFC, the ridiculous NFC East, and more (17:00). They then Guess the NFL Lines for Week 12 (1:05), which is followed by Parent Corner (1:31:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to discuss Klay Thompson's season-ending injury, an open NBA investigation involving the Bucks-Kings trade, Gordon Hayward opting out of his contract with the Celtics, post–NBA draft thoughts, Harden trade rumors, and more. (2:00). Then Bill talks with Nora Princiotti about salvaging this Patriots season, Tua Tagovailoa, the superb coaching of Miami head coach Brian Flores, Coach of the Year candidates, and more (56:00) before Bill gives out his Million-Dollar Picks for NFL Week 11 (1:15:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo and Raja Bell to discuss James Harden’s desire to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets (2:00). Then, Bill and Ryen talk about the Bucks acquiring Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic, the Suns trading for Chris Paul, the Warriors' path to continued success, Boston's Gordon Hayward dilemma, and more (30:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to briefly discuss rumors of James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets before talking about the Patriots' win over the Ravens during a downpour in Foxborough. They also discuss the Browns win vs. the Texans and the return of Nick Chubb; the Cardinals' Hail Mary win over the Bills and Kyler Murray’s case for MVP; as well as Dolphins-Chargers, Rams-Seahawks, and more (3:00). They end with Guess the Lines for NFL Week 11 (50:00) and Parent Corner (1:29:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his NBA predictions (3:00). Then he is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss the NFC and NFL playoff odds before giving out his Million-Dollar Picks for NFL Week 10 (26:00). Finally Bill talks with Claire McNear about the recent death of legendary 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek, her new book, 'Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider's Guide to Jeopardy!,' researching for the book, and more (1:32:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his dad to remember the late Tommy Heinsohn (3:00) before he is joined by ESPN's Matthew Berry to take a look at the fantasy football season including boom and busts, fantasy MVP candidates, fantasy playoff waiver pickups, and more (38:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal and Joe House to discuss NFL Week 9, including an electrifying battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray in the Dolphins' win over the Cardinals, Colts-Ravens, the Buccaneers getting steamrolled by the Saints, another gritty Chargers loss against the Raiders, Panthers-Chiefs, and more (3:00). Then Bill and Sal guess the NFL lines for Week 10 (44:00), which is followed by Parent Corner (1:17:00). Then House rejoins the group to discuss the gambling odds for the 2020 presidential election (1:29:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Mina Kimes to discuss rookie QBs Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Tua Tagovailoa; run through Bill's NFL QB tiers; and make some Million-Dollar NFL Picks (2:30) before talking with JackO about the 2020 presidential election and the turbulent vote-counting process following Election Day (1:03:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the looming start date for the 2020-21 NBA season, the possibility of rewriting the CBA, the upcoming NBA draft, and more (3:00). Then Bill talks with Wesley Morris of The New York Times about some new TV shows and movies, including Netflix’s ‘The Queen’s Gambit’; HBO’s ‘The Undoing,’ ‘On the Rocks’ starring Rashida Jones and Bill Murray, Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’; and Hulu’s horror-comedy ‘Bad Hair’ (1:10:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss NFL Week 8, including the Steelers winning another intense showdown with the Ravens, Dalvin Cook and the Vikings running over the Packers, Bengals-Titans, Cam Newton’s crunch-time fumble in the Patriots' loss to the Bills, Eagles-Cowboys, Rams-Dolphins, another crushing Chargers loss, mid-season MVPs, and more (2:00), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 9 (57:00). They close out the show with Parent Corner (1:23:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss Daryl Morey becoming the new president of basketball operations for the 76ers, how he'll pair with new head coach Doc Rivers, and trade speculations (2:00) before talking gambling odds for the upcoming Masters Tournament and Bill's Million Dollar Picks for NFL Week 8 (28:00). Then Bill talks with CNN's Bakari Sellers and Harry Enten about the upcoming elections (1:13:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by CC Sabathia to talk about the Dodgers winning the World Series. They discuss Kevin Cash's controversial decision to pull Blake Snell, the electric energy Mookie Betts brought to the Dodgers, Kershaw finally getting to relax, the success of the shortened MLB playoff schedule, and more (2:00). Then Bill talks with Kevin O'Connor about the upcoming NBA draft, the short offseason, teams that may be inclined to trade up, the lack of consensus for the top prospects, Kevin's mock draft on TheRinger.com, and more (52:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss what's shaping up to be an exciting World Series, before recapping some NFL Week 7 games, including the Cardinals' overtime win against the Seahawks, Browns-Bengals, another painful Falcons loss, another Patriots flop, AFC/NFC power rankings, the sad state of the Cowboys, Titans-Steelers, Tom Brady hanging four TDs on the Raiders, and more (2:00). They finish by guessing the NFL lines for Week 8 (48:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Super Bowl champion and longtime NFL analyst Howie Long to discuss Tom Brady's Buccaneers finding their equilibrium, Dak Prescott's injury, top NFL defenses, the perplexing Packers, a competitive AFC East, various football GOATs, old-school NFL stories, the chemistry of the Fox NFL Sunday crew, his post-football movie career, and more (1:00). Then Bill talks with Peter Schrager of Fox Sports and NFL Network about some NFL predictions, including LeVeon Bell's impact on the already-stacked Kansas City Chiefs, the battle for the NFC East, and more before Bill shares his million-dollar NFL picks for Week 7 (1:04:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Jackie MacMullan to discuss the looming start date of the 2020-21 NBA season, the value of lottery draft picks in this year's NBA draft, offseason player movement, how teams should look to combat the Lakers' size, and more. Then Bill talks with Rembert Browne about yet another Atlanta sports heartbreak after the Braves' loss to the Dodgers in the NLCS, and Rembert shares his theory on why Atlanta may have a sports curse. Finally Bill talks with his buddy JackO about another Yankees postseason failure, a Dodgers vs. Rays World Series, "old-man baseball gripes," the 2020 presidential election, the upcoming presidential debate, and more.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk about the L.A. Dodgers winning the NLCS vs. the Atlanta Braves, a Dodgers-Rays World Series, and more. Then they discuss NFL Week 6 games, including the Buccaneers rolling over the Packers, the Patriots losing to the Broncos despite Cam Newton's return, the Titans' overtime win vs. the Texans, the Falcons getting their first win of the season vs. the Vikings, Giants-Washington, and more, before guessing the NFL lines for Week 7. They then close out the show with Parent Corner.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares some thoughts on Daryl Morey's resignation from the Rockets, before he is joined by Super Bowl champion and Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson to discuss the nail-biter Seahawks-Patriots games in recent years, his rookie season, ‘The Legion of Boom,’ the importance of mental performance, the immense potential of DK Metcalf, joining the “Madden 99 Club,” Seattle sports legends, Russell’s new podcast, ‘DangerTalk With Russell Wilson,’ and more. Then Bill gives out his Million-Dollar NFL Picks for Week 6. Finally, Bill talks with Sean Fennessey and actor-director Cooper Raiff to talk about his new film, ‘Sh*thouse,’ winning SXSW, working with a minimal budget, generational storytelling, and more.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo and 2020 NBA champion Jared Dudley to discuss the Lakers' title win, how it felt to leave the NBA bubble, LeBron stories, appreciating Rajon Rondo, the anticlimactic Battle for L.A., young NBA talent, and more. Then Bill and Ryen speculate about 2021 NBA free agency, what teams will have to do to combat the defending NBA champions, Finals media coverage, and more.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal and Joe House to discuss the Lakers' 2020 NBA Finals victory, another boost to the LeBron James legacy, NBA 2021 title odds, the official success of the NBA playoff bubble, and more. Next they react to the Week 5 slate of NFL games, including the Cowboys' win over the Giants and Dak Prescott's serious injury, the Chiefs' first loss of the season to the Raiders, Eagles-Steelers, Colts-Browns, the Atlanta Falcons firing head coach Dan Quinn, COVID-19’s impact on the early season, and more. They close with Guess the Lines for Week 6 and Parent Corner.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Zach Lowe to talk about the Heat-Lakers NBA Finals series and the upcoming Game 5, speculate about Finals MVP, perhaps end the NBA GOAT debate once and for all, and play out an eight-seed "21st-Century NBA Championship Team" tournament. Finally, Bill shares some thoughts on the Buccaneers' loss to the Bears in which Tom Brady forgot what down it was during the final drive and gives his Million Dollar Picks for NFL Week 5.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss a hard-fought Lakers win in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, the Lakers' role players stepping up, Jimmy Butler’s ascension to a “top-10 guy,” superb defensive play by Anthony Davis, LeBron’s command of the series and what a fourth NBA title will do for his legacy, Anthony Davis contract speculation, and more. Then Bill is joined by author Chuck Klosterman to remember the late Eddie Van Halen.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Jimmy Butler willing the Heat to a win over the Lakers in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. They also recap NFL Week 4, including the Cowboys' 49-38 loss to the Browns, Panthers-Cardinals, Joe Burrow vs. “the spread,” Bills-Raiders, Giants-Rams, Tom Brady throwing five TDs in a win over the Chargers, Bears-Colts, and more before guessing the NFL lines for Week 5.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Stugotz of 'The Dan Le Batard Show' to discuss the Miami Heat’s rough start to the NBA Finals, the Heat’s depleted roster, Finals MVP speculation, the city of Miami’s relationship with LeBron James, another sad NY Jets season, and more. Then Bill brings in Joe House to make some NFL Million Dollar Picks. Finally, Bill talks with The Ringer’s Mallory Rubin and Nora Princiotti about the NFL season, including the Ravens' struggles against the Chiefs last week, the chip on Aaron Rodgers's shoulder, playoff sleeper teams, the NFL's COVID-19 protocol, and more.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares his NBA Finals pick (2:20) before he's joined by renowned sports journalist Jackie MacMullan to discuss the Clippers and Doc Rivers parting ways, the Clippers' playoffs collapse, the Celtics' playoffs exit, enticing NBA Finals story lines, and more (6:00). Then Bill talks with World Series champion CC Sabathia about the MLB playoffs, the New York Yankees taking care of business against the Cleveland Indians, World Series predictions, the age-old question of restructuring the MLB season, NBA Finals, NFL excitement, and more (1:10:14).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Celtics getting bounced out of the playoffs, a Heat-Lakers NBA Finals, finals gambling odds, and more (2:03). Then they discuss Sunday's NFL slate, including the Saints' loss to the Packers, the Patriots pulling out a win over the Raiders, the 3-0 Chicago Bears, Bills-Rams, Cowboys-Seahawks, the disappointing Eagles-Bengals tie, Lions-Cardinals, and more (14:08). They then guess the NFL lines for Week 4 (57:05) and share another edition of Parent Corner (1:26:54).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Lakers win over the Nuggets in game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, officiating LeBron James, the Celtics struggling vs the Heat's zone defense, a defining moment for Tyler Herro, James Harden trade rumors and more (2:29). Finally Bill bounces his Million Dollar NFL Picks off of Ryen (1:26:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on the Nuggets' comeback win in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals vs. the Lakers, as well as the player combination of LeBron James and Anthony Davis and where it ranks among the historic NBA duos (3:04). Then he is joined by Showtime’s Desus Nice and The Kid Mero to discuss NYC during the pandemic; New York sports; the NBA playoffs; MLB, adjusting to doing ‘Desus & Mero’ from home; interviewing late-night icon David Letterman; their new book, ‘God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons From the Bronx’; and more (24:45). Finally Bill talks with actor Jeff Daniels about some of his past work including ‘Terms of Endearment,’ ‘Speed,’ ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ and ‘The Newsroom’; Jim Carrey’s comedy run in the mid-'90s; performing on and off Broadway; his new two-part Showtime miniseries ‘The Comey Rule’; and more (1:15:15).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss a nail-biter between the Seahawks and the Patriots, a miracle comeback by the Cowboys against the Falcons, the Chief’s overtime win vs. the Chargers led by rookie QB Justin Herbert, an injury-plagued NFL Sunday, another Vikings collapse, Buccaneers-Panthers, the 2-0 Chicago Bears, cross-off teams, and more (2:30), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 3 (56:18). Then they briefly discuss the NBA conference finals (1:21:35), before closing with Parent Corner (1:33:45).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by sports media legend Jackie MacMullan to discuss the Heat winning another close Eastern Conference finals game against the Celtics to bring the series to 2-0, the construction of the Miami Heat, the tenacious Denver Nuggets, the brilliance of Nikola Jokic, where the Clippers went wrong, how the 2020 NBA playoffs will be viewed historically, sports reporting in 2020, Jackie's advice to young journalists, and more (3:40). Then Bill gives out some Million Dollar Picks for this weekend's slate of NFL games (1:13:55)
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Clippers collapse in game seven of of the Western Conference Semifinals vs. the Nuggets, where this game ranks among historic playoff collapses, how the Nuggets match up with the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, panic Clippers trades and more (2:55). Then Bill and Ryen talk about the Heat beating the Celtics in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals, what Rockets should do next, and more (1:20:40).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Cowboys' gut-wrenching loss to the Rams, no-fan football, trouble in Tompa Bay, gambling disasters, the Bears' comeback win, Cam Newton's Patriots debut, the savvy Cardinals, and more (1:55), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 2 (54:48). Finally, Bill and Sal close out with another edition of Parent Corner (1:24:50).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on Lakers-Rockets and the NFL season opener in which the Chiefs rolled the Texans, before kicking off Million Dollar Picks for NFL Week 1 (3:35). Then Bill is joined by Raja Bell to discuss the Celtics-Raptors series, Game 6, the Raptors' effective defense, the Heat awaiting their opponent for the Eastern Conference Finals, Brooklyn Nets new head coach Steve Nash, and more (34:30).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on Lakers-Rockets and Celtics-Raptors (2:53) before he is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Bill’s favorite storylines heading into the NFL season (17:22). Then they kick off their FOURTEENTH season of Guess the Lines and guess the NFL lines for Week 1. Finally, Parent Corner returns (1:05:55).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Bucks’ playoff turmoil, whether Giannis will re-sign with the Bucks, the Heat’s rising playoffs expectations, Clippers-Nuggets, Raptors-Celtics, Steve Nash as the Nets head coach, Bill’s son Ben’s first-ever fantasy football draft, and more!
The Ringer's Bill Simmons reacts to the Raptors' last-second victory over the Boston Celtics to bring the series to 2-1, as well as the Rockets' Game 7 against the Thunder (1:13). Then Bill is joined by 3x NBA champion and Miami Heat member Andre Iguodala to discuss joining the Heat in February of 2020; playing with teammates like Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Jimmy Butler; the toughest NBA players he ever had to guard; pausing the playoffs and the large player meeting that followed; and the U.S. Open, PGA Tour, and more (15:38). Then Bill talks with Bakari Sellers and Van Lathan about the 2020 presidential election, fighting for social justice in America, the coronavirus pandemic, and more (1:06:20). Finally, Bill remembers the great Tom Seaver by reading an essay he wrote about him in 2001 titled "Do I Have Anything Left?" (2:05:50)
The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Joe House about the Utah Jazz exiting the NBA playoffs in a Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets, James Harden's "disappearance" during Rockets-Thunder Game 6, and the monumental stakes for Houston in the upcoming Game 7. Plus: Celtics-Raptors, the Heat giving the Bucks trouble, and more (1:25). Then Bill is joined by ESPN's fantasy football guru, Matthew Berry, to gear up for the start of the NFL season. They talk top skill-position players, strategies for snake drafts and auctions, stack-worthy NFL offenses, stay-aways, sleepers, and more (50:08).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the stunning Jamal Murray performance that has forced a Nuggets-Jazz Game 7, NBA players’ strides in working toward social justice, the Mavericks’ playoff exit on a hopeful note for next season, Lakers Round 2 speculation, broadcast gripes, the Celtics beating the Raptors in Game 1 of the semifinals, Rockets-Thunder, how the Heat match up with the Bucks, a Parent Corner preview, and more.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons sat down with actor Chadwick Boseman to talk about sports movies, making biopics, '42,' 'Draft Day,' 'Black Panther,' '21 Bridges,' NFL, NBA, and more.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by civil rights activist and podcaster DeRay Mckesson to discuss the great strides made by Campaign Zero in police reform, the NBA players’ decision to pause the playoffs in wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, how NBA teams could make the greatest impact in their own cities, and more (5:50). Then Bill talks with Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated and DAZN about journalism and media rules in the NBA bubble, Wednesday's meeting with NBA players and coaches, and more (34:20). Finally, Bill talks with L.A. Sparks forward and ESPN radio host Chiney Ogwumike about key subplots as we approach the WNBA playoffs, some heartwarming Kobe Bryant stories, the Clippers' new stadium in Inglewood, the challenges of hosting a live radio/TV show, and more (1:06:25).
The Ringer’s Raja Bell and Logan Murdock react to the Clippers’ merciless win over the Mavericks, some heated exchanges on the court, Paul George’s postgame comments about being “checked out” in the bubble, the Nuggets pulling out a win vs. the Jazz, and more (2:18). Then Bill Simmons talks with The Ringer’s Jonathan Tjarks about the Thunder-Rockets Round 1 playoff series, what the 76ers should be looking to do next, the Nuggets-Jazz series, 2021 NBA draft prospects, and more (38:35). Finally, Bill is joined by ‘SNL’ royalty and TV host Seth Meyers to talk about running a late-night show during the pandemic, his 13 seasons at ‘SNL,’ going back to host the show, NFL excitement, the passing of their friend and colleague Maura Mandt, and more (1:28:13).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss Luka Doncic and the Mavericks' win over the Clippers, tying the series at 2-2; the 76ers getting swept by the Celtics in another disappointing playoff exit; the Jazz working toward upsetting the Nuggets with another win; Round 2 speculations; teams that should be looking to trade in the offseason; Quarantine Corner; and more.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Raja Bell, Ryen Russillo, and Kevin O’Connor discuss Tuesday first few days of NBA playoff basketball, and some of the top draft prospects, before reacting to the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery (4:35). Then talks with The Ringer’s Nora Princiotti about the approaching 2021 NFL season, how empty NFL stadiums could affect on field play, the “battle” for the Patriots starting QB position, the live music void in the pandemic, music documentaries and more (1:34:15).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House fresh off of the Lakers' Round 1 loss to the Trail Blazers. They also discuss Bucks-Magic, Celtics-76ers, Heat-Pacers, Rockets-Thunder, Game 2 gambling odds, and more (1:55). Then Bill is joined by WWE legend turned executive, "The King of Kings" Triple H to discuss how the WWE adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic so quickly, the impact fans have on pro wrestling, unveiling 'WWE ThunderDome,' working closely with Vince McMahon, searching for the next WWE superstars, and more (52:54).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the NBA’s delightful play-in game format for the bottom NBA playoff seeds (2:30). Then Bill shares his list of the 25 most intriguing people in the 2020 NBA playoffs (21:03).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Raja Bell to discuss the ferocity of Damian Lillard’s game, stories from playing with Allen Iverson and Steve Nash, what a Lakers–Trail Blazers Round 1 playoff series would look like, searching for consistency from Joel Embiid, and much more (3:43). Then Bill talks with his buddy JackO about the MLB, Giancarlo Stanton’s recent hamstring injury, Jose Altuve’s hitting slump, the St. Louis Cardinals’ troubles with positive COVID-19 tests, and more. They also discuss Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate for the 2020 presidential election (1:06:07).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss an unprecedented NFL season, the NFL draft, college coaches potentially signing on as consultants, the possibility of regular-season games during the week, a fundamental change to “home-field advantage,” and more (3:05). Then Bill is joined by actor and cannabis farmer Jim Belushi to discuss his new show on Discovery Channel, ‘Growing Belushi,’ as well as Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit that works to secure the release of nonviolent offenders currently serving time for possession of cannabis. They also discuss tortured Chicago sports fandom in the 1970s; Jim’s career as an actor on projects like 'SNL,' ‘About Last Night,’ and ‘According to Jim’; Jim's brother, John Belushi; ‘The Blues Brothers'; and forming friendships with John Candy, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, and more (38:40). Finally Bill talks with his dad about the state of Boston sports; the Patriots' new QB, Cam Newton; a subpar start to the Red Sox season; and a hopeful outlook for the Celtics as they head into the NBA playoffs (1:24:08).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the increasingly grim outlook for college football in 2020 (2:20) and Collin Morikawa winning the PGA championship (18:10). They also discuss the excellent play of Luka Doncic, the red-hot Phoenix Suns, the unlucky 76ers, the Pelicans' breakdown, the Trail Blazers, Damian Lillard’s comments toward Paul George and Patrick Beverley, and more (35:32).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the surging Trail Blazers, who beat the Nuggets and Rockets in their last two games. They also discuss “wild-card guys,” including Michael Porter Jr., Fred VanVleet, Zach Collins, and Deandre Ayton; the disappointing Mavericks; the PGA Championship in San Francisco; and more (2:15). Finally Bill talks with comedian and actor Hannibal Buress about his new comedy special ‘Miami Nights,’ his decision to release it on YouTube, Bill's and Hannibal’s glory days of gambling, the NBA restart, and more (57:43).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons talks with Warriors head coach Steve Kerr about the NBA restart, the evolution of basketball, the Warriors' (much needed) break from the NBA playoffs, scouting for the NBA draft during the pandemic, the NBA’s focus on social justice, reminiscing on his time with the Chicago Bulls after watching ‘The Last Dance,’ and more (5:00). Then Bill is joined by Nathan Hubbard to discuss the PGA Tour and the upcoming PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco, as well as Taylor Swift's new album 'Folklore' and the USA's eventual return to stadiums and live events (1:14:37).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons reunites with Ryen Russillo to talk NBA bubble basketball! They share some of the notable differences between traditional NBA games and bubble games; discuss Rockets-Bucks, Celtics–Trail Blazers, Pacers-76ers, and Lakers-Raptors; and answer the question "Who is the third-best team in the West?" Plus: the wild-card 76ers, the most fun playoffs matchups, sleeper teams, and more!
The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on the NBA restart, including Lakers-Clippers, Pelicans-Jazz, the NBA broadcast, NBA awards, and more (4:40). Next he talks with NFL Network's Kyle Brandt about his new Ringer podcast '10 Questions With Kyle Brandt,' the seemingly precarious 2020 NFL season, Brandt's time on 'The Real World: Chicago,' the golden age of MTV's 'The Challenge,' the evolution of reality TV, his recent two-hour interview with Aaron Rodgers, nostalgic NFL talk, and more (35:05). Finally Bill talks with his daughter, Zoe Simmons, about teen culture during quarantine (1:41:06).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco of the ‘R2C2’ podcast to discuss MLB's shaky start to the season with multiple Miami Marlins players testing positive for COVID-19, how some of the concerns surrounding baseball can also be applied to the NFL, getting ready for the NBA restart, sports broadcasts during the pandemic, Ryan and CC’s dream podcast guests, and more (2:10). Then Bill talks with Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal about some of the challenges the NFL will face for the 2020 season, how New York City has adapted to COVID-19, pandemic parenting, and the passing of Jason’s friend and TV icon, Regis Philbin (53:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal and Joe House to preview the upcoming NBA season including NBA MVP, playoff seeding odds, underdogs to win the title, pandemic-specific prop bets, and championship favorites. Later, they get into the upcoming golf majors and break down their favorite players before closing the show with a new edition of Parent Corner.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by actor, comedian, and writer Andy Samberg to talk about his new movie ‘Palm Springs’ on Hulu, his time on ‘SNL,’ and the role YouTube played in The Lonely Island’s success. Later they talk about scary movies, Andy’s Bay Area sports allegiance, video games, and quarantine (3:02). Then Bill is joined by journalist James Andrew Miller to talk about the sixth chapter in his podcast ‘Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty,’ including behind-the-scenes stories, casting what-ifs, interviews with the cast, the movie's cultural impact, and more. Finally, they discuss the current state of sports media and what the future holds (62:13).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter to talk about the upcoming 2020 Celtics postseason, the Westbrook-Durant era in Oklahoma City, and his time on the Knicks and Trail Blazers (3:10) Later, Kanter opens up about fighting for freedom, democracy, and human rights in Turkey (49:55). Then Johnny Bananas joins the show fresh off establishing his legacy as 'The Challenge' GOAT after winning 'The Challenge: Madness.' They discuss this past season, conspiracy theories, the best season of all time, and ideas for the future of the show (1:08:40).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Yahoo senior NBA reporter Chris Haynes from inside the NBA bubble in Orlando to give us the scoop on how things are going. They discuss how the league has been administering the quarantine inside the bubble, why players decided it was in their best interest to play, Chris’s start in journalism, and covering the Cavaliers and Warriors during their rivalry (3:15). Then Bill talks with the director of the new HBO documentary ‘Showbiz Kids,’ Alex Winter, about his life as a child actor, the stigma associated with the profession, Hollywood in the ’80s, and what he learned from making the documentary (1:09:05).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Mina Kimes to discuss a new look for the Patriots with Cam Newton at the helm, some teams that probably should have tried to sign Newton, great NFL head coaches, uncertainty surrounding the 2020-21 NFL season, and more (2:54). Then Bill talks with his old friend JackO to discuss the MLB’s plans for a shortened 2020-21 season, the gripping reboot of ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ on Netflix, and more (39:54). Finally Bill talks with actor Peter Gallagher about ‘The OC’ and Sandy Cohen as an iconic TV dad, some of his past films including ‘The Player,’ ‘While You Were Sleeping,' and ‘Sex, Lies, and Videotape,’ as well as some of his current work including ‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,’ ‘Grace and Frankie,’ and his new film, ‘Palm Springs’ (1:28:04).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by NBA insider Shams Charania to discuss the NBA restart, its implications for the 2021 salary cap, journalism in the Orlando bubble, and more (4:17). Then Bill talks with former editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter, Matthew Belloni, about the short-form video platform Quibi, some of its missteps, and ways it could rally back (54:05).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time NBA champion and sports commentator Kenny "The Jet" Smith to discuss what makes 'Inside the NBA' so authentic, stories from the 1994 and 1995 Finals runs, Hakeem Olajuwon, ESPN's 'The Last Dance,' and more (3:10). Next, Bill talks with actor, producer, and writer Will Ferrell about quarantine family time; youth soccer; HBO's 'Succession'; LAFC; his new Netflix film, 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'; and more (48:05)!
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Patriots signing QB Cam Newton to a one-year deal (2:09) before revisiting a defining moment in 2010: LeBron James and ‘The Decision’ (50:56). Finally they look at the 2010 NBA draft and discuss some of its subplots, draft comedy, and NBA legends before redrafting the top 14 lottery picks (1:16:09).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by actor Don Cheadle to discuss some of his iconic films, including 'Boogie Nights,' 'Out of Sight,' 'Crash,' and 'Hotel Rwanda,' playing Sammy Davis Jr. in HBO's 'The Rat Pack,' Black actors and storytellers in Hollywood, working on TV and films during the pandemic, his Showtime series 'Black Monday,' and more (6:00). Then Bill talks with actor Rob Lowe about joining the podcast world with his new podcast, ‘Literally! With Rob Lowe,’ Hollywood in the 1980s, the Brat Pack, some of his films including 'The Outsiders,' 'St. Elmo's Fire,' 'About Last Night,' 'Tommy Boy,' and more. Rob also shares stories from his time following the Showtime Lakers (59:35).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk about their early years in podcasts and radio, respectively (3:10). Then they revisit the 2008 NBA draft and discuss some of its subplots, draft comedy, and NBA legends before redrafting the top 14 lottery picks (40:33).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by NBA veteran and New Orleans Pelican JJ Redick to discuss some of the challenges of staying NBA-ready during the pandemic, the benefits of regimented training and recovery, thoughts on the “Orlando bubble,” LeBron’s gravitas among NBA players, the playoffs format, and more (1:44). Then Bill talks with screenwriter and former entertainment journalist Cord Jefferson about the social significance of HBO’s ‘Watchmen’ and its "second impact," his time at Gawker, the grind of late-night TV, working with television titans like Damon Lindelof (‘Watchmen’) and Mike Schur (‘The Good Place’), elevating the superhero genre, and more (42:35).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his old friend JackO to discuss the grim outlook for the 2020 MLB season and the ESPN 30-for-30 'Long Gone Summer' (2:45). Then Bill is joined by Grammy-winning rapper, actor, and entrepreneur LL Cool J to discuss historical hip-hop, the Rock the Bells brand, Kobe Bryant, Lakers greats, the original GOAT, set stories from 'Any Given Sunday,' and more (44:13). Finally, in an excerpt from the 'Flying Coach' podcast, Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll talk with NBA champion and coach Doc Rivers about growing up in Chicago, dealing with racism, and sharing stories with the Clippers team during the Donald Sterling scandal (1:30:24).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks about the concerns some players are having about the return of the NBA, and some of the parallels to 1968 (1:55). Then Bill and Ryen Russillo revisit the 2007 NBA draft and discuss some of its subplots, draft comedy, and NBA legends before redrafting the top 14 lottery picks (18:52).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by sports analyst and former NBA player Jalen Rose to discuss More Than a Vote, a nonprofit organization championing voting rights created by LeBron James, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Jalen, and other current and former pro basketball players (2:10). Then Bill, Chris Ryan, and Joe House revisit the 2006 NBA draft and discuss some of its subplots, comedy, and legends before redrafting the top 14 lottery picks (33:55). Finally, Bill talks to writer-director Judd Apatow to discuss family life in quarantine; directing his daughter in his new film, ‘The King of Staten Island’; working with Pete Davidson and Steve Buscemi; early-2000s comedies; casting movies; and more (1:56:20).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by attorney, author, and political commentator Bakari Sellers to discuss the "perfect storm" that mobilized the current Black Lives Matter movement; people and organizations making statements, including Roger Goodell, LeBron James, and Patrick Mahomes; some history behind the civil rights movement; the political climate leading up to the 2020 presidential election; Bakari's book, 'My Vanishing Country'; and more (1:55). Then Bill talks with stand-up comedian, writer, and actor Bill Burr to discuss the pre–Super Bowl football era, the unwritten rule book in hockey known as "the code," taking a break from stand-up during the pandemic, his new movie 'The King of Staten Island,' working with Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson, and more (49:19).
'My Vanishing Country' by Bakari Sellers
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by World Series champion CC Sabathia to discuss his experience at the protests in Brooklyn, the moment he realized the nation was ignited by the killing of George Floyd, and the platforms today's athletes have and their ability to speak out against injustice. They also discuss CC's time with the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, including the 2007 ALCS, watching LeBron James play high school sports in Cleveland, the incomparable Mariano Rivera, the 2009 World Series, bench-clearing brawls, how athletes may be affected by moving the start date of their season, and more.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by civil rights activist and podcaster DeRay Mckesson to discuss a plan he and his team at Campaign Zero have been working on to systematically reform police departments to combat police brutality. They discuss how the use of recently obtained data, education, and smart solutions can help bring about these changes (3:45). Then, Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll are joined by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich to have a conversation about the state of our nation, how we got here as a country, our absence of leadership, and how we can take action to grow and bring about change following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer (46:17).
Here are links to resources that DeRay recommends podcast listeners explore:
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the recent protests, both nationwide and in L.A., after the death of George Floyd while in police custody (1:45). They then speculate on salvaging the 2019-20 NBA season (41:45) and revisit the 2005 NBA draft and discuss some of its subplots, draft comedy, and NBA legends before redrafting the top 14 lottery picks (1:04:05).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons answers a bunch of listener-submitted mailbag questions (2:10), before he is joined by author Michael Lewis to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of youth sports being cancelled, what a return to sports arenas may look like, the most interesting coaches, and more (33:55). Lastly, Bill talks with actor and director Jason Bateman about Season 3 of his Netflix series 'Ozark' as well as the HBO miniseries 'The Outsider,' his evolution as a director, reactions to 'The Last Dance,' the '30 for 30' documentary series, quarantine life, bringing back baseball movies and sitcoms, and more (1:39:20).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to discuss the proposed World Cup–like group stage format for the NBA playoffs, potentially eliminating conferences, how to maintain the integrity of the NBA regular season, exciting matchups, and more (2:15). Then Bill and Joe House revisit the 2004 NBA draft and discuss some of the subplots, draft comedy, and NBA legends from that draft class (40:25) before redrafting the top 14 lottery picks (55:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss The Match 2; encouraging rumors about the return of the NBA and possible playoff scenarios; ex-athlete commentator bias; Horace Grant's comments following ‘The Last Dance’; the spectrum of “forgivable athletes”; one of Bill’s favorite sports documentaries, ‘When We Were Kings’; and more!
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House and Jason Concepcion to run though Jason's list of the biggest lies told in the ESPN documentary series 'The Last Dance' (2:20). Then, Bill talks with NBA champions Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes about the inception of the 'All the Smoke' podcast, their thoughts on the NBA playoffs prior to the league shutdown, Matt's time at the Clippers during the Donald Sterling era, the complex chemistry of the "Lob City" Clippers, the "We Believe" Warriors, Tim Duncan vs. Kobe Bryant, the best teams they've ever played on, and much more (25:55)!
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by the Deadman himself, the Undertaker (a.k.a. Mark Calaway), to discuss the WWE’s documentary series ‘Undertaker: The Last Ride,’ as well as stories from more than 30 years of professional wrestling, his favorite 'WrestleMania,' his relationship with Vince McMahon, recovering from major injuries, learning from pro-wrestling legends, developing his character, the best crowds, and much more.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the final two episodes in the ESPN documentary series 'The Last Dance' (2:25) before Ryen and "Optimistic Bill" talk about the NBA potentially inching toward a return, as well as the murky future around the start of the MLB season (49:00). They share TV programming advice for content-starved networks (1:26:30) before revisiting Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz and Michael Jordan's sixth and final championship (1:38:40).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons reads an excerpt from 'The Book of Basketball' on what makes Michael Jordan the GOAT (3:00), before he is joined by Northwestern University's director of sports journalism, J.A. Adande, to discuss covering the Jordan-era Bulls, thoughts about the ESPN documentary 'The Last Dance,' Michael Jordan’s relationship with Kobe Bryant, and more (36:48). Then Bill talks with The Ringer’s Jason Concepcion about the season finale of ‘Survivor’ (1:11:05). Finally Bill talks with actor, comedian, and writer Nick Kroll about self-quarantining, Season 4 of his Netflix show, ‘Big Mouth,’ a ‘Big Mouth’ spinoff show called ‘Human Resources,’ the flexibility of making animated shows remotely, and much more (1:34:55).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares his thoughts about Adam Silver’s meeting with the board of governors which seems to garnered "positive feelings" (2:28), before he's joined by ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser to discuss Tony’s mortal enemy, modern technology, continuing 'Pardon the Interruption' during the pandemic, and all-time captivating athletes including Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Bobby Orr, Secretariat, and more (16:53). Then Bill talks with The Ringer’s Van Lathan about his rewatch of HBO’s ‘The Wire,' quarantine thoughts, COVID-19’s impact on Louisiana, ESPN’s ‘The Last Dance,’ and more (1:04:35).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk about Episodes 7 and 8 of the ESPN documentary series 'The Last Dance' (2:30) before discussing UFC 249 (41:40) and Adam Silver's call with NBA players regarding the possible return of an NBA season (1:04:40). Finally they revisit the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, where Michael Jordan would win his fifth NBA title (1:25:07).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons shares an essay he wrote about Michael Jordan’s retirement (4:25) before he is joined by author Chuck Klosterman to discuss the 40th season of ‘Survivor,’ generational gaps between athletes, nostalgic basketball behavior, and the 1992 dream team, as well as quarantine life, the historical weight of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more (24:45)
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to compare the different Chicago Bulls rosters of the 1990s, as well as some of the other all-time NBA teams (2:55), before revisiting Game 2 of the 1996 Eastern Conference finals, between the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic (46:40).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss episodes 5 and 6 of ESPN's docuseries 'The Last Dance' (2:40), getting restless in quarantine, all-time NBA teams, the "time-traveling athletes" argument, and more (40:55). Finally they revisit Game 6 of the 1995 Eastern Conference semifinals between the Chicago Bulls and the Orlando Magic (1:29:28).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Peter Schrager of NFL Network and Fox Sports to discuss the uncertainty around the start of the 2020 NFL season, the Patriots' QB situation, NFL draft highlights, and more (5:07), before talking with the Ringer's Kevin O'Connor about the NBA "hiatus," how the coronavirus pandemic may affect next season's salary cap, as well as the NBA draft, the 1986 Celtics vs. the 1996 Bulls, and much more (40:00). Finally Bill talks with his old friends Joe House and JackO about life in quarantine, the Pentagon's recently released UFO footage, HBO's 1990s documentary programming, early 2000s Red Sox–Yankees rivalry and more (1:15:10).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss Episodes 3 and 4 of ESPN’s documentary series ‘The Last Dance’ (2:53) before talking about the NFL draft (32:00), the logistics behind bringing back the NBA (1:03:25), and Game 4 of the 1993 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns (1:29:30).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to recap the first round of the NFL draft, including Tua Tagovailoa sliding to the fifth, the Packers drafting QB Jordan Love, the Cowboys adding another WR in CeeDee Lamb, Goodell embracing the boos, and much more (2:03). Then Bill talks with author Chuck Klosterman about Episodes 1 and 2 of the ESPN documentary series 'The Last Dance' (55:30).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the first two episodes of the ESPN documentary 'The Last Dance' (2:50) before getting into the upcoming NFL draft, top QB draft prospects, Bill's and Ryen’s all-time top-five NFL players, and more (37:50). Finally they revisit Game 4 of the 1993 Eastern Conference finals between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks (1:40:20).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Casey Wasserman to discuss safe and effective ways to bring back pro sports including golf, baseball, and basketball, and the Olympics (2:50). Then Bill talks with the host of 'The Bachelor' universe, Chris Harrison, about 'The Bachelor Presents: Listen to Your Heart,' how COVID-19 could affect The Bachelor universe, and more (31:15). Finally Bill talks with Mike Tollin, producer of the upcoming Michael Jordan documentary series, 'The Last Dance,' about making the series (1:13:55).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss bringing back sports and strategies for navigating the workplace. Then they sift through the worst NBA GM jobs. Finally, they revisit Game 3 of the 1991 Finals, Bulls vs. Lakers.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Peter Schrager of NFL Network and Fox Sports to discuss Brady on the Bucs, the Patriots without Brady, 2020 draft predictions, and more (3:20). Next he talks to film producer Jason Blum about "premium video on demand" and its possible effects on the film industry, as well as horror movies, producing films during quarantine, and more (47:05). Finally Bill is joined by his buddies JackO and Joe House to discuss quarantine pastimes, the 1986 Masters, the 2020 presidential election, and much more (1:20:55).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss when each sport could return and confront the possibility of no sports for the rest of the year (3:00). Then they list off the most bored things they’ve done during quarantine so far (28:45) before they revisit the shockingly disappointing 2000 NBA draft (65:28).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by sportscaster Joe Buck to discuss breaking into sportscasting, covering his first World Series at 27 years old, the differences between local and national broadcasting, the obstacles of a three-person booth, the search for the next great sportscaster, concerns surrounding the upcoming MLB season, his new podcast 'Daddy Issues With Joe Buck and Oliver Hudson,' and much more (3:20). Then Bill talks with screenwriter, director, and producer Alan Yang to discuss COVID-19's effect on writers' rooms, his new Netflix film 'Tigertail,' celebrity TV cameos, functioning without sports, and much more (1:03:00).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to revisit the 1996 NBA draft, discuss the mid-'90s NBA subplots and some of the legends of the '96 draft class (4:00) before redrafting the top-14 lottery picks (44:30). Finally, Bill and Ryen answer some mailbag questions, make quarantine entertainment recommendations, and more (1:50:38).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament to discuss a wide variety of topics, including Pearl Jam’s first concert, the Seattle SuperSonics, hanging with Dennis Rodman, the best music venues, tour stories, their new album ‘Gigaton,’ and MUCH more.
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by his pal Jimmy Kimmel to catch up and discuss self-quarantine life, the return of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire,’ Jimmy hosting the Kobe Bryant memorial, Kobe memories, restaurants being affected by the coronavirus, Parent Corner, and more (2:27). Then Bill talks with actor, writer, and comedian J.B. Smoove about writing on ‘SNL,’ his audition for ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ his comedic influences, being in New York for the inception of hip-hop, his favorite ‘Curb’ episode, doing roasts, his new comedy tour, and much more (52:37).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to ask a series of “what-if” questions given the uncertainty surrounding the 2019-20 season. They discuss old games being aired on TV, Tom Brady leaving the Patriots, book, TV, and movie recommendations, and Game 5 of the 1993 Western Conference finals between the SuperSonics and the Suns.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss an end of an era: Tom Brady confirmed he is leaving the New England Patriots. They also discuss a few NFL trades including Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills, DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals, David Johnson to the Texans, QB signings, Parent Corner and more (2:57). Then in honor of the GOAT's departure, Bill reads an article he wrote back in 2001 before the infamous Patriots-Raiders AFC divisional playoff game, describing the long and sad road to what would become the Patriots dynasty (54:45).
HBO and The Ringer's BIll Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss how COVID-19 rocked the World and everything in it including sports. They discuss the possibility of a lost NBA season, how the playoffs might work if the league resumes play, NBA players and owners covering arena workers wages, NBA Awards if the season ended right now, and ask "What will sports analysts talk about after a month of no sports?" They also give some TV, movie, and book recommendations, answer mailbag questions and more!
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by best-selling author and podcaster Malcolm Gladwell to discuss worst-case coronavirus scenarios, why America waited too long to react and didn’t listen to experts soon enough, what people can do to keep this from becoming even worse, and how long our favorite distractions (sports, movies, etc.) might be on hold until life starts to feel safe again.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the possibility of pro sports in empty arenas, the NBA's new media policy, how COVID-19 will affect March Madness, youth sports, The Masters, and more (2:38). Then Bill talks with renowned chef David Chang about Season 2 of his Netflix series, 'Ugly Delicious,' the rise of food delivery and its effect on sit-down restaurants, food trends, Chang's new book, 'Eat a Peach: A Memoir,' grappling with success and failure, the importance of work ethic, and much more (36:39).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Lakers' first win over the Clippers this season, the revitalized MVP race, the Brooklyn Nets' firing of head coach Kenny Atkinson, the Rockets' slump, some new segments, Gym Corner, and much more!
The Sports Repodders returns as HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis and WSJ’s Jason Gay to discuss rumors of Al Michaels to ESPN, TV rights deals, Tony Romo’s big CBS contract, the next great sports broadcaster, the newfound legitimacy of ‘First Take,’ ESPN’s decision to cancel ‘High Noon,’ Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on sports, the 2020 election, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss the potential NFL QB upheaval for the 2020 season (2:04). Then Bill talks with author and podcast host Stephen Dubner about cowriting 'Freakonomics,' the evolution of sportswriting, the future of the NFL, getting ready for legal sports gambling, the science of napping, athletes after sports, vaping, the coronavirus, and much more (30:54).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the surging Rockets, Lakers-Pelicans, playoff matchups if the season ended today, the Clippers’ plans for the future, continued Bucks success, mailbag questions, Gym Corner, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Zach Lowe to discuss the biggest stories in the NBA, including the battle for Los Angeles and the Warriors-Timberwolves trade (3:50). Then they go over the top 25 NBA players (right now) they'd want to finish out the season with in hopes of winning an NBA title (20:08).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by actor Jason Segel to discuss California prep school basketball, starting out in acting, ‘Freaks and Geeks,’ ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall,’ I Love You, Man,’ ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ learning from Judd Apatow, early-2000s comedies, movie set stories, and more (3:24). Then Bill sits down with his old friend Adam Carolla to talk about the early days of podcasting, the Deontay Wilder–Tyson Fury boxing match, fatherhood, cars, fake movies, and much more (55:16).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk Lakers-Celtics, Jayson Tatum’s impressive stretch, Clippers vs. Lakers, the Rockets experiment, whether the Spurs are still a “smart” team, Wilder-Fury, and more!
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan to revisit the 2015 Oscar movies, including ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel,’ ‘Birdman,’ ‘Dear White People,’ ‘Gone Girl,’ ‘Boyhood,’ and many more (2:28). Then Bill is joined by ESPN’s Rachel Nichols to discuss crafting a sports show, the pro basketball Hall of Fame, interviewing NBA players, current NBA stars, NBA draft mistakes, journalism in 2020, Roger Goodell, and more (32:3).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the joys of NBA All-Star Weekend, the new All-Star Game format, why it worked, the dunk contest, things to watch for after All-Star Weekend, NBA scuttlebutt, and more!
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by business and tech analyst Ben Thompson to discuss monetizing digital media, streaming TV, subscription overload, podcasts, broadcast rights, NBA, and more (2:25). Then Bill and JackO have a long-overdue conversation about the Astros cheating scandal, Mookie Betts to Los Angeles, the Democratic primary elections, and more (1:21:36).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to look at the top of the NBA standings. They discuss the Raptors' impressive title defense, the improving Celtics, the Pacers adjusting to Victor Oladipo's return, the 76ers' struggles, the surging Bucks, the Rockets' new plan, and more (1:55). Then Bill talks with Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters to discuss his inspirations, timeless music, the concept of a band, touring in vans, kids' relationship with music today, and much more (48:14).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Disney CEO Robert Iger to discuss his book The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned From 15 Years As CEO of the Walt Disney Company, his career, lessons in leadership, the rise of streaming, launching Disney+, growing ESPN, unforgettable NBA games, the start of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!,' and more.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo 30 minutes before the NBA trade deadline to discuss the trades that have already happened as well as the one coming through at the eleventh hour. They point out desperate trades, teams who didn’t do enough, and more (2:08). They finish up by discussing the Red Sox's trade of Mookie Betts to the Dodgers (1:53:10).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by longtime friend and Knicks fan Brian Koppelman to discuss the state of the Knicks, Steve Mills’s departure, the possibility of Masai Ujiri taking over, and more (2:27). Then Bill sits down with Wesley Morris of The New York Times to make Oscar picks and discuss 2019 movies (32:05). Finally, Bill talks with actress Claire Danes about acting as a child, some of her past work including ‘My So Called Life,’ ‘Romeo + Juliet,’ and ‘Little Women.’ They also discuss the final season of ‘Homeland,’ premiering February 9 (1:04:12).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Super Bowl LIV, and whether the 49ers gave the game away or the Chiefs took it, or both. They talk bad bets, the halftime show, a ranking of the recent Super Bowls, Parent Corner, XFL, and more.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by NFL Network’s Peter Schrager to discuss the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and the 49ers; they talk about Jimmy “nobody believes in me” Garoppolo, possible Super Bowl MVPs, Kelce vs. Kittle, Super Bowl story lines, and more (2:33). Then Bill talks with Cousin Sal, who is on the ground in Miami, about some fun Super Bowl prop bets (36:10). Finally Bill calls up Joe House to briefly discuss Luka vs. Zion and share some memories of Kobe Bryant (57:30) before making some Million Dollar NFL Picks (1:22:29).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by J.A. Adande to discuss what Kobe Bryant meant to Los Angeles, sports fans, and a whole generation of basketball players. They also discuss some of their favorite Kobe moments, news coverage of the tragedy, and more (2:05). Then Bill is joined by Zane Lowe, Nathan Hubbard, and Joe House to discuss the future of music, the return of vinyl, today's most popular artists, album structure, and more (58:05).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan remember the life of Kobe Bryant.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo and Joe House to make their NBA All-Star picks. They also discuss the possibility of the 76ers moving on from Joel Embiid, the NBA’s ratings decline, All-Star honorable mentions, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal and Massage-Chair Joe House to discuss the Chiefs taking care of business at home vs. the Titans and the 49ers' win over the Packers, before guessing the NFL lines for Super Bowl LIV, predicting annoying Super Bowl story lines, talking Parent Corner, discussing the return of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm', and more.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by NFL Network’s Peter Schrager to preview the upcoming NFL conference championship games (2:13), before calling up Joe House to make some Million Dollar Picks, including some fun prop bets (35:24). Then Bill talks with Mallory Rubin about the ever-developing Astros cheating scandal and how the rest of MLB is affected, including the Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, and others (1:00:09). Finally, Bill calls up his dad to quickly discuss Red Sox manager Alex Cora's departure from the team (1:35:15).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to recap the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, including the Chiefs putting up 51 points on the Texans in a comeback win, the Titans stunning the Ravens, Seahawks-Packers, and 49ers-Vikings. They also Guess the Lines for the conference championship games, discuss the best and worst Super Bowl matchups, and talk future bets and subplots.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Mina Kimes and Mallory Rubin to speculate on Tom Brady’s next move, talk divisional round of the NFL playoffs, discuss ‘The Bachelor,’ and more (2:10). Then Bill calls up Joe House to make some Million Dollar NFL Picks as Bill continues his quest to go 8-0 with playoff bets (1:31:28).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the Philadelphia 76ers and some of their what-ifs from the past few years, including Markelle Fultz, signing Al Horford, trading draft picks, and more. (2:45). Then Bill talks with The New York Times' Wesley Morris about the best movies of 2019, defending Gwyneth Paltrow, and more (31:35).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to recap NFL wild-card weekend, including another painful Saints postseason exit vs. the Vikings, Seahawks-Eagles, Bills-Texans, Patriots-Titans, questions surrounding the 2020 New England Patriots, and more (3:05). Then they Guess the Lines for the divisional round (1:08:20).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to remember the late David Stern (3:00). Then Ryen sticks around to call up ESPN senior writer Seth Wickersham to discuss the upcoming Patriots-Titans playoff game and the implications to the end of the Brady era in New England (33:45). Then Bill and Ryen talk with Fox Sports and NFL Network’s Peter Schrager to preview Round 1 of the NFL playoffs (1:01:15). Finally Bill and Russillo call up Joe House to make some NFL Million Dollar Picks (1:33:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons presents every parent corner with Cousin Sal from the 2019 NFL season.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss a 49ers-Seahawks nail-biter, the Dolphins taking down the Patriots, Cowboys-Giants, Jameis Winston’s 30 for 30, favorite Cleveland Browns coach of the decade, and Super Bowl odds (1:54), before guessing the lines for Round 1 of the NFL playoffs (52:25). Finally, Bill is joined by his daughter, Zoe Simmons, to briefly discuss the standout teen culture moments of 2019 (1:22:20).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hits on the NBA Christmas games (3:55), before making Million Dollar NFL Picks for Week 17 (21:38). Finally Bill and Rembert Browne bring back an old Grantland tradition with a “Who Won the Year?” bracket featuring Keanu Reeves, Tiger Woods, Kawhi Leonard, J.Lo, and many more (33:50).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss another action-packed Jameis Winston performance, Giants-Redskins, Titans-Saints, Patriots-Bills, and more before they guess the NFL lines for Week 17 and try to sift through all the playoff implications (2:05). Then Bill talks with J.A. Adande about Eddie Murphy’s long awaited return to ‘SNL’ (1:00:10).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mallory Rubin for Mallory's Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top three story lines of the week, including Christian McCaffrey's chance to break a big record, teams facing playoff elimination, Saturday's impressive NFL slate, and more (3:00). Then Bill talks with Joe House, fresh out of a holiday gathering, to discuss the Presidents Cup and make some Million Dollar Picks (41:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Adam Sandler and Kevin Garnett to discuss their new film, 'Uncut Gems'; sneaky athletic actors; dynamic movie sets; stories from the NBA; 'SNL'; and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Atlanta's wild win over the 49ers, playoff quarterbacks on the road, Cowboys-Rams, the Browns, fantasy football torture, and Bronny James, (2:30), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 16 (50:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined ESPN's Brian Windhorst to discuss the 76ers, Celtics, Lakers, Clippers, and more (2:25). Then Bill is joined by Mallory Rubin for Million-Dollar Picks and Mallory's Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top three story lines of the week, including Heisman weekend, NFL coaches on the hot seat, and more (44:00). Finally, Bill calls up his buddy JackO to discuss the Yankees' signing pitcher Gerrit Cole (1:34:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by author and longtime 'BS Podcast' guest Chuck Klosterman to discuss sports villains, the most recent Patriots "scandal," different sports eras, tweaking the CFP, Hillary Clinton's interview with Howard Stern, media subscriptions, and the new Netflix film 'Marriage Story' [SPOILERS].
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the 49ers-Saints shoot-out, Seahawks-Rams, Buccaneers-Colts, Ravens-Bills, Patriots-Chiefs, playoff contenders, and how Bill’s fantasy season hinges on Eli Manning vs. the Eagles (1:35), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 15 (50:43).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark and Kevin O’Connor to discuss Tom Curran’s article about the end of the Tom Brady era (1:55). Then Bill and Kevin O’Connor discuss getting Trae Young some help on the Hawks, and the 2019 NBA draft class, before hashing out Bill’s NBA midseason tournament idea (32:49). Then Kevin Clark returns for some Million Dollar Picks, including the anticipated rematch between Andy Ruiz Jr. and Anthony Joshua (1:05:27). Finally, Bill sits down with Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top four story lines of the week, including the fourth spot in the College Football Playoff, AFC and NFC playoff implications, and more (1:29:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his idea for an NBA midseason tournament that could shorten the NBA regular season (3:05), before he is joined by Jason Concepcion to discuss the Knicks and Kyrie Irving getting booed in Boston (20:00). Then Bill sits down with actor Tim Robbins to discuss some of his films including 'Bull Durham,' 'The Player,' 'Mystic River,' and 'The Shawshank Redemption,' as well as his new film, 'Dark Waters.' They also talk about political activism, legendary New York sports moments, and more (1:02:20).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Patriots’ loss to the Texans, the Ravens toppling the 49ers, Colts-Titans, Eagles-Dolphins, Steelers-Browns, NFC East playoff predictions, Chargers-Broncos, cross-off teams, and more (2:10), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 14 (48:05). Finally, Bill and Sal discuss Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’ (1:19:54).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the 10 best NBA players today (2:40), a Thanksgiving preview, and Million Dollar Picks (56:53). Then Bill sits down with actor Sterling K. Brown to discuss some of his past work including ‘Army Wives,’ ‘The People v. O.J. Simpson,’ as well as ‘This Is Us,’ NBA, NFL, and more (1:32:07). Finally they discuss Sterling’s new film, 'Waves' [SPOILERS] (2:16:40).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Patriots-Cowboys, 49ers-Packers, Eagles-Seahawks, Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers, the annual Lions Thanksgiving game, the Titans on a roll, and more (3:08), before they guess the NFL lines for Week 13 (53:20).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons talks about Celtics-Clippers (2:27) before sitting down with Mallory Rubin to talk NFL QBs, including Philip Rivers, Mitchell Trubisky, Patrick Mahomes, and Tom Brady (20:42), before Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top five story lines of the week, including this weekend’s NFC playoff implications, Chase Young’s return to Ohio State football, Astros SpyGate, and more (34:45). Then Bill and Mallory run through some Million Dollar Picks (1:02:35). Finally, Bill is joined by Amanda Dobbins to discuss the Apple+ flagship show, ‘The Morning Show’ (1:18:52).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Marc Stein of 'The New York Times' to discuss Luka Doncic, The Raptors’ title defense, Ja Morant, James Harden, Lakers, Clippers, Celtics, and more (3:08). Then Bill sits down with actor Chadwick Boseman to talk about sports movies, making biopics, '42,' 'Draft Day,' 'Black Panther,' his new movie '21 Bridges,' NFL, NBA, and more (1:06:08).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Bears-Rams snoozefest, the 11 cross-off teams, Vikings-Broncos, Patriots-Eagles, Ravens-Texans, murky AFC playoff implications, and more (1:45). Then Bill and Sal are joined by Charitybuzz auction winner, Mark Harris to guess the NFL lines for week 12 (34:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Matthew Berry for a fantasy football check-in after 10 weeks in the NFL season (1:50). Then Bill talks with Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top five story lines of the week, including 'The Mandalorian,' Lamar Jackson vs. Deshaun Watson, Colin Kaepernick's upcoming NFL workout, and more (55:20), followed by a brief Million Dollar Pick (1:51:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O’Connor to talk NBA awards after 10 games including MVP, ROTY, COTY, Most Improved, Most Hopeless Team, and more (1:50). Then Bill sits down with Matt Damon to talk 'Ocean’s,' 'Rounders,' NBA, NFL, MLB, his new film 'Ford v Ferrari,' feuding with Jimmy Kimmel, and more (53:25).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Vikings-Cowboys nail-biter, the L.A. Rams’ meltdown, Packers-Panthers, Saints-Falcons, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens shellacking the Bengals, Bills-Browns, Cardinals-Bucs, a playoff check-in, and more (2:15), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 11 (41:15). Then, Parent Corner, DAZN’s Logan Paul vs. KSI boxing match, and more (1:11:08).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to have the NBA MVP conversation and discuss Dwight Howard's solid play for the Lakers, worst teams in the league, and more (2:45) before giving out NFL Million Dollar Picks (38:10). Then Mallory Rubin joins the group for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top five story lines of the week, including the upcoming LSU-Alabama game, Chargers relocation rumors, Seahawks-49ers, and more (57:20)!
The Book of Basketball 2.0 podcast is live! Here’s an excerpt from the second episode with Steve Kerr about two times “The Secret” was threatened during his time with Chicago and Golden State.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Lamar Jackson and the Ravens handing the Patriots their first loss of the season, the Browns being unable to get out of their own way against the Broncos, and Raiders-Lions, Eagles-Bears, Texans-Jaguars, and more (4:40), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 10 (47:05).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss some NBA thoughts on the Warriors, Nets, Kings, Suns, Rockets, the 76ers-Timberwolves melee, and more (5:35), before giving out some NFL Million Dollar Picks and discussing the Washington Nationals’ World Series win (31:05). Then, Bill sits down with Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top five story lines of the week, including potential Josh Gordon landing spots, Vikings-Chiefs, the Patriots’ toughest opponent so far this season in the Ravens, and more (1:01:25).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by SI and DAZN's Chris Mannix to discuss the start of the NBA season, including the Warriors' drop-off, Trae Young, Luka Doncic, Pascal Siakam, searching for depth in the Eastern Conference, Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn, and more (2:15) before discussing the upcoming Canelo-Kovalev match for the WBO light heavyweight championship (52:15). Then Bill sits down with former Facebook executive and head of Instagram Adam Mosseri to discuss some of Facebook's criticism, how social media platforms are addressing bad actors, the upcoming 2020 election, innovating Instagram, athletes on social media, and more (1:03:22).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Colts sneaking out another win, this time against the Broncos; plus Bills-Eagles, Patriots-Browns, the return of Drew Brees, the undefeated 49ers, a pitiful Chargers-Bears matchup, playoff implications, challenges, and more (2:15). Then they guess the NFL lines for Week 9 (36:44).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss Nationals-Astros (2:50), NBA observations (23:45), and NFL million dollar picks (42:20). Then Bill sits down with David Chang to discuss his new show, “Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner,” archaic food criticism, sad Washington football fans, and Chang’s first Parent Corner (1:01:55).
HBO and The Ringer's BIll Simmons reacts to Lakers-Clippers (2:24), before sitting down with actor and director Edward Norton to discuss 'Rounders', directing a film while acting, spending smarter in film production, '25th Hour', 'American History X', his new film 'Motherless Brooklyn' premiering November 1st, and more (28:50).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk Cowboys-Eagles, Lamar Jackson running all over the Seahawks, another Trubisky meltdown, Colts-Texans, and more (2:16), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 8 (44:52). Finally, Bill calls up JackO to discuss a decade of the Yankees missing the World Series (1:27:28).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo and Joe House for the annual NBA over/unders podcast. They make their picks for win totals in the Western Conference for the 2019-20 season.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons briefly talks about LeBron‘s reaction to Daryl Morey’s comment about Hong Kong (3:10). Then Bill is joined by Kevin O’Connor to discuss some title contenders for the 2019-20 NBA season (9:55). Finally Bill sits down with Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top five story lines of the week including wrongfully doubting the Raiders and Russell Wilson displaying MVP behavior (47:15). They wrap up by discussing the season 2 finale of HBO's 'Succession' (1:26:35).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Jets' first win of the season (over the Cowboys), the 49ers coasting over the Rams to 5-0, Steelers-Chargers, Texans-Chiefs, Seahawks-Browns, and more (2:05). Then they guess the NFL lines for Week 7 (42:03). Finally, Bill talks with Kyle about the Season 2 Finale of HBO's 'Succession' (1:16:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her top five story lines of the week including another Clayton Kershaw postseason meltdown, the last two undefeated NFL QBs (Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo), the upcoming Patrick Mahomes–Deshaun Watson matchup, and more (2:36). Then Bill gives out some Million Dollar Picks (45:13), before talking with Shea Serrano about his new book 'Movies (and Other Things)' and what sports movie events they would most want tickets to (51:47). Finally, Bill sits down with actor, comedian, and 'Big Mouth' cocreator Nick Kroll to talk awkward puberty stories, the show's appeal to teenagers, and more before Bill's son joins the pod to share his thoughts on the show (1:18:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by the Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay to discuss the fallout from Daryl Morey's Hong Kong tweet, the upcoming exhibition games in China, whether or not the NBA has leverage, where ESPN fits into all this, and more (2:36). Finally, Bill talks with David Shoemaker of 'The Masked Man Show' to discuss Fox's 'Friday Night Smackdown' and this year's stacked wrestling calendar before asking, "Do we have too much wrestling?" (1:06:10).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss their gambling losses on the Bears, Chiefs, and Cowboys; how seriously to take the Raiders; Christian McCaffrey's jump to the front of the MVP race; NFC contenders; and more (2:50). Then they guess the NFL lines for Week 6 (47:15).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Matthew Berry to talk fantasy football (2:09). Then he sits down with Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her five most intriguing story lines of the week, including the return of Melvin Gordon and Golden Tate to their respective teams (39:43). Finally, Bill calls up Joe House to give out some Million-Dollar Picks (1:17:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by author and longtime 'BS Podcast' guest Chuck Klosterman to discuss competitive media, 'Joker' criticism, morality in art, TV shows, Metallica, impeaching Trump, the 2020 presidential election, and more.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to recap Sunday’s matchups including Patriots-Bills, Saints-Cowboys, Browns-Ravens, the Rams-Buccaneers shootout, and the down-to-the-wire Chiefs-Lions matchup (2:05), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 5 (39:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers to discuss the evolution of rock music (2:30) and the Lakers' hopes for the 2019-20 season (19:35). Then Bill calls Joe House to discuss Bill's 50th birthday and give out some Million Dollar Picks (51:00). Finally, Bill sits down with Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her five most intriguing story lines of the week, including Pete Alonso's quest for the rookie home run record, the Jalen Ramsey trade saga, and more (1:33:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by NFL Network's Kyle Brandt to discuss some NFL week 4 story lines, including a meaningful Patriots-Bills matchup, Mitchell Trubisky coming off a win, Daniel Jones, and more (4:00). Then Bill talks with Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall about the 25th anniversary of an all-time year for TV: 1994 (47:40). Finally, Bill sits down with Academy Award–winning actor Billy Bob Thornton to discuss some of his films, including 'Sling Blade,' 'Monster's Ball,' 'Friday Night Lights,' 'Bad Santa,' 'Blood in Blood Out,' and more. They also talk directing, hosting 'SNL,' Amazon's 'Goliath,' MLB, and more (1:23:50).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to recap Sunday’s matchups including Daniel Jones’s debut in Buccaneers-Giants, Chiefs-Ravens, a painful Rams-Browns game, Colts-Falcons, and more (2:50), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 4 (49:35).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her five most intriguing story lines of the week, including Lamar Jackson vs. Patrick Mahomes and backup QBs starting in Week 3 (2:30). Then Bill and Joe House make some Million Dollar Picks (47:15). Finally, Bill sits down with 2020 presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke to discuss the democratic debates, running against Ted Cruz for US senate in 2018, and more (1:26:05).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by author/journalist Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his new book 'Talking With Strangers,' as well as recent controversies, the audiobook revolution, classic conspiracies, NBA tampering, and more.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal and special guest Joe House to discuss another Rams-Saints debacle, Eagles-Falcons, another Dolphins shutout, Jimmy G’s big day, Broncos-Bears, House’s six-team parlay, and more (2:34), before guessing the NFL lines for Week 3 (38:44).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mallory Rubin for Mallory’s Most Intriguing, in which she shares her five most intriguing story lines of the week in football, including: Chip Kelly's uncertain future at UCLA, a rough start to the Jets' season, backup Jaguars QB Gardner Minshew II, and more (2:15). Then Bill connects with Joe House for Million-Dollar Picks (52:27). Finally Bill, House, and Mallory discuss another wild episode of HBO's 'Succession' (1:29:12).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his buddy JackO who gives his thoughts on the Red Sox firing their GM David Dombrowski, the surging Yankees, the Democratic presidential candidates, and more (4:10). Then Bill sits down with Academy Award-winning actor Sean Penn to discuss his long career, his new novel 'Bob Honey Sings Jimmy Crack Corn,' what he'd learned from Clint Eastwood, Jack Nicholson, and David Fincher, and more (33:08).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Antonio Brown signing, and the Patriots steamrolling the Steelers without him; A tough-fought battle between the Colts and the Chargers, Lamar Jackson's electric performance, Kyler Murray's NFL debut, Chiefs-Jaguars, and more, before guessing the NFL lines for Week 2.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up his dad to discuss Antonio Brown signing a one-year deal with the New England Patriots.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons recaps the 2019 NFL season opener, Packers at Bears (2:55), before making million-dollar picks with Joe House (17:48). Finally, Bill is joined by Mallory Rubin for "Mallory’s Most Intriguing," in which she shares her five most intriguing story lines of the week in football (1:05:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by NBA legend Steve Nash to talk player empowerment and how the public reception has changed around players who leave their teams for new horizons (2:55). Then Bill sits down with 'Billions' cocreators Brian Koppelman and David Levien to discuss athlete cameos, turning 50, hanging with billionaires, writing the show, and more (37:25). Finally, Bill talks with Chris Ryan about Team USA, their narrow victory over Turkey, why young players may feel inclined to sit out of FIBA, Olympics predictions, and more (1:09:15)!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal continue the age-old tradition of guessing the NFL lines before each weekend's slate of games; Get ready for Week 1!
In Part 1 of their two-part podcast, Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal gear up for the 2019 NFL regular season by running through each team in the AFC and talking odds, sleepers, parlays, Parent Corner, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks the Fantasy Football Hall of Fame (1:44) before being joined by NFL Network's Kyle Brandt to discuss the ripple effects of Andrew Luck's retirement, athletes' "second acts," as well as some 2019 NFL season predictions (8:44). Then Bill sits down with actress and Emmy record-holder Julia Louis-Dreyfus to discuss being a sports parent, 'SNL' in the 1980s, 'Seinfeld,' 'Veep,' working with James Gandolfini, 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' the 'Curb'-'Seinfeld' reunion, Larry David, future projects, parenting advice, and more (33:10)!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares some thoughts on Andrew Luck's surprise retirement (2:30) before sitting down with actor and comedian David Spade to talk '90s 'SNL,' talk shows, 'Grown Ups,' 'The Benchwarmers,' 'Tommy Boy,' David's new show on Comedy Central, his friendship with Norm McDonald, and more (31:28). Finally, Bill calls up Nathan Hubbard who shares his thoughts on Taylor Swift's new album 'Lover,' her career, and her future (1:49:34).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Mina Kimes to discuss Super Bowl LIII, the 2019 NFL season, Baker Mayfield, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Jimmy G, Tom Brady, joining the booth for Rams preseason games, next-gen analytics, and more!
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith to discuss NBA superteams, the 2019-20 NBA season, Kevin Durant’s search for ... something, saving the Knicks, players vs. the media, and more (2:15). Then Bill sits down with the NYT’s Wesley Morris to discuss 2019 TV, including 'Euphoria,' 'Fleabag,' 'Succession,' 'Billions,' 'PEN15,' and more (56:29).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Wildes to throw out some half-baked ideas (2:45). Then, from their live show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Bill, Mallory Rubin, Joe House, and Ryen Russillo discuss summer foods (1:07:17).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Matthew Berry to preview the 2019 fantasy football season. They talk high-stakes leagues, snake drafts, auctions, draft-day mania, first-round picks, RBs, QBs, WRs, TEs, and more (1:30). Then, they discuss the '90210' reboot (1:17:15).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst to discuss his time with Team USA and some of the players who shined, including Jayson Tatum, De’Aaron Fox, and Donovan Mitchell. They talk playoff hopes for the Utah Jazz, the Lakers–Clippers feud, LeBron’s next NBA season, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Wesley Morris of The New York Times to discuss Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,’ including Brad Pitt’s star power, Leo and Pitt as a duo, Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate, the ending, Tarantino’s re-creation of late '60s Hollywood, his legacy as a filmmaker, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian Sarah Silverman to discuss working on 'Saturday Night Live,' internet outrage, stand-up comedy, acting, pickup basketball games, summer TV, legal weed, the Roast of Hugh Hefner, and more!
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss Tom Brady’s contract, Ezekiel Elliott’s threats to hold out for money, NBA vs. NFL contracts, GM David Griffin’s comments on LeBron James, Gym Corner, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by tech journalist Kara Swisher to discuss early internet, Facebook's influence, policing social media, the internet through the ages, flying cars, future technology, interviewing tech magnates, hosting effective panels, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by author and longtime 'BS Podcast' guest Chuck Klosterman to discuss book tours in the selfie era, ESPN's political policies, LeBron making news at his son's AAU game, Charles Manson, extraterrestrials, the ideal presidential candidate, TV, film, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by JackO to discuss the MLB trade deadline, Yankees–Red Sox, A-Rod's announcing, the 2020 election, and more (4:04). Then Bill sits down with owner of Fanatics and 76ers part-owner Michael Rubin to talk about sports team ownership, player empowerment, the 2019-20 76ers, sports apparel trends, counterfeit merchandise, streamlining production, and more (56:45).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons opens the NBA summer mailbag to cover who will be next year’s Pascal Siakam, Paul George–to-L.A. conspiracy theories, the underrated Warriors, and more (2:55). Then Bill sits down with actor Kevin Costner to discuss his early years in Hollywood, his career as a director, making ‘Dances With Wolves,’ ‘Bull Durham’ stories, playing sports in movies, and more (44:45).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons unveils his plan to save the NBA calendar, appreciates the excellence of Brooks Koepka, and talks about the recent Dan Le Batard situation at ESPN (2:24). Then Bill sits down with actor Kevin Bacon to talk about his long career in Hollywood (38:29).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O’Connor to discuss Chris Paul’s future in Oklahoma City, NBA summer league takeaways, Kawhi’s two-year deal, and more (1:55). Then Bill sits down with Chris Ryan and Amanda Dobbins to discuss Netflix’s regression, the looming streaming war, summer TV, and more (58:25).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN’s Zach Lowe to discuss Russell Westbrook's trade to the Rockets, Chris Paul's future on the Thunder, NBA pre-agency, the top 10 NBA players, specialization vs. generalization, 2019-20 MVP speculation, a Western Conference preview, consequences of trading future draft picks, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons reacts to Russell Westbrook being traded for CP3 and picks (2:22). Then, Bill is joined by Cousin Sal to talk NBA future bets, Wimbledon, Parent Corner, and more (23:24). Finally, Bill sits down with actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani to discuss stand-up comedy, 'Wrestlemania,' getting older, horror movies, deep fakes, 'Silicon Valley,' 'The Big Sick,' his new film 'Stuber' with Dave Bautista, Netflix, and more (1:06:27).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to talk about Russell Westbrook trade rumors, his current value, best fits, and more (4:50). Then Bill and House connect with Shea Serrano to discuss the mastermind Kawhi Leonard, how his decision affected other teams, the the 2019-20 Western Conference, 'Hobbs & Shaw,' heist movies, and more (47:50). Finally Bill and House discuss their recent trip to Vegas for NBA summer league, casino gripes, Death Valley, and [SPOILERS] HBO's most shocking show to date: 'Euphoria' (1:24:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by SI's Chris Mannix to discuss Kawhi Leonard and Paul George to the LA Clippers, OKC's massive trade haul, a new favorite in the Western Conference, what’s next for Russell Westbrook, the Lakers’ roster additions, and more (5:44). Then Bill talks with the NYT's Marc Stein about Lakers vs. Clippers, the "swipe-right" generation of basketball players, and more (1:14:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss Kawhi Leonard's options, best fits, and undetectable motivations. They talk D'Angelo Russell's addition to the Warriors , the Brooklyn free-agency sweep, the Knicks' misfortunes, the 76ers' exciting starting five, the Celtics adding Enes Kanter, Jimmy Butler to the Heat, Hassan Whiteside to the Trailblazers, mailbag questions, Gym Corner, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to recap a wild Day 1 of NBA free agency, including the Brooklyn Nets acquiring Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan and swapping D'Angelo Russell for Kevin Durant, another miss for the Knicks, Al Horford to the 76ers, the Orlando Magic's new roster, Malcolm Brogdon to the Pacers, JJ Redick on the Pelicans, Jimmy Butler to Miami(?), the improved Utah Jazz, Kawhi Leonard's best landing spot, best available free agents, and much more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss how Kemba Walker would fit into the Celtics' roster, the Hornets' salary mess, Kawhi Leonard as the most confusing free agent in recent NBA history, how Kevin Durant's next decision could play out, whether or not "tampering" is a real thing anymore, more Lakers trades, the Rockets focusing on Jimmy Butler, teams in the West that are one move away from being contenders, sleeper free agents, mailbag questions, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Marc Stein of The New York Times to discuss NBA free agency and how, outside of two guys, no one is really sure where these players will end up. They speculate about landing spots for Kawhi Leonard, Kemba Walker, Al Horford, D'Angelo Russell, Jimmy Butler, Kevin Durant, and more (2:25). Then Bill calls up his dad to say farewell to Kyrie Irving one last time and briefly discuss the Celtics' draft (1:00:00). Finally, Bill sits down with actor Michael K. Williams to discuss his new limited series on Netflix, 'When They See Us,' based on the true story of the Central Park Five; becoming one of HBO's most iconic characters, Omar Little; plus 'The Night Of,' 'Boardwalk Empire,' New York City gentrification, and much more (1:21:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with actor Bill Hader to talk 'Barry,' blending comedy and drama, the NBA Finals, sports-talk shows, and more (2:00). Then Bill talks with rapper/actor Common about 'John Wick,' playing a hitman in multiple movies, rappers crossing over into acting, Chicago, the NBA, Celebrity All-Star games, Kanye West, and more (43:35).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to rehash the Pelicans-Lakers trade and point out the winners and losers of the 2019 NBA draft (2:37). Then Bill sits down with the king of Yacht Rock, Michael McDonald, to discuss playing with Steely Dan, his time with the Doobie Brothers, heartbreak songs, his solo career, his summer tour with Chaka Khan, and more (1:25:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis to discuss the changes in the NBA from 2010 to 2019, starting with "The Decision," Twitter, media access, player movement, and more (4:10). Then Bill sits down with his old friend and fantasy baseball team co-owner Kevin Hench to discuss Kyrie Irving "ghosting" the Celtics, the Chris Paul trade-request rumor, the Stanley Cup Final, fantasy baseball misery, Patriots 2019-20 predictions, and more (44:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the massive trade between the Pelicans and the Lakers, who won the trade, what the Lakers need now, how Zion Williamson will fit with the new Pelicans roster, Klutch Sports, and more (1:35). Then they discuss Kevin Durant's future, the possibility of the Warriors retaining him, New York basketball courting him (1:26:55), mailbag questions, Gym Corner, and more (1:53:57).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons recaps Game 6 of the NBA Finals, Toronto's first ever NBA title, Golden State's injuries, Toronto's sound game plan, what Kevin Durant's next year may look like, and more (1:45). Then Bill sits down with actor Adam Scott to talk about the first year of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live'; making 'Step Brothers,' 'Party Down,' and 'Big Little Lies'; the end of 'Game of Thrones', Hollywood stories; and more (48:35).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to recap a roller coaster of a Game 5, KD’s injury, Kawhi’s impressive play, a depleted Warriors bench, a dangerous Raptors squad, Game 6 implications, how KD’s injury may affect free agency, Gym Corner, the Stanley Cup final, and more!
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to recap game 4 of the NBA Finals, Kawhi’s historic playoff run, game 5 predictions, NBA Summer moves, and more (2:05). Then Bill sits down with boxing heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. to talk about his exhilarating fight with Anthony Joshua, his fight prep, the rematch, and more (1:02:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to recap Game 3 of the NBA Finals, examine the argument for "rest," brand the Kawhi trade an all-timer, answer mailbag questions, revisit Gym Corner, give out Finals predictions, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by author Chuck Klosterman to revel in NBA Finals story lines and subplots, compare commissioners David Stern and Adam Silver, and more (2:25). Then, they discuss high school track star Matthew Boling (1:03:50), 'Fleabag' Season 2, and outraged 'Game of Thrones' fans (1:20:08).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss Game 2 takeaways and Game 3 questions in the NBA Finals (3:15). Then Bill talks to Kevin Clark about Andy Ruiz, Anthony Joshua's stunning loss, and the rematch people already want (41:48). Finally Bill calls up his old friend JackO to talk Red Sox struggles, the flourishing Yankees, 2020 election speculations, and more (1:13:43).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House immediately after the Toronto Raptors beat the Warriors in Game 1 of the NBA Finals to discuss what went wrong for the Warriors, what went right for the Raptors, Game 2 speculation, and more (3:00). Then Bill sits down with Mallory Rubin a week and a half removed from the end of 'Game of Thrones' to discuss the ending of the show one final time (35:45). Finally, Bill talks with David Shoemaker about AEW as a competitor to WWE, their successful 'Double or Nothing' PPV, poaching superstars, what a new weekly wrestling show could mean for the WWE, and more (1:12:38).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Toronto Raptors winning four consecutive games to win the Eastern Conference finals, Kawhi Leonard's enormous performance, what happened to the Bucks, and more (1:50). They talk NBA Finals subplots, MVP odds and narratives (1:02:55), answer mailbag questions, and address yet another situation coming from the Lakers' camp (1:45:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks to discuss the All-NBA teams, the Warriors with and without KD, Bucks-Raptors, what's sure to be a wild NBA offseason, fake trades, and more (4:45). Then Bill sits down with David Epstein, author of 'Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World,' to talk about the benefits of delaying specialization in young athletes, looking at training and practicing differently, testing for talent, PEDs, HGH, and more (1:09:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk Bucks-Raptors Game 4 (2:25), the Warriors sweeping the Trail Blazers without Kevin Durant (39:50), Magic Johnson's comments about the Lakers front office (1:32:30), and one final edition of [SPOILERS] 'Throne Game' (1:50:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk Bucks-Raptors Game 3, the Warriors-Trail Blazers series, NBA Finals odds (2:19), the PGA Championship, WWE's 'Money in the Bank,' Parent Corner (48:50), and Throne Game [SPOILERS] for the 'Game of Thrones' series finale (1:09:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the NBA lottery draw, (unlikely) options for Zion, whether anyone can trade for Anthony Davis, fake trades, and a PGA Tour check-in (4:25). Then Bill sits down with DJ, record producer, and host of Apple Music’s Beats 1 Radio, Zane Lowe, to discuss the rise and fall of music platforms, parenthood, Zane's music journey, and more. They talk indie rock, hip-hop, pop, yacht rock, and more (46:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo for The Ringer's 2019 NBA draft lottery show. They talk about draft karma, team needs leading up to the lottery, and cover some winners and losers after the picks are set (4:15). Then Bill calls up his old friend and diehard Knicks fan Brian Koppelman to discuss his thoughts about the Knicks likely missing out on Zion Williamson with the third overall pick (1:37:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to sum up Round 2 of the NBA playoffs. They talk Raptors-76ers, Kawhi's awesome shot, Embiid's minutes, what the 76ers will look like next year, and more. They discuss Nuggets–Trail Blazers, CJ McCollum's big night, and players Denver might attract next season. They recap Rockets-Warriors, another tough break for Harden, the Warriors without KD, and more (2:25). Then they answer some mailbag questions (1:19:30) before revisiting Throne Game [SPOILERS] for 'Game of Thrones' Season 8, Episode 5 (1:37:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his dad to talk about the Rockets letting another playoff game slip through their fingers and the end of the Celtics' season (2:50). Then they are joined by longtime Celtics radio play-by-play announcer Sean Grande to reexamine Boston's season, where it went wrong, and why it couldn't be fixed (25:30). Finally Bill sits down with comedian Anthony Jeselnik to discuss edgy tweets, comedy roasts, gambling, sports, Jesilnik's new Netflix comedy special 'Fire in the Maternity Ward,' and more (1:00:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with Joe House and Ryen Russillo to talk 76ers-Raptors, Joel Embiid's inconsistency, Ben Simmons's struggles, and what the 76ers might look like next season. They also talk Warriors-Rockets—including Eric Gordon's impact and the Warriors' depleted bench—Celtics-Bucks, and more (2:45). Then they answer some mailbag questions and guess Magic Johnson tweets (1:08:00), before revisiting Throne Game with Ryen [SPOILERS] for 'Game of Thrones' Season 8, Episode 4 (1:30:35).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by his longtime pal Joe House to discuss every NBA playoff matchup, with topics including Jaylen Brown’s value vs. Jayson Tatum’s, the Rockets' struggles, Denver’s persistence, and more. They also ask what Ben Simmons is doing and what is happening to Steph Curry (3:05). Then, Bill and House recap [SPOILERS] 'Game of Thrones' Season 8, Episode 4 (1:35:17).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ringer staff writer Dan Devine to talk about Round 2 of the NBA playoffs including the Rockets' struggles against the Warriors, Playoff Harden, the Rockets no. 2 guy, Kevin Durant's impact, the 76ers battling back against the Raptors, and more (3:35). Then, Bill talks with Shea Serrano about the upcoming film 'John Wick 3,' and the ending of [SPOILERS] 'Cobra Kai' Season 2 (1:12:54).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by sportswriter and 'Around the Horn' costar Jackie MacMullan to tell some incredible NBA stories about the past and present, the shift in sports reporting, the NBA playoffs, the 3-point revolution, and more (2:35). Then Bill talks with MLB Network host and DAZN boxing play-by-play announcer Brian Kenny about the upcoming Canelo Alvarez vs. Daniel Jacobs fight, boxing's return to the spotlight, why there are so many boxing titles, all-time boxing matches, an MLB check-in, and more (1:15:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Spurs' playoff exit, Rockets-Warriors, Bucks-Celtics, Blazers-Nuggets, and more. They talk about the surge in players complaining about the referees and Kawhi Leonard and his impressive performance against the 76ers; they share the latest Gym Corner, answer mailbag questions (3:30), and [SPOILERS] recap 'Game of Thrones' Season 8, Episode 3 (1:45:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his dad after Round 1 of the NFL draft to discuss the Giants' curious sixth overall pick, the Redskins' picking up Dwayne Haskins Jr., and other draft moves before they pay homage to the late John Havlicek (2:30). Then Bill sits down with Showtime's Desus and Mero to talk New York sports, NBA playoffs, fans vs. players, Coachella, making a TV show, Twitter beef, and more (37:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by actor Ralph Macchio to discuss his career, his first break in 'Eight Is Enough,' working with the star-studded cast of 'The Outsiders,' his meteoric rise in the 'The Karate Kid,' and a delightful return to that world in 'Cobra Kai.' They also talk '80s movies, the NHL, MLB, and more (3:39). Then Bill sits down with writer Michael Lewis to talk about 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game,' how baseball has changed, being a sports parent, the state of the NBA, 'Moneyball,' 'The Blind Side', Michael's new podcast, and more (49:44).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the best NBA player matchups in the playoffs so far, the Thunder’s loss to the Trailblazers, Russell Westbrook's impact on Oklahoma City, 76ers-Nets, changing up the postgame locker room press model, round two playoff hopes, and more (4:15). Then Bill and Ryen answer some mailbag questions about Tiger Woods, NBA conspiracies among others (1:32:32), followed by Gym Corner (1:42:15) and a [SPOILERS] 'Game of Thrones' recap of season 8, episode 2 (1:50:24).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Daryl Morey to discuss the Rockets' impressive start to the NBA playoffs, James Harden's progression, the 3-point revolution, and more (2:48). Then, Bill runs through the Patriots' 2019 schedule, some NFL over/unders, and things to watch out for this weekend in the NBA playoffs (29:07). Finally, Bill sits down with TMZ's Van Lathan and writer Rembert Browne to talk about Nipsey Hussle, his legacy, how he's inspired today's cultural leaders to uplift their communities, and more (37:17).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to talk about the Warriors blowing a 31-point lead at home to the Clippers (1:50). Then Bill sits down with comedian and host of 'The Daily Show,' Trevor Noah, to talk about the state of the "talk show" platform, the rise of digital media, taking over 'The Daily Show' in 2015, learning from Jon Stewart, sports, some of their favorite interviews, outrage culture, Trevor's new podcast, and more (26:43).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Ryan Russillo to discuss Tiger Woods’ return to glory after winning the 2019 Masters (3:54). Then Bill and Ryen recap game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs; Including a shaky start for the Raptors, the Nuggets loss to the Spurs, a bad matchup for the 76ers, and more (36:25), followed by some mailbag questions, Gym Corner (1:34:09), and a [SPOILER ALERT] recap of 'Game of Thrones' season 8, episode 1 (1:53:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with Ryen Russillo at the end of another wild NBA regular season to hand out the MVP award and make their picks for All-NBA teams, playoff upsets, gambling odds, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by SI's Chris Mannix to discuss Magic Johnson's impromptu resignation as the Lakers' president of basketball operations (4:05). Then Bill talks with Stugotz of 'The Dan Le Batard Show With Stugotz' about the tortured NY sports fan bases, Dwyane Wade's retirement, the NBA playoffs, and more (56:25).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons recaps his weekend at NXT and 'WrestleMania 35' in New York with his son Ben (2:55). Then, Bill is joined by Marc Stein of The New York Times to discuss Dirk Nowitzki's career as one of the best power forwards to ever play the game (11:35).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the Wizards firing Ernie Grunfeld, a revitalized Gordon Hayward, MVP check-in and more (4:53). Then Bill sits down with Chris Ryan and Colin Farrell to talk about Farrell's meteoric rise in the early 2000s, sports movies, accent work, and some of Farrell's movies, including 'In Bruges,' 'Total Recall,' 'Minority Report,' and 'Miami Vice' (57:00). Finally, Bill talks with his son, Ben, to preview 'WrestleMania 35' (1:47:18).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his good friend and former boss John Skipper, current executive chairman of DAZN, to discuss their time together at ESPN in the 2000s. They discuss ESPN the Magazine, acquiring television rights, Mobile ESPN, '30 for 30,' Grantland, Bill's departure from ESPN, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk Zion Williamson's optimal NBA team, Dwyane Wade's farewell tour, playoff check-in, the Thunder's dismal stretch of games, mailbag, Gym Corner, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bill Hader to talk HBO's new season of "Barry", SNL stories, favorite films, getting old, the NBA and more (4:40) Then, for the first time EVER, Bill calls up *** ***, to tell some incredible stories (1:19:25).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to talk Bryce Harper, the 2019 Masters, golf story lines, the NBA, and more (6:25). Then Bill calls up JackO to talk MLB, early MVP bets, March Madness, James Dolan, 2020 presidential odds, and more (53:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss Rob Gronkowski's retirement, Duke almost losing in March Madness, Trae Young vs. Luka Doncic for ROY, Harden vs. Giannis for MVP, NBA playoff matchups, mailbag questions, "Gym Corner," and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ben Stiller to discuss his new Showtime series 'Escape at Dannemora,' and making films including 'Reality Bites,' 'The Cable Guy,' 'Something About Mary,' 'Meet The Parents,' and 'Zoolander.' They talk about the difficulty of pursuing comedy in 2019, tortured Knicks fandom, and more (3:50). Then Bill calls up his dad to discuss Joel Embiid's dominance, the Celtics' playoffs hopes, the Patriots' free agency, and more (1:28:25).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss a crazy month for the NY Giants as well as other offseason moves (3:00). Then Bill calls up his old pal Dave Jacoby to talk reality TV, LeBron James vs. Johnny Bananas, Jalen Rose, and more (34:15). Finally Bill talks with Shea Serrano about the Spurs' nine-game win streak and the new Netflix film 'Triple Frontier' [WARNING: SPOILERS] (1:21:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the yearly sports lap, March Madness, Zion Williamson and sports activists, NBA playoff projections, a deep MVP race, All-NBA teams, mailbag questions, a new edition of "Gym Corner," and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis and The Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay to discuss sportswriters of old, Twitter's role in changing the media landscape, unhappy players, James Dolan and other curious team owners, the college admissions scandal, the greatest sports books, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the rise of Steve Ballmer's Clippers, the Lakers' meltdown, free-agency factors, what-if playoff matchups, mailbag questions, and a new segment called 'Gym Corner.'
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan and Joe House to revisit Game 6 of the 2016 Western Conference finals (also known as "The Klay Game"), complete with the most rewatchable sequences, what-ifs, half-assed internet research, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Juliet Litman to talk about 'The Bachelor' jumping the fence and The Ringer's new Hulu show 'Can I Steal You For a Second?' (3:00). Then Bill talks with Mark Titus about Zion Williamson, the NCAA debate, LeBron's Ohio impact, and more (23:00). Finally Bill sits down with Kevin O'Connor, Haley O'Shaughnessy, and Danny Chau to discuss the Sloan conference, the worst possible landing spots for Zion, Celtics bonding, Warriors' playoff threats, LeBron James, and more (49:25).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Robert Mays to discuss Kyler Murray, the Arizona Cardinals, and what could happen to Josh Rosen, as well as Le'Veon Bell's possible landing spots (12:45). Then Bill talks to Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall, author of 'The Sopranos Sessions,' about Luke Perry, 'Beverly Hills 90210,' revisiting the 'Sopranos' ending, and more (54:43).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk about the Boston Celtics' downhill tumble and how we got here after penciling them in for the Finals last summer, the Lakers-LeBron soap opera, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver's concerns for the new generation of players.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis to discuss Jason Witten's return to the NFL from the ESPN 'Monday Night Football' booth (6:20). Then Bill calls up his buddy JackO to talk Bryce Harper's mega-millions deal with the Phillies, Manny Machado to the Padres, the 2020 presidential race, Robert Kraft, and more (39:35).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Lakers' trying times, next year's free agents, projected playoff matchups, Dirk Nowitzki's farewell tour, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House and Cousin Sal to discuss Bill and Sal's 2019 Oscars bets, golf futures, and more (3:00). Then Bill and House talk NBA playoffs, the MVP race, Lakers coaching buzz, Zion Williamson's injury, NCAA alternatives, and Robert Kraft (32:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark and Mallory Rubin to discuss possible landing spots for Antonio Brown, Le'Veon Bell, Kyler Murray and more (3:40). Then Bill talks with Chris Ryan about the Ringer article, "NBA Take Meter: The Stretch Run, Part 1" as well as ESPN's Tim Donaghy report (43:45). Finally Sean Fennessey joins Bill and Chris to revisit the 2014 Oscars 5 years later to dole out some cinematic justice (1:03:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk NBA All-Star Weekend, some interesting angles in the Anthony Davis situation, NBA ownership, titillating Knicks buzz, All-NBA front-runners, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by legendary boxing promoter Bob Arum to discuss his unorthodox start in boxing, some incredible stories about Muhammad Ali, Elijah Muhammad, Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Durán, Don King, and Evel Knievel, wise guys, the FBI, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to discuss the top of the Eastern Conference heading into All-Star Weekend, including the 76ers, Celtics, Bucks, and Raptors (2:10). Then Bill sits down with 'Binge Mode' cohosts Jason Concepcion and Mallory Rubin to talk about Joe Flacco's exit from the Baltimore Ravens, the Knicks successfully tanking, and some gambling odds for the final season of HBO's 'Game of Thrones' (52:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh to discuss the events surrounding Anthony Davis and the trade deadline, player empowerment and the pros and cons that come with it, playing against NBA legends including Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, and Brook Lopez, globalization of NBA talent, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo in the closing hour of the NBA trade deadline to talk Lakers, 76ers, and a whole bunch more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss Bill's updated Trade Value column including new spots for Paul George, Luka Doncic, De'Aaron Fox, Ben Simmons, and Deandre Ayton among others (3:00). Then Bill sits down with legendary director Spike Lee to talk basketball conspiracies, the Porzingis trade, stories from courtside, and films including 'Do the Right Thing,' 'Malcolm X,' '25th Hour,' 'He Got Game,' 'BlacKkKlansman,' and more (39:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the prop-bet-busting Super Bowl performance by the Patriots and the Rams, the national anthem run-time controversy, questions surrounding Todd Gurley, some Patriots apologies by Bill, Parent Corner, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to finalize their wagers before Super Bowl Sunday.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier, and Knicks fans Sean Fennessey and Jason Concepcion for an emergency pod to try and sift through the Kristaps Porzingis trade.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his longtime pal Chuck Klosterman to discuss Super Bowl week, the next generation of sports announcers, sports evolution, documentaries including: 'Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened,' 'Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes,' and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks Anthony Davis's request for a trade from New Orleans, and how the Lakers have a unique opportunity to land him before the summer (2:22). Then Bill sits down at Sundance Film Festival with filmmaking legend Steven Soderbergh to talk about his first trip to Sundance in 1989 with 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape,' making the 'Ocean's' movies, shooting on iPhones, his new film 'High Flying Bird,' sports movies, what the future may hold for film, and more (28:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Shea Serrano to talk about James Harden's unbelievable play (2:20) before talking with Jason Gay about 'Heaven Can Wait' and the suspicious parallels between the film and Super Bowl LIII (25:30). Finally, Bill calls up Wesley Morris to check in on the Oscars race (1:04:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey to discuss Twitter's origins, the birth of the #hashtag and @ symbol, NBA Twitter, new technologies, Twitter reform, and much more (2:15). Then Bill calls up his buddy JackO to discuss Tom Brady, the New England Patriots almost moving to Hartford, Connecticut, some questionable decisions by the Yankees' front office, and Donald Trump's presidency (1:28:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk Patriots-Chiefs, Saints-Rams, the infamous no-call, Sal's unfortunate bet, and Parent Corner (2:25). Then Bill sits down with his dad on the heels of yet another Patriots Super Bowl appearance to shamelessly revisit the Patriots' win over the Chiefs, apologize to Rex Burkhead, and more (1:17:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss Kyrie Irving's leadership and recent criticism of the Boston Celtics, and Bill's million dollar bets for the NFL conference championships (2:20). Then, Bill sits down with legendary screenwriter, director, and playwright Aaron Sorkin to discuss his unique writing origins and some of his most famous work, including 'A Few Good Men,' 'The West Wing,' 'Sports Night,' 'The Social Network,' his new play on Broadway, and more (55:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his old pal, ESPN's Zach Lowe, to talk panic-button NBA teams coming up on the trade deadline, intriguing NBA trade possibilities, midseason All-NBA front-runners, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk Cowboys-Rams, Patriots-Chargers, Colts-Chiefs, and Saints-Eagles (2:15), before guessing conference championship lines and a new edition of 'Parent Corner' (43:12).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to talk first-team All-NBA players (2:50), and then a little Friday Rollin' NFL playoff picks (35:50). Then Bill talks with Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall about 'The Sopranos' on its 20th anniversary, and Alan's new book, 'The Sopranos Sessions,' cowritten with David Chase and Matt Zoller Seitz (1:12:05). Finally, Bill calls up his dad to get his thoughts on the Patriots-Chargers matchup in the AFC divisional playoff on Sunday (1:39:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Sean Fennessey to recap the Golden Globes and keep an eye on the Oscars race (2:14). Then Bill sits down with director and screenwriter Adam McKay to discuss his time at 'SNL,' comedic film eras, teaming up with Will Ferrell, Funny or Die, making 'Anchorman,' 'Step Brothers,' 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,' 'The Big Short,' and 'Succession,' as well as his new film 'Vice' starring Christian Bale (26:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk Cowboys-Seahawks, the agonizing Bears-Eagles game, and the rest of wild-card weekend (2:40), before guessing the lines for the divisional round of the NFL Playoffs (49:55).
HBO's and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk wild-card-weekend lines, (un)trustworthy quarterbacks, matchup futures bets, and much more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss the drama in Pittsburgh between the Steelers and Antonio Brown, whether superstar receivers are the key to a Super Bowl team, coaches with too long/short of a leash, and more (3:55). Then Bill sits down with Kevin O'Connor to talk about potential Anthony Davis trades, Kyrie Irving's season, the Wizards' best course of action, and much more (47:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Steelers-Bengals, Ravens-Browns, Bears-Vikings, and Cowboys-Giants, along with some Week 17 losers (2:25). They then guess the NFL lines for Round 1 of the playoffs (37:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons presents every parent corner with Cousin Sal from weeks one through seventeen of the 2018 NFL season.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis and Jason Gay to discuss Bryan's article about how Fox stole the NFL from CBS and how it may happen again, NBA gameplay vs. NBA drama, sports gambling, player podcasts, award shows, paywalls, and much more.
'The Great NFL Heist: How Fox Paid for and Changed Football Forever' by Bryan Curtis
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the gambling implications of the playoff picture solidifying, resolving fantasy football controversies, and reasons why the Patriots should have drafted Lamar Jackson (2:39). Then, they guess the NFL lines for Week 17 (34:28).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with a slightly tipsy Joe House about his brand-new NBA trade values piece on TheRinger.com and NFL million-dollar bets before Bill calls up his dad to talk about the end of Josh Gordon's NFL season, Patriots problems, a Boston Celtics check-in, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to talk Amazon and Netflix growth, changing football, the NFL rookie class, outrage culture, the next great athlete commentator, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to wrap up a bad day of betting. They discuss Seahawks-49ers, Rams-Eagles, Patriots-Steelers, Cowboys-Colts, Chargers-Chiefs, and the playoff picture (2:20). Then they guess the NFL lines for Week 16, and bring in Bill's son, Ben, for this week's Parent Corner (51:10).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with Shea Serrano to talk about the mediocre Spurs, Western Conference playoff teams, whether NBA players got Michelin stars, and prison movies (3:05). Then Bill gives out some million dollar NFL bets (32:10) before sitting down with actress Kathryn Hahn to discuss her acting origins, 'Step Brothers,' 'Bad Moms,' raising kids, the Harden trade, and more (48:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with NBA Finals MVP, Kevin Durant to talk Zion and Giannis, 2018 surprises, media dealings, legacies, summer plans and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Cousin Sal to discuss the Miami Miracle, the Rams' loss to the Bears, the Cowboys' win streak, and the NFL playoff picture (2:10), before guessing the Week 15 lines (41:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Joe House to make some ambitious NFL bets (2:58) before sitting down with director Jason Reitman to talk about the Gary Hart story and his new film, 'The Front Runner,' getting unique films made in Hollywood, sports movies, and more (34:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his first ever podcast guest, and NY Times sports reporter, Marc Stein to discuss Luka Doncic's red hot NBA start, Dirk Nowitzki in the Dallas sports pantheon, Anthony Davis, and contemporary sports journalism (3:33). Then Bill sits down with The Ringer's own Chris Ryan to discuss the recent Markelle Fultz news (1:22:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Cousin Sal about Mike McCarthy's firing after the Packers' loss to the Cardinals, a puzzlingly close game between the Chiefs and the Raiders, the Kareem Hunt story, NFL Playoffs, and Roger Goodell's lackluster performance as NFL commissioner (2:19 ), before they guess the NFL week 14 lines (51:48).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mallory Rubin to talk Ravens football and Bill's Week 13 gambling picks (02:45), then Bill sits down with comic legends Dave Attell and Jeff Ross to discuss their new Netflix series 'Bumping Mics,' their favorite roasts, the evolution of comedy in a changing America, and more (33:45). Finally, Bill checks in with his daughter Zoe on teen culture by way of Netflix, TV, movies, books, and more (01:29:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to examine a puzzling NBA season. They put in way-too-early ballots for first- and second-team All-NBA after 20 games, generate fake trades, and try to figure out Western Conference playoff implications.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Packers loss to the Vikings, Panthers-Seahawks, and NFL playoff picture, before they guess the NFL lines for week 13. They wrap up with reactions to Tiger vs Phil, 'Creed 2', and Parent Corner.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up his buddy Joe House to talk struggling NBA teams, NBA rookies, the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson pay-per-view event, and NFL picks (3:20). Then Bill sits down with actor Michael B. Jordan to talk 'Black Panther,' his new film 'Creed II,' upcoming projects, and more (1:02:35).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons enlists the help of Brian Koppelman, Mike Lupica, Sean Fennessey, and Wesley Morris to remember the late creative legend William Goldman.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the surging Cowboys, Steelers-Jaguars, Bengals-Ravens, and the 2018 NFL playoff picture, before guessing the NFL lines for Week 12.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons revisits the KD-Draymond Green argument, gives some NFL picks, and makes the case for Drew Brees for MVP (1:55) before he is joined by late-night legend Conan O'Brien to talk archaic television formats, talk-show icons, SNL's golden age, Red Sox vs. Dodgers fans, and Conan's new podcast, 'Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend' premiering November 19 (24:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about the Kevin Durant-Draymond Green argument, the rise of the Clippers, and Jimmy Butler's new team (2:50) before sitting down with Malcolm Gladwell to discuss his "grand unified theory of ethnic basketball," NBA thoughts, Gladwell's new music podcast with Rick Rubin called 'Broken Record,' and more (31:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal after watching a long day of football together, to discuss the Minnesota Timberwolves trading Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cowboys squeaking past the Eagles, the Titans beat-down on the Patriots, and the Steelers' hot-streak before guessing the NFL lines for week 11.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bleacher Report's Howard Beck to discuss the Clippers' renaissance, the Knicks' turmoil, the Warriors' dynasty, and the evolution of sports media (3:10). Then Robert Mays joins to talk about Super Bowl contenders and placing NFL wagers for Week 10 (1:03:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with director and producer Dan Klores about his new, 20-hour ESPN documentary, 'Basketball: A Love Story' (3:40), before calling up his buddy JackO to talk about Election Day and fixing the Yankees, and to rub in the Red Sox's title one more time (52:25). Finally, Bill sits down with actor Greg Kinnear to discuss his pre-acting career and some of his films, including 'Stuck on You,' 'Little Miss Sunshine,' 'Sabrina,' and 'As Good As It Gets' (1:25:05).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Cousin Sal to discuss the Saints defeating the Rams, the Patriots taking care of the Packers, and coaches who may be on their way out, before guessing the NFL lines for Week 10.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Justin Verrier to discuss the bright future of Anthony Davis and Western Conference playoff teams (3:10) before Bill sits down with Rembert Browne to discuss what Super Bowl LIII could mean to the city of Atlanta, how to salvage the halftime show, and Rembert's favorite TV shows (42:00). Finally, Bill makes some NFL picks, and gets fired up for the Bucks-Celtics matchup (1:12:20).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by 'One Shining Podcast''s Mark Titus and Tate Frazier to discuss Rick Pitino and his quest for an NBA coaching job (2:23) before Bill sits down with Charlamagne tha God to discuss his new book, 'Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me,' classic movies, NBA all-time greats, Kardashian influence, hip-hop culture takeover, and more (30:25)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Cousin Sal to discuss the Boston Red Sox winning another World Series, World Series MVP candidates, and tales from Dodger Stadium, before guessing the NFL lines for week 9.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Brian Windhorst to discuss NBA teams hitting the panic button, L.A. as the new NBA hub, next year's free agents, Trade Machine fantasies, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his World Series thoughts after watching Game 1 in Fenway Park (2:00), then Bill sits down with comedian Hasan Minhaj to talk comedy, the NBA, and his new weekly Netflix series 'Patriot Act,' premiering October 28 (20:10).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons connects with Shea Serrano to discuss 2018's biggest slasher film, 'Halloween,' check in after the first week of NBA basketball, and examine the Rockets-Lakers fight (5:20). Then Bill sits down with hip-hop superstar Quavo to talk about the Aubrey & the Three Migos Tour, Atlanta's hip-hop identity, the ideal Super Bowl LIII halftime show, the NBA, and more (56:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the moneyline murder that was the Chiefs-Bengals showdown, Cowboys heartbreak, and Patriots-Bears before guessing the NFL lines for Week 8. They finish up with some World Series talk and Parent Corner.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons reacts to the Red Sox advancing to the 2018 World Series (5:27) before sitting down with actor and director Jonah Hill to discuss his directorial debut film 'Mid90s', working in the Apatow circle, the confusing realm of comedy, and more (23:42). Then Bill talks with his daughter, Zoe Simmons, in the latest edition of For Realsies about 'A Star Is Born' and other teen pop culture happenings (1:35:05).
Immediately after watching the Celtics-76ers season opener, HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House and TMZ's Van Lathan to talk 2018 NBA speculations, the NBA's generational progression, nightclubs, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Drake, and more (2:38). Then Bill sits down with Sean Fennessey and Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle to talk about his new film, 'First Man', the actual moon landing, 'La La Land,' 'Whiplash,' taking creative risks, and more (1:01:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Patriots-Chiefs shootout, the Steelers' impressive comeback against the Bengals, and the Dolphins and Bears' nail-biter finish (03:15), before they guess the NFL lines for Week 7 (39:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House for a preseason tradition, the ninth annual guessing of the NBA over/unders. They hit all 30 teams in one podcast, so buckle up.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Ryen Russillo and Kevin O'Connor about who will be the Most Valuable Player in the NBA in 2019 (2:40) before Bill sits down with actor John C. Reilly to discuss his journey from the South Side of Chicago to the silver screen. Then they talk about working with the great Paul Thomas Anderson, 'Step Brothers,' 'Boogie Nights,' Reilly's new film 'The Sisters Brothers,' and more (32:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the dismal coaching matchup between the Cowboys and the Texans, a top 18 NFL power ranking, and playoff implications (3:00), before they guess the NFL Lines for week 6 (38:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his pal JackO to talk about the upcoming ALDS between the Red Sox and the Yankees (6:35). Then Bill calls up the Kid Mero of the Bodega Boys for more Sox-Yankees trash talk, and some NBA preview insight (32:25). Bill also gives some NFL picks (1:05:13) before calling his dad to talk about Josh Gordon and the New England Patriots, Kyrie Irving and the Celtics, and, of course, more Red Sox–Yankees (1:13:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Matt Damon to discuss his journey through Hollywood with Ben Affleck, 'Rounders,' 'Goodwill Hunting,' the 1990s class of actors, baseball, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the eventful Bengals-Falcons matchup, the Browns-Raiders shootout, and the coaching debacle that occurred during the Colts-Texans game (among others), before they guess the NFL Lines for week 5.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Tony Kornheiser to talk Tiger's comeback, the Ryder Cup, D.C. sports, and Sean McVay's L.A. Rams (4:25), before calling up Joe House for Friday Rollin'. They hit on some more Ryder Cup story lines and give their Week 4 NFL picks (33:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to discuss the Jimmy Butler buzz, including questions and concerns (3:20). Then he sits down with six-time MTV 'Challenge' champion Johnny Bananas to talk his NBC show, '1st Look'; the evolution of 'The Challenge'; some of the series' legends; and more (34:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish about her performance origins, her upcoming projects including 'Night School,' dating after fame, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with a fired up Joe House about Tiger Woods' first event win in 5 years (2:48). Then, Bill calls up Cousin Sal to recap another NFL Sunday including the second straight Patriots loss, the Dolphins' 3-0 start, Jimmy G's injury, another impressive Rams outing, and more before they guess the NFL Lines for week 4 (30:44).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons announces a new podcast and gives some NFL picks for Week 3 before sitting down with powerhouse television showrunners Mike Schur and Dan Fogelman to talk about some of their past work, including 'The Office,' 'Parks and Rec,' 'This Is Us,' and 'The Good Place.' They also discuss the NFL, failed TV pilots, the Netflix takeover, shows that run for too long, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with Steve Nash to talk about his induction into the NBA Hall of Fame, spending time with the Golden State Warriors, MVP criteria, how to fix American soccer, Kylian Mbappé, Ronaldo vs. Messi, and Steve's new gig broadcasting Champions League soccer.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs' incredible performance against the Steelers, The Patriots' loss to the Jaguars, The Sunday kicker epidemic, and the Canelo vs. GGG rematch before they guess the NFL Lines for week 3.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to make some gambling picks for NFL Week 2 (3:43). Then Bill sits down with actor Keegan-Michael Key to talk 'Key and Peele,' Eddie Murphy stories, 'The Predator,' and remaking movies (53:20).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor for a quick NBA offseason check-in. They discuss Carmelo on the Rockets, Luka Doncic's weight gain, Devin Booker's broken hand, Finals odds, and more (2:25). Then Bill sits down with Katie Nolan to talk about her new home at ESPN; her new show, 'Always Late With Katie Nolan'; the NFL, wearing makeup for TV, and more (1:07:10).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Aaron Rodgers and The Packers' miraculous comeback, The Buccaneers walloping the Saints, The Steelers-Browns disappointing tie, and Bill and Sal's fantasy draft, before they guess the NFL lines for week 2.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by New York Times film critic Wesley Morris to remember the great Burt Reynolds. They each go through their top five Burt Reynolds films and discuss how he owned the 1970s (2:28). Then Bill calls up Joe House to talk Tiger Woods's impressive showing at the BMW Championship and NBC's questionable broadcast changes in the NFL season opener before making some Week 1 bets (1:06:25).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by 'Good Morning Football' cohost Kyle Brandt to discuss NFL hot takes (3:18). Then Bill sits down with comedy legend Bill Burr to talk about the eras of comedy, sportscasters, NFL, the pre-Belichick Patriots, Tom Brady, college football stadiums, NHL, and more (41:05).
In their 13th season of Guess the Lines, HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal continue the age-old tradition of guessing the NFL lines before each weekend's slate of games. You'll get the classics: MVP odds, first coach fired, marquee games, watchables, barely watchables, "poopfecta," and more. Buckle up. Here comes Week 1!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Robert Mays to run through some NFL thoughts as the season approaches (3:20), then Bill sits down with Amanda Dobbins to discuss the highly anticipated film, 'A Star is Born' starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga (25:10). Finally Bill talks to Celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser about prenups, conflict, and changing the face of divorce (1:03:17).
In part one of their two-part podcast, HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal gear up for the NFL regular season by running thru each team in the AFC, they talk odds, sleepers, parlays, and more!
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Mark Titus about his love for the Little League World Series, then he weighs in on the Urban Meyer–Ohio State issue. He then talks about athletes dealing with depression and other mental illness and how sports may respond to more and more people speaking out (4:00). Then Bill calls up his buddy JackO to talk about the recent Red Sox swoon and Bill's trip to Florida before they remember Senator John McCain (1:00:03).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by the newest podcaster on the Ringer Podcast Network, Ryen Russillo, to announce his new show, 'Dual Threat With Ryen Russillo.' They talk pickup basketball, NBA offseason, and more (2:17). Then Bill is joined by Celtics forward Jayson Tatum to discuss his basketball idols, playing at Duke, getting drafted, the 2017 draft class, the Celtics' playoff run, adding to his game, and more (30:17).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by the Mother of Dragons, Mallory Rubin, to discuss the anticipation of the final season of 'Game of Thrones,' future spinoffs, NCAA football, MLB, and rookie NFL quarterbacks (1:57). Then Bill sits down with actor Jason Bateman to talk L.A. Dodgers fandom, being a child actor, 'Ozark,' 'Arrested Development,' binge-watch television, sports movies, and more (27:13).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Shea Serrano to talk summer movies, including 'Upgrade,' 'The Meg,' and 'Mile 22,' before trying to save Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson from making another big-budget flop (2:40). Then Bill is joined by The Ringer's Donnie Kwak, who gives his take on 'Crazy Rich Asians' and how to move the needle for Asian American cinema (30:28). Finally Bill calls up the Masked Man himself, David Shoemaker, and the two share their thoughts on WWE 'SummerSlam,' Roman Reigns's win, Braun Strowman's trajectory, and more (49:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark of 'The Ringer NFL Show' to discuss his recent NFL training camp visits as America gears up for the NFL regular season (3:15). Then Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey stops by to revisit the history of New York Jets quarterbacks and what Sam Darnold means to Jets fans, before running through some good, bad, and sleeper teams (42:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons travels to Oakland to sit down with three-time NBA champion Stephen Curry to talk recent Finals runs, the joy of playing with Klay Thompson, getting heated on the court, the new All-Star Game layout, all-time NBA greats, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by hip-hop legend Ice Cube to talk about the renewed Celtics-Lakers rivalry, LeBron to L.A., old-school hip-hop vs. new-school, making records, the Las Vegas Raiders, what to do with the L.A. Clippers, Big3 basketball, and more (11:00). Then Bill sits down with star of HBO's 'Ballers' and Spike Lee's 'BlacKkKlansman' John David Washington to discuss playing college sports, chasing the pro football dream, his big acting break, working with Lee, filming 'BlacKkKlansman,' sports movies, and more (56:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by chef, author, and TV producer Eddie Huang to talk tortured Knicks fandom, Linsanity, NBA rookies, summer league, the transformation of the L.A. food scene, developing TV shows, and more (3:13). Then Bill talks with author Jim Miller about ESPN's apex, its current state, the future of digital media, and Miller's new podcast episode “Origins of a Champion: Nick Saban & Alabama’s Crimson Tide” (52:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN fantasy football guru Matthew Berry to talk about their fantasy origins, the rise of fantasy sports, to PPR or not to PPR, snake drafts vs. auctions, and what a game-changer daily fantasy is. Then Matthew shares some strategies for this year's draft as well as some thoughts on the upcoming fantasy football season.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his old friend and rival Yankees fan JackO to discuss the Red Sox's sweep of the Yankees, A-Rod's relentless commentary, playoff implications, and more (3:38). Then Bill sits down with his daughter, Zoe, to discuss teen culture in the form of breakups, YouTube, and TV (39:30), before talking with Chris Ryan about the season finale of HBO's 'Succession' (1:04:05).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Juliet Litman for a tension-filled podcast as they review The Ringer's 100 Best TV Episodes of the Century.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis and The Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay to discuss MGM Resorts and the NBA's new partnership, unimportant sports shows, reaction culture, candid athletes, esports on TV, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by New York radio legend Mike Francesa to discuss the Yankees and Red Sox before the upcoming four-game series, They discuss the disappointing Mets, modernizing baseball, the fall of the traditional newspaper, and the rise of esports (2:13), before Bill talks to his buddy Joe House about their new favorite show, 'Succession' (50:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the NBA roster changes this summer. They decide which teams got better, which teams got worse, and which teams are just treading water
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by college basketball analyst Jay Williams to discuss his time in the NBA, how we evaluate college players, his 2001 NCAA national championship team, fixing college basketball, playing for Coach K, the pre-LeBron generation of NBA players, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor and Shea Serrano (1:55), Joe House (44:25), and Bill's dad (1:12:15) to examine all the angles involved in the Kawhi Leonard–DeMar DeRozan trade.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with the legend himself Denzel Washington to talk Knicks, Lakers, Yankees–Red Sox, playing against Ray Allen in 'He Got Game,' making sports movies, filming fight scenes, and his new film 'The Equalizer 2,' which premieres July 20 (4:30). Then Bill calls up his pal and Rival CEO Nathan Hubbard to talk about seeing Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, and Christopher Cross live in concert this past weekend, and what a "Yacht Rock Palooza" might look like (50:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss the NFL offseason, why it's so different than the NBA offseason, sports gambling's potential impact on the NFL, and story lines for next season, including the aging elite quarterbacks and talent-stacking through free agency, (4:00). Then Bill sits down with his daughter, Zoe Simmons, and comedian, actor, and director Bo Burnham. They discuss Burnham's new film, 'Eighth Grade,' his directorial debut; capturing the essence of eighth grade; doing stand-up comedy; the YouTube audience; internet subcultures; and more (53:20).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to discuss the Golden State Warriors acquiring DeMarcus Cousins and how long their dominance in the NBA can last (01:56). They also debate whether a starting five of all LeBron Jameses would be better than a starting five of any other player in NBA history (21:12). Then they talk about soccer trolls (52:30), the current and future state of MLB (54:28), and the Chappaquiddick scandal in light of it being turned into a movie (1:33:22).
Live from Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan, Jason Concepcion, Shea Serrano, Daryl Morey, Joe House, Haralabos Voulgaris, Cousin Sal, and Dave Chang to discuss how Twitter would react to historical NBA moments, the evolution of the NBA, the legalization of sports gambling, meals to eat on death row, and more.
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Dave Chang, Joe House, and Cousin Sal to discuss their Las Vegas gambling experience (2:06). Then, Chris Ryan joins to talk World Cup betting (28:42) and 2019 NBA championship odds (37:37). Finally, Bill and Chris bring in Shea Serrano and Jason Concepcion to react to Tony Parker's decision to sign with the Charlotte Hornets in the twilight of his career and other NBA free-agency news (57:47).
The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey are gonna need a bigger boat to celebrate the 1975 Academy Award–winning shark-attack thriller starring Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss and directed by Steven Spielberg.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his longtime buddy Joe House to talk about LeBron James on the Lakers, how we got here, and some of L.A.'s recent signings, including Lance Stephenson and JaVale McGee. Then they talk Paul George staying in OKC over some "unfinished business," the "new" Western Conference, and teams that try to fill their rosters in July.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Haralabos Voulgaris to talk about LeBron's decision, the best team to chase a ring, and the possibility of the Lakers pulling off a superteam. They wrap by going through some major 2018 free agents.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to talk NBA draft aftermath, Kawhi and LeBron speculation, possible opt-outs, Jaylen Brown's true value, and more (2:20). Then Bill calls up his buddy JackO to revisit the Yankees and Red Sox before their upcoming three-game series, talk rule changes, and discuss Donald Trump's interesting month (37:23). Finally, Bill's daughter Zoe talks about teenage pop culture, including Millie Bobby Brown, movies, teenagers on Instagram, and more (1:13:38).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to talk about Sal's World Cup bets, the odds on LeBron's next team, and gearing up for legalized gambling (3:48). Then Bill is joined by Jonathan Tjarks to talk about the 2018 NBA draft, including the Mavericks' trade to get Luka Doncic, an unfortunate landing spot for Mo Bamba, and an interesting Phoenix Suns roster (27:55). Finally, Bill calls up his dad to talk about Celtics first-round draft pick Robert Williams, the Red Sox, and why Kawhi Leonard would be bad for the Celtics (55:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Shea Serrano about the 'Creed 2' trailer, 'Death Wish,' and Shea's Spurs fan perspective on Kawhi Leonard (3:35). Then Bill calls up Joe House to congratulate him on his Washington Capitals winning the Stanley Cup, and to talk about whether teams should trade for Kawhi, Dwight Howard's sixth trade in seven years, HBO's 'Courtside at the NBA Finals,' LeBron's next move, and more (33:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings in a slew of Ringer staffers for a special mock draft of the top 14 picks in the 2018 NBA draft.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving to talk leaving Cleveland, changing perspectives, empowered NBA players, summer rumors including the fresh-pressed Kawhi-to-L.A. Lakers, the 2017-18 season, recovering from surgery, 2018 NBA Finals, Boston next season, Uncle Drew, playing basketball in prosthetics, and more (1:40). Then Bill talks with Sean Fennessey about the new horror film 'Hereditary' [SPOILERS] (1:05:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Kevin O'Connor about the upcoming NBA draft, the trade value of the no. 1 pick, how this year compares with recent drafts, who will claim Luka Doncic, what the Cavs might do, and more (3:22). Then Bill sits down with actor, writer, and producer Nick Kroll to talk about old-school sports radio, 'The League,' TV streaming culture, 'Big Mouth' Season 2, filming 'Uncle Drew,' hosting award shows, and more (55:48).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons, still coming down from the NBA Finals, talks LeBron's hand injury, the media aftermath of a finals sweep, and legacy implications for Kevin Durant and Steph Curry (3:15), before sitting down with Bryan Curtis to revisit NBA Finals narratives, the NBA replay, the NBA and NFL offseasons, and more (24:28).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by the toughest guy in NBA history, Charles Oakley, to talk Michael Jordan stories, the difference between old-school and today's NBA, the Pat Riley Knicks, why LeBron should leave the Cavs, his MSG ban, and a slew of his NBA beefs on and off the court.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his old friend Jalen Rose to talk about what NBA players do in Cleveland, Kawhi Leonard's "Pre-Agency," some of Jalen's NBA seasons, the Kardashians/Jenners' impeccable NBA scouting, all-time greats, LeBron's next move, where Kevin Durant may end up in the next few years, Jalen's new morning show schedule, and more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons recaps Game 2 of the NBA Finals (2:13) before he is joined by actor and long-time Warriors fan Andy Samberg to discuss Game 1 of the NBA Finals, a PED hall of fame, comparisons between NBA teams and 'SNL' casts, and more (18:35). Then Bill sits down with Viceland's Desus and Mero to talk Pusha-T and Drake, LeBron's current mindset, and fixing the Knicks, Yankees, and Red Sox, before trying to figure out what is actually going on in 'Fortnite' (56:05).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on the Bryan Colangelo situation (3:15) before talking NBA Finals narratives and subplots, including historic Finals runs, the real difference between LeBron and Michael Jordan, and Kevin Durant versus LeBron James, Part 2 (14:25). Then Bill sits down with Durant's business manager, Rich Kleiman, to talk about his music industry origins, his run with Roc Nation, meeting Durant, and how players are more equipped today to branch out in the business world (32:10).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons connects with his longtime friend Joe House to mull over the Rockets' loss to the Warriors in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. Then they discuss the possible LeBron narratives for the offseason, including one that lands him in Houston, and who could steal Luca Doncic in the NBA draft before talking about the Stanley Cup final, the Vegas Golden Knights' incredible story, and how Alex Ovechkin is the top dog in all of Washington, D.C.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Celtics fan and TV producer Kevin Hench about Boston's loss to the Cavs in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals and LeBron's superhuman ability to single-handedly pull out a series win (with the help of a few Celtics players) (2:55). Then Bill talks with Fox Sports commentator Rob Stone about the Champions League final and World Cup soccer (41:53), before sitting down with his daughter, Zoe Simmons, to discuss 2018 teenage girl culture involving YouTube, Netflix, and Instagram (1:09:43).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan to talk about Thursday night's Warriors-Rockets Game 5, the Cavs-Celtics series, and the All-NBA team ballot (2:50). Then Bill sits down with the legend Johnny Knoxville to talk growing up a prankster, 'Jackass' origins, shared experiences with the infamous 'Action Park,' 'The Ringer,' 'Bad Grandpa,' and Knoxville's new film, 'Action Point,' coming to theaters Friday, June 1 (39:58).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Philadelphia 76ers shooting guard J.J. Redick to discuss Round 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs, Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, the Boston home crowd, Chris Paul's great fit with the Houston Rockets, LeBron's calculated movements, and the NCAA one-and-done phenomenon.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by ESPN's Zach Lowe to discuss possible Chris Paul–Rockets contract decisions, Toronto's coaching situation, fixing the NBA playoffs, and the wildest NBA summer moves you'd actually believe.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with Jonathan Tjarks about the Eastern and Western Conference finals and NBA draft lottery candidates including Luka Doncic, Deandre Ayton, and Miles Bridges (3:00), Then Bill sits down with music legend and 45-plus-year Lakers season-ticket holder Lou Adler to talk about witnessing NBA history, the Roxy, some incredible Jack Nicholson stories, and more (38:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons gives his thoughts on the improbable Celtics run as he names the most improbable finals teams in NBA history (3:10). Then Bill calls up his dad to talk about Boston's victory in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals (24:38). Finally, Bill is joined by Shea Serrano to talk about YouTube Red's 'Cobra Kai,' liking Johnny Lawrence, '80s movies that need to be TV shows, and 'Den of Thieves' and other bank robbery films (58:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Cousin Sal to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling on sports gambling in America. They talk about why this is so important, wonder what form sports gambling will take at places like 7-Eleven, and speculate on who the first person involved with a sports gambling scandal will be (2:50). Then, Bill sits down with actor Ethan Hawke to talk about the pre-internet era, sports movies, working with Robin Williams and Denzel Washington, quitting smoking, falling in love on set, and Ethan's new film, 'First Reformed,' written and directed by Paul Schrader. Then Ethan talks about how he lost his Knicks tickets, the progressiveness of the NBA, and accepting LeBron's greatness (23:05).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls Joe House to tell him that LeBron has jumped Bill Russell and is now no. 2 on his all-time list. They talk about today's conditioning and health knowledge versus other basketball eras, the 76ers-Celtics series, Raptors coach Dwane Casey getting fired, and fake trades for DeMar DeRozan (4:25). Finally, Bill connects with Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck to talk about the franchise's strong roots, working with Danny Ainge, the Brooklyn trade, Boston's rookies, and more (58:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons connects with former Cleveland Cavaliers GM David Griffin to talk about the different levels of LeBron's game, the Kyrie Irving trade and its surrounding story lines, fixing the MVP award, LeBron's next move, and Kawhi Leonard (3:00). Then Bill calls up JackO to talk about the Red Sox–Yankees series, the NHL playoffs, Mike Francesa's return, and more (1:04:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons weighs in on Game 4 of Celtics-76ers and LeBron James's merciless play against the Raptors (3:15). Then Bill is joined by Ringer TV critic Alison Herman to talk about 'SNL,' its historic run, its recent seasons, and where it could go from here (21:35). Next he connects with staff writer Katie Baker to talk about the NHL playoffs, the Capitals beating the Penguins, the legacy of Alex Ovechkin, and the unlikelihood of a new expansion team taking a shot at the Stanley Cup (54:25). Finally he calls music critic Lindsay Zoladz to discuss Donald Glover's ascension to creative leader, Kanye West's legacy vs. his recent behavior, and more (116:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons connects with his dad to talk about the Celtics' second playoff win over the 76ers, how Philly can get back on track, the Red Sox, and (maybe) for the last time revisit the Patriots' 2018 draft picks (3:10). Then, Nathan Hubbard calls in to talk about his vision for next-gen ticket sales and his new company, Rival, as well as L.A. FC's new stadium, and being a sports parent (39:45), Finally, Bill talks with Mark Titus about the Rockets, the NBA's lackadaisical enforcement of traveling violations, the Pacers, the college basketball teams with the biggest persecution complexes, and Titus's bid to be head coach of the Chicago State men's basketball program (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks with ESPN's Brian Windhorst about how LeBron James seems to believe in this Cavs team once again, the different peaks of LeBron's career, the Celtics-76ers series, LeBron's "final act," Kawhi Leonard's future, and what a wild offseason the NBA is about to have.
You can find the 'Melothon 2018' shirt at bit.ly/ringershop.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to talk NBA playoffs, including the Wizards-Raptors series, and what the Bucks need to do in order to keep Giannis happy. The two also take a swing at how to fix OKC this summer, and talk about LeBron's superhuman performance in the Pacers-Cavs series (3:05). Then Bill connects with JackO to talk about the Yankees, Red Sox, the return of 'Jersey Shore', and the return of Mike Francesa to WFAN Sports Radio (1:00:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to talk about the first round of the NFL draft—from the quarterback selections to the merciless booing of Roger Goodell—and topics from the NBA playoffs, including: Jaylen Brown's potential, the Pelicans, Philly's chance to come out of the East, issues with the NBA lottery, and much more.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks about some NBA story lines, including the 76ers undoubtedly being playoff-ready, the Pacers-Cavs series, and Russell Westbrook's impact on the Thunder (6:25), Then Bill is joined by comedian and television star Jerrod Carmichael to talk about about music, Twitter, making TV shows, streaming services, and more (30:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks about a captivating NBA Playoffs first round (2:24) before sitting down with Viceland's Desus and Mero to discuss Yankees-Red Sox, Uber drivers, Kobe Bryant, The Knicks (of course), making TV shows, and getting to the bottom of the beef with The Breakfast Club's DJ Envy (18:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons connects with Chuck Klosterman to discuss Tiger Woods and his legacy through the lens of Jeff Benedict and Armen Keteyian's recent book 'Tiger Woods' (3:05); the NBA playoffs, including Anthony Davis and all five of Rajon Rondo's levels (42:20); and a quarterback-rich NFL draft (1:08:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks about the bleakest Patriots outlook in recent memory in the wake of Tom Brady's hesitation to sign a new contract (4:12). Then Bill is joined by colleague and Spurs fan Shea Serrano to further discuss the Kawhi Leonard situation (16:33) before talking about the best new action movies and sequel hopefuls (45:45). Warning: There is a lot of 'John Wick: Chapter 3' talk.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to talk NBA, including a breakout Giannis performance, the Knicks' hilarious coaching search, Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs, the 76ers-Heat series, and the Pacers' beatdown of the Cavs. Then they revisit the 'House of Carbs' NBA food cities pod with some feedback from the masses.
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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the NBA playoff matchups. They talk gambling stay-aways, questionable coaching, and give their playoff predictions.
HBO and The Ringer's BIll Simmons is joined by Mike Francesa to talk about present and past Masters winners, the Yankees' slow start, the Red Sox's hot streak, other AL teams, NBA MVPs, the NBA playoffs, and what the first couple of picks in this year's NFL draft might look like (5:50). Then The Ringer's Alyssa Bereznak connects to talk about the Facebook scandal, Mark Zuckerberg's comments, and how to regulate the internet (1:08:20).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to mull over the surprising success of the Philadelphia 76ers (03:30), Patrick Reed's win in Augusta (15:00), and 'WrestleMania 34' (21:00). Then, Bill and Sean Fennessey sit down with 'Andre the Giant' director Jason Hehir to discuss meeting with Vince McMahon (41:15), how important editing is to a documentary (01:07:45), Andre's sex life (01:15:00), interviewing Robin Wright (01:35:00), the use of narrators in documentaries (01:40:00), and more.
Bill Simmons is joined by his dad and Joe House in Augusta, Georgia, after Round 1 of the Masters to talk about the remainder of the Celtics’ season without Kyrie Irving and the Eastern Conference playoffs before getting into their third day at Augusta National Golf Club (23:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with his dad live from Augusta to talk about his lifelong dream of going to the Masters (5:11) and other news from the sports world (10:30). Then, Bill sits down with the "Mayor of Hollywood," a.k.a. Jeff Goldblum, to talk Steelers vs. Patriots (37:48), to play the IMDb Game (47:01), and to compare stories from fatherhood (88:31).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan and Kevin O’Connor to discuss the upcoming NBA playoffs (2:31), conspiracies surrounding Kawhi Leonard (5:04), and Bill’s disinterest in anything the Spurs are doing (21:03). Then, JackO comes through to discuss the Yankees, Red Sox, and more in the return of the MLB season (56:59); UConn women’s basketball losing to Notre Dame (01:11:37); and their favorite memories from this year’s NCAA men’s March Madness (01:16:10).
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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Kevin Durant dive right back into the mailbag to discuss the Warriors' best game this season (5:00), Klay Thompson stories (13:00), the "take" era of sports media (28:00), Durant's three-on-three dream team (40:00), LaVar Ball (46:00), basketball bloggers (56:00), and NBA free agency this summer (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by self-proclaimed "Basketball Guru" Kevin Durant to discuss the distance between players and fans (5:00), growing the game of basketball (11:00), Twitter's impact on the NBA (19:00), the desire to master basketball (25:00), the All-NBA team (30:00), the revamped NBA All-Star Game (34:00), the Rookie of the Year race (41:00), the LeBron partnership (48:00), and the start to another KD mailbag (53:00).
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HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Al Pacino and Barry Levinson to discuss how the two get along so well (14:45), their new film ‘Paterno’ (19:00), and what they expect the reaction to the film will be (27:20). Then, Bill debunks a ‘Heat’ conspiracy theory (41:20) and Al talks about how Francis Ford Coppola saved his job (48:30), when John Cazale realized Meryl Streep was the greatest actor alive (56:00) and the impact Marlon Brando had on him (59:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ‘Billions’ co-creator Brian Koppelman to discuss the rewatchability of ‘Rounders’ (05:30), which ‘Billions’ character gets mentioned the most in real life (13:45), the show resonating with rappers and NBA players (1:04:00), and finding a way to make it entertaining without being campy (1:11:15). Then they discuss HBO’s upcoming documentary ‘Andre the Giant’ (1:24:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Michael and Martellus Bennett as they discuss why NBA players are more outspoken than NFL players (10:04), what Tom Brady is like as a teammate (34:32), how it feels to get the sudden call that you're being traded (53:02), what they want their legacies to be (56:57), and how elitism keeps change from happening in the NFL (1:16:51).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Trail Blazers's quest to conquer the Western Conference (03:45), the baggage that could hold back the Rockets (24:00), the Russell Westbrook conundrum (38:00), the insignificance of the triple-double (48:30), the Rookie of the Year race between Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell (50:45), Brad Stevens and the struggling Celtics (57:45), the Boston sports radio scene (01:09:45), and ranking UMBC's win over Virginia among the greatest upsets of all time (01:19:00).
Read "Four Big Questions for the Thunder" by Kevin O'Connor here: https://t.co/jIxZTu6PCO
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to discuss the present and future state of college basketball and how it affects the NBA (03:00) and to debate the potential of the internet forcing today’s youth to grow up faster (15:00). Then they debate how much of an obligation you have to be plugged into society (30:00) before airing their frustrations with awards shows (57:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin Clark to discuss Kirk Cousins's massive contract (03:00), the new-look 49ers (13:00), and more impactful free-agency moves (20:00). Then, Bill's dad calls in to talk about trusting in the Patriots' process (31:00) and his frustrating Celtics (42:30). Finally, Kevin O'Connor joins the show to discuss the benefits of tanking (50:30) and to talk about All-NBA predictions, so far (01:14:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined live in Austin by Bill Hader to discuss his new HBO comedy, 'Barry', some of his best stories from working on 'South Park,' and the state of satire in the world today.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh to discuss the conspiracy behind the 2008 Olympics leading to LeBron's "Decision" (8:00), Bosh's blood clot issue (24:00), Vince Carter's natural talent (38:00), Jalen Rose as a teammate (52:00), and NBA title contenders this season (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh to discuss the rebound leading to Ray Allen's iconic shot in the 2013 Finals (6:00), the difficulty of completing a three-peat (18:00), the first season in Miami with LeBron (31:00), and the peak of the Miami Heat during the LeBron-Wade-Bosh era (40:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Jimmy Kimmel and Cousin Sal to discuss Bill's reason for missing Jimmy's post-Oscars party (6:00), the odds on Jimmy's monologue jokes (12:00), President Donald Trump's tweet about ratings (22:00), Jimmy's growing profile in the political space (32:00), Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty's return (43:00), a special edition of "Parent Corner" (50:00), the Mount Rushmore of late-night guests (55:00), and what's next for Jimmy (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by BuzzFeed senior writer Charlie Warzel to discuss the information war on the internet (6:00), the power of conspiracies (17:00), the idea of internet vigilantes (22:00), translating computer crimes into movies (38:00), misusing the internet (52:00), and the power of Twitter (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Mark Titus and Tate Frazier to discuss Arizona head coach Sean Miller versus ESPN (6:00), ways to fix the collegiate basketball system (14:00), potential top-five NBA draft picks (28:00), Anthony Davis's dominance (40:00), and Oden vs. Durant (46:00). Then, The Ringer's Kevin Clark calls in from Indianapolis to discuss the NFL combine (55:00) and the Browns' best draft options (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ringer staffer Kevin O'Connor to discuss who the NBA MVP is as things stand right now (6:00), the pace of the Pelicans (13:00), LeBron vs. Giannis (20:00), takeaways from the Sloan Conference (25:00), Brandon Ingram vs. Ben Simmons (38:00), Kawhi Leonard's trade value (46:00), and the top 2018 NBA draft prospects (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's David Shoemaker to discuss the WWE TV rights (6:00), UFC vs. WWE on Fox (13:00), Ronda Rousey's character in the WWE universe (27:00), and HBO's 'Andre the Giant' documentary (40:00). Then, Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris join to re-rank the 2013 Oscars (50:00) and review where the Academy went right and wrong five years ago.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up Joe House to discuss the need for the definitive Michael Jordan documentary (06:30), how every MJ game was "must-see TV" (19:00), the trouble with comparing him to LeBron (26:00), the Kawhi Leonard mystery (41:30), and tweaking the playoff format (45:00). Then JackO gets on the line to talk about Johnny Weir's style (54:15), Canada's performance in the Winter Olympics (56:00), Tonya Harding's undeserved redemption (01:04:30), and their favorite moments of the Olympics (01:05:00).
Read Bill's article, "How LeBron Can Finish His Fairy Tale Better Than MJ," here: https://t.co/dze1usPJ0m
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal dish out potentially problematic parenting advice and share stories from their time as dads in the second part of this series.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons breaks down the reasons why the NBA playoff format needs to be dramatically different (5:00). Then, Cousin Sal hops on the line to give his thoughts on the Winter Olympics (27:00), the NBA All-Star Game (34:00), and early Oscars picks (42:00). Finally, Rockets GM Daryl Morey joins to detail his journey through the NBA ranks and the importance of analytics in his life (56:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Nuggets forward Richard Jefferson to discuss his new life in Denver (6:00), Jamal Murray's potential (12:00), Luke Walton vs. LaVar Ball (22:00), the most impressive rookie in the NBA (30:00), the LeBron GM narrative (38:00), Kyrie Irving's ability to lead (46:00), the IT situation in Cleveland (56:00), and the best NBA teammates (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by talent manager Scooter Braun, who discusses his upbringing around basketball (6:00), the cyclical nature of music (16:00), the decision to roast Justin Bieber (23:00), Kanye's creativity (30:00), the narcissistic nature of superstardom (48:00), the best basketball players in music (1:08:00), and the struggles of safety on tour (1:18:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Fox Sports host Rob Stone to discuss the new U.S. Soccer president (6:00). Then, JackO joins to give a full update on all the happenings of the Winter Olympics (26:00). Then, Bill's dad hops on the line to give his takeaways from Paul Pierce's jersey retirement in Boston (45:00). And finally, Boston radio host Kirk Minihane runs through the hottest story lines and the shifting culture in Boston sports (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his old ESPN buddy Ryen Russillo to discuss Isaiah Thomas's value in the NBA today (6:00), OKC's positive outlook for keeping Paul George (13:00), the pitfalls of the NBA salary spike (20:00), LeBron's new teammates (34:00), LeBron's next move (54:00), and the impressive upcoming 2018 NBA draft (1:06:00). Then, another former ESPNer, Tom Haberstroh, offers his thoughts on who won the trade deadline and the one trade that didn't happen that should have. Finally, Joe House hops on the line to give his opinion on what it would take for the Wizards to give up John Wall.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Wall Street Journal sports columnist Jason Gay and Ringer editor-at-large Bryan Curtis to discuss new media's impact on Super Bowl LII coverage (8:00), broadcast experimentation in the NBA (22:00), the best announcing teams (38:00), Chris Berman's return (52:00), and reasons to not care about the 2018 Winter Olympics (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the bad matchups for the Pats (5:00), Doug Pederson's MVP coaching (12:00), the strip sack on Brady (18:00), the Malcolm Butler mystery (24:00), the future of the Pats defense (32:00), Nick Foles's next move (41:00), the Super Bowl odds for next season (52:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mike Francesa to discuss the latest 30 for 30, on Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells (7:00), the Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches (18:00), the media coverage of Super Bowls (28:00), Eli Manning's fourth-quarter magic (34:00), and picks for Sunday's final showdown (58:00). Then, Vince Staples joins to give his thoughts on the Blake Griffin trade and the state of Clippers fandom (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by 'Black on the Air' host Larry Wilmore to discuss the young L.A. Lakers under Luke Walton (6:00), George Gervin's playground game (15:00), Blake Griffin's goodbye (25:00), N.Y. traffic vs. L.A. traffic (34:00), the age of "agreement culture" (42:00), the power of differing opinions (50:00), and Kendrick Lamar's accessibility (1:05:00). Then The Ringer's Juliet Litman joins to discuss all things 'Bachelor' (1:11:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss surefire Super Bowl prop bets (10:00), LeBron's Lakers odds (20:00), Ronda Rousey at Royal Rumble (34:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (38:00). Then, Oscar-winning actor J.K. Simmons joins to discuss HBO's first great drama, 'Oz' (54:00), Kevin Costner's magical arm in 'For Love of the Game,' and the making of 'Whiplash' (1:24:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons reunites with Jalen Rose to discuss the origins of The Fab Five (5:00), Jalen's rise at ESPN (14:00), 'The Grantland Basketball Hour' (30:00), the NBA All-Star draft (36:00), LeBron's longevity in the East (1:01:00), Kawhi Leonard's situation on the Spurs (1:16:00), Coach K's new sales pitch (1:28:00), and the best NBA Finals cities (1:40:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Eagles' dominating victory over the Vikings (4:00), Doug Pederson's playoff performance (10:00), the return of Chris Berman (14:00), the Pats' game-winning plays (22:00), the largest Super Bowl spread in nine years (28:00), Danny Amendola's clutch catches (32:00), and the Pats' lack of penalties (41:00). Then, former Cowboys quarterback and current CBS commentator Tony Romo joins to give his thoughts on his first year in the booth (44:00) and the end of the golden age of quarterbacks (51:00). Finally, Bill and Sal wrap it all up with another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:03:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ‘Lady Bird’ writer-director Greta Gerwig and star Saoirse Ronan to discuss the reception of the film (02:00), the enjoyment of making a coming-of-age story (10:00), and the timing of its release in today’s current climate (34:00). Then, Mike Francesa joins Bill to discuss the unbelievable end to the Vikings-Saints game (51:30), Tom Brady's injured hand (53:30), the most shocking in-game playoff football moments (59:00), their predictions (01:06:45), and the best possible story line for the Super Bowl (01:18:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Zach Lowe of ESPN to discuss the angriest NBA fan base (02:00), locks for the Western Conference All-Star starting lineup (04:30), Anthony Davis vs. Karl-Anthony Towns (19:30), the Cavs potentially trading for Boogie Cousins (34:00), their current All-Defense first team (55:45), if the Rockets are legitimate (58:30), the Isaiah Thomas–Paul Pierce drama (01:07:00), and the most bizarre story in the NBA (01:11:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Stefon Diggs's miracle catch in Minnesota (5:00), the Vikings' destiny potential (15:00), the Falcons' poor play-calling (24:00), Mike Tomlin's miscues (30:00), the league's lack of big-name quarterbacks (40:00), Tom Brady defying age limitations (48:00), Jaguars-Pats (52:00), Vikings-Eagles (58:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by New York radio legend Mike Francesa to recap last week’s picks (2:35), give their picks for the NFL's divisional round (4:45), discuss NBA coaches’ issues with coverage of LaVar Ball (34:50), and debate who the Red Sox should acquire in the offseason (45:15). Then Kathy Carter, president of Soccer United Marketing, joins to discuss her campaign to become the next U.S. Soccer president and the next step for American soccer as a whole (49:35).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's very own Sean Fennessey and Chris Ryan to discuss Bill's top 10 movies of 2017.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the up-and-down wild-card weekend (5:00), the Falcons' big upset (10:00), Blake Bortles's unmatched badness (14:00), Cam Newton's comeback effort (18:00), Jon Gruden's goodbye (24:00), Titans-Pats (29:00), Falcons-Eagles (35:00), Jaguars-Steelers (39:00), Saints-Vikings (42:00), House's defense of taking the Chiefs moneyline (46:30), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by New York radio legend Mike Francesa to discuss the leaked news regarding the New England Patriots trading away Jimmy Garoppolo (2:10), evaluate Jon Gruden’s imminent return to the NFL (18:45), debate the likelihood of Bill Belichick taking another job (23:30), and give their NFL picks for this weekend (36:33). Then, Bill calls his dad to get a Boston resident’s perspective on the Patriots story (48:10) and the Celtics’ dominant season thus far (61:45).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian and star of HBO's 'Crashing,' Pete Holmes, to discuss his start in comedy, his favorite conspiracy theories (11:00), why roasts are therapeutic (22:00), the art vs. the person (28:00), the premise behind 'Crashing' (33:00), New York's stand-up scene (46:00), recording with Garry Shandling (55:00), Aaron Rodgers's UFO obsession (1:03:00), the power of boredom (1:12:00), and finding the weirdness with podcasts (1:20:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the battle for the 6-seed in the AFC (5:00), Andy Dalton's clutch TD for the Bills (9:00), the terrible Titans (13:00), Jon Gruden's potential new gig (16:00), the best teams against the spread in the regular season (28:00), Titans-Chiefs (34:00), Falcons-Rams (41:00), Bills-Jaguars (47:00), Panthers-Saints (51:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined again by New York radio legend Mike Francesa to recap last week’s NFL picks (2:23) and offer up picks for Week 17 (19:06). Then, The Ringer's Kevin O’Connor joins to discuss precocious NBA rookies (28:17) and the Oklahoma City Thunder trending upwards (31:28); former NFL linebacker Chris Borland and The Ringer’s Kevin Clark come on to debate the factors that hinder player safety in football (35:33); and The Ringer’s Mark Titus and Tate Frazier sit down to consider a hypothetical college basketball rivalry (43:39).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey to discuss the changing landscape of selling movies (10:00), dropping out of college to pursue filmmaking dreams (20:00), working with Burt Reynolds (35:00), the art form of DVD commentary (45:00), the comedic genius of Adam Sandler (54:00), the intense setting while shooting 'The Master' (1:07:00), and writing scripts on Microsoft Word (1:18:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the end of the Cowboys’ playoff hopes after their loss to the Seahawks (2:40), Jimmy Garoppolo’s continuing success as a 49er (5:40), and the gambling implications of the Eagles’ fourth-quarter field goal (11:00). Then they guess Week 17 lines (37:20) and share a very special Christmas edition of Parent Corner (1:06:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by legendary New York sports radio host Mike Francesa to discuss Jimmy Garoppolo's setup in San Francisco (5:00), Eli Manning's offensive line problem (12:00), Matt Ryan's down year (19:00), picks for Week 16 (32:00), Detroit's quiet season (40:00), and Super Bowl odds (45:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's editor-at-large, Bryan Curtis, to discuss John Skipper's decision to step down at ESPN and Skipper's lasting legacy at the company. Then, Stratechery's Ben Thompson joins (32:00) to give his thoughts on Disney's most recent acquisition and who's competing in the tech space with Netflix.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the crazy Pats-Steelers finish (6:00), Todd Gurley's dominant performance in Seattle (15:00), Jimmy G's new groove with the Niners (21:00), the Ravens' playoff chances (36:00), the top NFC contenders (44:00), the Seahawks' struggles (57:00), the NFL games on Christmas Day (1:01:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his dad for his first full podcast, to talk the best and worst of Boston sports (2:50). Then, The Ringer's Kevin Clark stops by to talk Jimmy G, the AFC playoffs, and growing up a tortured Orlando Magic fan (22:50). Finally, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor calls in to discuss some of the trades that shaped this NBA season, Russell Westbrook's off-ball play, the trade deadline, and way-too early NBA Finals talk (54:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his old buddy JackO to discuss the Yankees trading for slugger Giancarlo Stanton (5:00), Derek Jeter's secret agent status (12:00), the state of the Miami Marlins (17:00), the renewal of the Red Sox–Yankees rivalry (21:00), Shohei Ohtani signing with the Angels (27:00), Mike Francesa's farewell (35:00), and the chance Holy Cross changes its mascot's name (42:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss their fantasy football showdown (5:00), Carson Wentz's injury (11:00), Derek Carr's struggles (21:00), the holiday shopping showdown (33:00), Keenan Allen's comeback (39:00), Ravens-Browns (47:00), Winston vs. Mariota (54:00), Raiders-Cowboys (59:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Curtis and The Wall Street Journal's Jason Gay to talk podcasts and journalism in 2017 (2:08), reinventing studio sports shows (27:15), the 2018 World Cup and Winter Olympics (55:55), and how millennials can break into sports media today (66:40).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bryan Cranston to discuss his first big break (5:00), Erik Estrada's ego during 'Chips' (12:00), Larry David's comedy bootcamp (23:30), playing a TV dad on 'Malcolm in the Middle' (32:00), dealing with fame (43:00), the importance of streaming with 'Breaking Bad' (54:00), and working with Richard Linklater (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Gronk's cheap shot (4:15), the Music City Miracle 2.0, (8:20), feeling sorry for Eli Manning (23:30), Jimmy Garoppolo and Bill’s new favorite NFC team (27:05), the goofy playoff picture (33:55), Week 14 lines (39:40), and another edition of Parent Corner (67:12).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to discuss Draymond's chances of winning 'Survivor' (6:00), the one-and-done rule (15:00), the art of taking plays from other coaches (30:30), and the difference between winning a title as a player and as a coach (44:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to discuss the modern NBA player (6:00), deciding against taking the Knicks job (15:00), Jordan's competitiveness in practice (20:00), getting rid of excessive replay reviews (27:00), Jordan's flu game (35:00), and Jeff Van Gundy's two-knucklehead theory (42:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the struggles of the Cowboys and "The Clapper" (5:00), Carson Wentz vs. Tom Brady MVP odds (14:00), the playoff picture (19:00), Alvin Kamara's ROY campaign (26:00), the chances the Cowboys bring back Tony Romo (33:00), the number of bad coaches in the NFL (40:00), the Blake Bortles gambit (48:00), the Rams' dominant offense (54:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:03:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal dish out potentially problematic parenting advice and share stories from their times as dads.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by best-selling author and old buddy Chuck Klosterman to discuss switching to Sirius XM over the internet, the pop culture influence on politics, the lack of humor in media coverage, the potential of Ben Simmons, and the comedic genius of Jim Carrey.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Dak Prescott's disappointing Sunday night (5:00), Kansas City's chances of losing the AFC West (14:00), Wentz vs. Brady MVP odds (18:00), the NFC playoff picture (22:00), Tony Romo's lack of luck (29:00), the three Thanksgiving Day games (37:30), the Rams-Saints marquee matchup (44:00), Blaine Gabbert vs. Blake Bortles (51:30), Panthers-Giants (1:01:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:07:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to construct a top-20 list of the best current NBA players through one month of the 2017-18 season.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by one of the most influential authors of the 21st century, Ta-Nehisi Coates, to discuss the importance of reading (6:00), LeBron's impressive run managing his celebrity status (18:00), the decision to challenge President Obama (28:00), the role of athletes in political protest (34:00), the Colin Kaepernick situation (48:00), the O.J. doc (1:01:00), and the best season of 'The Wire' (1:08:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the loaded NFC wild-card race (5:00), another week of bad beats in the NFL (11:00), Jerry Jones vs. Roger Goodell (20:15), Martellus Bennett's return to New England (28:00), Rams-Vikings (33:00), Ravens-Packers (37:00), Bengals-Broncos (44:00), Bills-Chargers (48:30), Saints-Redskins (54:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:00:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Bryan Curtis and David Shoemaker to discuss the glaring problems with 'Thursday Night Football' (7:00), the rise of breaking investigative Hollywood stories (28:00), the JFK conspiracy world (34:00), the much-maligned ESPN layoffs (48:00), and announcer shelf lives (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons offers up his thoughts on the Celtics' win streak (5:00) and Kyrie Irving's newfound love of facilitating his teammates (10:00). Then Dan Patrick of 'The Dan Patrick Show' joins to discuss his role in BS's dismissal from ESPN (27:30), the problems with today's sports coverage (36:00), and Westbrook's situation in OKC (49:30). Then Hillsong pastor and NBA confidant Pastor Carl Lentz joins to lay out how secret NBA scrimmages come about in the summertime (1:08:20).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the lowlights of the NFL weekend (6:00), Sal's fantasy mishaps (14:00), Eagles-Chiefs (24:00), the Cardinals' playoff chances (28:00), the end of Eli Manning (35:00), Steelers-Colts (40:00), Chargers-Jaguars (45:00), Dolphins-Panthers (54:00), and another rousing edition of "Parent Corner" (57:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey and New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris to discuss Oscar noms (7:00), Clooney's struggles (23:00), Jennifer Lawrence's missed chances (32:00), the state of Tom Cruise (41:00), and reasons to watch 'The Deuce' (58:30). Then, recently departed ESPNer Tom Haberstroh joins to give his thoughts on the Cavs' lacking defense (112:00) and potential Boogie Cousins trades (1:24:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by publishing power player Janice Min to discuss Us Weekly's heyday (6:00), the increased intimacy of celebrity coverage (14:00), the "Brangelina" coverage (19:00), the relatable act upheld by the Kardashians (25:00), working with Jann Wenner (33:00), the end of the celebrity era as we know it (50:00), revamping The Hollywood Reporter (57:00), and how the Harvey Weinstein saga has flipped Hollywood on its head (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the never-ending Game 5 of the World Series (5:00), the Texans-Seahawks showdown (15:00), the Pats' trade potential (21:00), the Zombie Browns (30:00), Chiefs-Cowboys (34:00), Rams-Giants (38:30), Broncos-Eagles (43:00), Kirk Cousins's trade value (49:00), DeAndre Hopkins's stake as the best receiver in football (56:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by BSMG president Eric Weinberger to discuss the Dodgers' World Series chances (6:00) and the best ballparks in baseball (14:00). Then, actor Miles Teller joins to give his thoughts on filming 'Whiplash' (35:00), what's missing in modern rom-coms (44:00), and the best parts of being in the movie business (55:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Chris Ryan to discuss the Sixers' injury situation with top pick Markelle Fultz (7:00) and the ways in which the Philly front office is letting its young core down early this season (22:00). Then, Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri joins (34:40) to give his thoughts on the importance of the NBA draft process and the growth of basketball internationally.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls 'B.S. Pod' Hall of Famer JackO to reflect on the 2017 New York Yankees' ALCS run and look forward to the future reliance on up-and-coming talent in the Bronx.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the fallacy of the home-field advantage this season (6:00), Cam Newton's poor play in Chicago (14:00), Joe Thomas's snap streak coming to an end (22:00), Dolphins-Ravens (28:00), the wild-card contenders in the NFC (33:00), 49ers-Eagles (36:00), Bears-Saints (41:00), Texans-Seahawks (46:00), Broncos-Chiefs (52:00), the World Series matchup (56:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:06:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by former longtime Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter to discuss working in a world of satire (6:00), the creation of Spy Magazine (11:00), Trump's threats against Spy Magazine (20:00), the prosperity of the '90s (30:00), the tabloid decade of the 2000s (38:00), Los Angeles as the top American city (52:00), the Vanity Fair Oscars party (1:04:00), and the "grass is always greener" mentality in society (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons reacts to the gruesome injury Gordon Hayward suffered in the NBA season opener on Tuesday night (5:00). Then, Oscar-winning actor Jeff Bridges joins (33:00) to discuss working with Clint Eastwood (38:00), the issues with shooting 'King Kong' (44:00), hosting 'SNL' with his brother (53:00), 'The Fabulous Baker Boys' (1:03:00), creating the character of "The Dude" (1:12:00), and his first Oscar (1:20:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the bad beats of Week 6 (6:00), the best Super Bowl odds (11:00), Carson Wentz's MVP odds (15:00), Adrian Peterson's return to form (22:00), the best bet for first coach fired (29:00), the lack of marquee matchups in Week 7 (33:00), Titans-Browns (36:00), Panthers-Bears (42:00), Jay Cutler's job security (47:00), Ravens-Vikings (52:00), Odell Beckham Jr.'s Ewing Theory potential (57:00), the Super Bowl rematch on Sunday night (1:02:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (1:07:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by longtime NBC Sports broadcaster Bob Costas to discuss broadcasting in the ABA (6:00), Ahmad Rashad's presence (12:00), guest hosts on late-night television (17:00), hosting an HBO show (28:00), the issue with host cities for the IOC (35:00), covering Michael Jordan's iconic game-winning shot in 1998 (46:00), the 20 greatest MLB games of the past 50 years (55:00), the best World Series story line (1:10:00), and the justifiable protests in the NFL and beyond in the sports world (1:17:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by CEO of Blumhouse Productions Jason Blum to discuss the desire to make original movies (6:00), securing the rights to the 'Halloween' franchise (14:00), the origin story behind 'The Purge' (21:00), working with tech companies in Hollywood (30:00), buying the Amityville Horror house (35:00), the iconic 'Friday the 13th' franchise (41:00), 'The Gift' (45:00), the revival of M. Night Shyamalan (1:00:00), 'It' breaking box-office records (1:06:00), Jordan Peele's plea to protect 'Get Out' from spoilers (1:11:00), the problems with CGI (1:18:00), and the slew of upcoming projects at Blumhouse (1:24:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the Cowboys' collapse (5:00), Aaron Rodgers's MVP odds (9:00), Big Ben's abysmal performance (14:00), the impact of injuries to Odell Beckham Jr. and J.J. Watt (23:00), the Seahawks' struggling offense (26:00), potential trades for the Jaguars (31:00), Eagles-Panthers (34:00), Chiefs-Steelers (38:00), Dolphins-Falcons (44:00), Packers-Vikings (50:30), MLB playoffs (55:00), and another edition of "Parent Corner" (58:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by fellow podcaster Marc Maron to discuss his origins in the podcasting industry (5:00), the great generation of comedians (15:00), comedy clubs in Boston (21:00), his role in 'Almost Famous' (28:00), the generation of cord cutters (33:00), the process of interviewing famous people (38:00), Kurt Russell's podcasting chops (45:00), Bruce Springsteen's persona (51:00), David Letterman in the mid-eighties (56:00), Richard Pryor and Chevy Chase skits (1:02:00), and the work behind writing a book (1:13:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House, Jason Concepcion, and Kevin O'Connor to discuss the analytics cases for Devin Booker and Andrew Wiggins (8:00), Dennis Smith Jr.'s potential in Dallas (11:00), hypothetical Mike Conley Jr. trades (16:00), the Boogie experiment in New Orleans (22:00), Ricky Rubio's fit in Utah (28:00), the talent ceiling of the Clippers (35:00), the Nuggets' new look (43:00), Jeff Teague's average point guard play (50:00), the stars in OKC (56:00), the Spurs without Kawhi Leonard (1:05:00), the backcourt of Harden and CP3 (1:14:00), the Warriors' continued dominance (1:19:00), and the Lakers with Lonzo Ball (1:22:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal and Joe House to discuss the rising L.A. Rams (6:00), Deshaun Watson's dominant performance (10:00), the lack of Presidents Cup coverage (16:00), and the poor football on display in London (23:00). Then, Bill and Sal run through the Week 5 slate and guess the lines for each game (29:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and author Malcolm Gladwell host a live podcast event for NYC's Advertising Week and discuss wide-ranging topics, including building a personal brand and the rise of tanking in professional sports.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Jake Gyllenhaal to discuss auditioning for 'The Sandlot' (7:00), his new film 'Stronger' (13:00), shooting on set in Boston (24:00), role models in acting (30:00), 'Donnie Darko' (38:00), the social importance of 'Brokeback Mountain' (48:00), Heath Ledger's legacy (58:00), filming a sports movie in 'Southpaw' (1:10:00), working with Tom Ford (1:14:00), and shooting a sibling thriller with his sister, Maggie (1:18:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the NFL facing off against Trump (6:00), Big Ben's struggles (13:00), Tom Brady's mastery in the two-minute drill (19:00), Deshaun Watson's statement game (26:00), Bears-Packers (29:30), Saints-Dolphins in London (34:00), 49ers-Cardinals (39:00), Steelers-Ravens (43:00), updated odds on the first coach fired (49:00), Cam Newton's lack of explosiveness (55:00), Rams-Cowboys (1:01:00), and another riveting edition of "Parent Corner" (1:07:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian Andy Samberg to discuss the Oakland sports scene (6:00), producing the first digital shorts on 'SNL' (10:00), the best casts ever on 'SNL' (15:00), impersonating Nicolas Cage (22:00), making mockumentaries with HBO Sports (28:00), selecting the essential 'Rocky' movies (36:00), preparing to host awards shows (44:00), and finding the right roles on TV (55:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian Nathan Fielder to discuss the return of 'Nathan for You' (6:00), Michael Phelps racing an animated shark (15:00), David Blaine's magic special (18:00), how to talk about the Spurs (32:00), living life as the original millennial (38:00), developing YouTube videos (48:00), and growing up with Seth Rogen (58:00). Then, The Ringer's Mike Lombardi joins to give his thoughts on Sean Payton's sloppy start (1:09:00), the Falcons' impressive start (1:18:00), and Malcolm Butler trade ideas (1:30:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Sunday night's Emmys (5:00), Triple G vs. Canelo (8:00), the stout NFC South (16:00), Jay Cutler's first win with the Dolphins (22:00), Trevor Siemian impressing in Denver (27:00), Buccaneers-Vikings (34:00), Marshal Yanda's injury (38:00), Texans-Pats (44:00), Romo's rapport with Jim Nantz (48:00), Steelers-Bears (53:00), Marshawn Lynch's impressive return to form (1:01:00), Eli Manning's struggles (1:06:00), and Jerry Jones turning on Roger Goodell (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cleveland Cavaliers forward and NBA champion Richard Jefferson to discuss training with the Walton family (8:00), Tim Duncan as a teammate (15:00), Jason Kidd's dominance (23:00), the 2002 Eastern Conference finals (28:00), Kyrie's scoring ability (33:00), the missed opportunities in the 2017 Finals (38:00), the more offensive-minded NBA (44:00), the 2004 Olympic debacle (52:00), Kevin Love's room to improve (58:00), social media in the NBA (1:03:00), and living in Cleveland post-championship (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by renowned restaurateur David Chang and fellow DMV native Joe House to discuss the struggles of the Washington professional football team (12:00), Dan Snyder's dysfunctional stadium setup (18:00), the best kinds of bacon (24:00), the best salads to pair with bacon (30:00), food at last weekend's U.S. Open (33:00), and hotdogs as the next food frontier (44:10). Then, Bill's dad calls in to address the state of Boston sports scene (53:30), the problems with the Pats (1:01:00), and belief in Brady and Belichick (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to recap all the NFL action from Week 1, including the QB panic meter (6:00), Russell Wilson's woeful protection (14:00), Carson Wentz's impressive debut (18:00), fantasy football standouts (24:00), and Tony Romo's budding TV career (30:00). Then, Bill and Sal run through all of the Week 2 matchups and give out their best bets for the week (35:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss the Patriots' deflating opening loss (6:00), Kareem Hunt's rookie breakout (11:00), Gronk vs. Eric Berry (16:00), the downside of Tom Savage (22:00), Kyrie's thoughts on the Celtics (31:00), and way-too-early NBA odds (36:00). Then, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin joins to break down the lack of offseason NFL story lines (43:00), Antonio Brown's 'Dancing With the Stars' gimmick (49:00), player movement in the NFL (55:00), the spiritual element of enjoying fish (1:01:00), the best bacon (1:12:00), and final thoughts on 'Game of Thrones' (1:20:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by staff writer Shea Serrano, a Houston resident, to discuss the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and his grassroots social media campaign to raise funds (7:00). Then, JackO joins to give his thoughts on the Boston Red Sox stealing signs from the Yankees (23:30) and Trump's latest tirade (46:00). Finally, rookie Los Angeles Chargers kicker Younghoe Koo comes on to discuss his journey from South Korea to the NFL (54:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to continue the age-old tradition of guessing the NFL lines before each weekend's slate of games. Topics include: NFL futures (6:00), Philip Rivers's number of touchdown passes (16:00), MVP odds (21:00), odds for first coach fired (27:00), Pats-Chiefs (35:00), Packers-Seahawks (40:00), Andrew Luck's over-under games played (47:00), Steelers-Browns (51:00), Bengals-Ravens (57:00), Cowboys-Giants (1:05:00), Saints-Vikings (1:12:00), and the top-tier teams heading into Week 1 (1:16:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons gives his thoughts and theories on the bizarre Kyrie/Isaiah trade saga and why he still believes Kyrie Irving's ceiling is underrated (5:05), then brings on The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor to discuss Friday's press conference in Boston and the league's reaction to the deal (26:05). Then, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin previews the 2017 college football season and September's MLB pennant race before indulging Bill's primitive Game of Thrones thoughts (while longing for her days with The Maester, Jason Concepcion) (55:18).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by former Patriots Super Bowl champion linebacker Willie McGinest to discuss the differences between Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick (8:00), the rudderless Patriots of the ’90s (16:00), pushing the USC Trojans to hire Pete Carroll (26:00), O.J.'s superstar status at USC (31:00), Snoop Dogg's days playing quarterback (35:00), Dr. Dre's creative genius (43:00), the Michael Vick experience (56:00), the 2001 Super Bowl win (1:04:00), and where Willie keeps all of his Super Bowl rings (1:19:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by 2017 Finals MVP Kevin Durant for the second installment of a two-part series to discuss the outlook for the NBA's new-look teams and to continue answering listeners' most pressing mailbag questions.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by 2017 Finals MVP Kevin Durant for the first installment of a two-part series to discuss the shocking Kyrie Irving trade and to answer listeners' most pressing mailbag questions.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons assembles all of The Ringer's NBA experts to dissect the decision to trade Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics and discuss whether the Cavaliers became better heading into the 2017-18 NBA season.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Ringer editor-at-large Bryan Curtis and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Gay to discuss Mayweather-McGregor media hype (5:00), politics playing a role in every sports conversation (18:00), the NFL's desire to control everything (25:00), LeBron's power in the NBA (34:00), writers weighing having a platform and getting paid (40:00), the problem with the "pivot to video" (50:00), Boston potentially renaming Yawkey Way after David Ortiz (1:01:00), and Peter Vecsey's beef with Magic Johnson (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to discuss his famous steal against the Yankees (5:00), the depth on the Dodgers this season (11:00), the sense of urgency to win a World Series in L.A. (17:00), the influence of analytics in baseball (23:00), the conundrum of balancing rest with chasing history in the regular season (30:00), Yu Darvish's arrival (40:00), and the best advice he's gotten from Magic Johnson (44:00). Then, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin joins to discuss the best-case trade scenarios for Giancarlo Stanton (57:40). Finally, Bill's dad hops on the line to pitch his best Stanton trades (1:14:00) and give his thoughts on 'Game of Thrones' (1:21:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to discuss Kyrie's limited trade market (6:00), Josh Jackson's trade value (10:00), the Knicks' best shot to get Kyrie (17:00), Cleveland's interest in Jamal Murray (23:30), Jabari Parker's trade potential before his injury (30:00), the Lakers trading for LeBron (38:00), and Kyrie's chances to be a Cavalier this season (44:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Mike Lombardi, Tate Frazier, and Joe House to discuss the most ridiculous NFL offseason talking points, including Andrew Luck being overhyped (14:00), Odell Beckham Jr. being overrated (26:10), Richard Sherman and Russell Wilson's relationship (32:32), Kirk Cousins's contract (37:00), and Cam Newton's scrambling style (45:30). Then, they make a few sleeper predictions for the 2017 NFL season (56:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by fellow Boston diehard Kevin Hench to discuss the birth of the Brady-Belichick dynasty, the duo's best Super Bowl victory, the best team the Pats beat during their run together, the most important pass of Brady's career, the most improbable comebacks, and the most rewarding moments for Patriots fans since 2001.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cycle CEO/founder Jason Stein to discuss the evolution of branded content (5:00), Joel Embiid's Twitter personality (11:00), Facebook curating content (21:00), the YouTube generation (32:30), the reinvention of sports (42:00), monetizing Twitter (52:00), the Rock's social media dominance (1:01:00), and the chances of Amazon one day owning the NFL (1:07:00). Then, Bill's dad joins to talk about the Red Sox's resurgence (1:27:00) and his best guesses for what's next on 'Game of Thrones' (1:30:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and sports media mogul Casey Wasserman to discuss L.A.'s Olympic bid (5:00), modernizing the Coliseum (11:00), the biggest Olympic concerns (17:00), L.A.'s underdog status with the IOC (25:00), Trump's involvement in the bid (34:00), connected car-share technology (40:00), and L.A.'s Olympics legacy (44:00). Then, The Ringer's Jason Concepcion joins to give his thoughts on Kyrie's trade request (1:01:00) and NBA players determining their own destinies (1:11:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron to discuss her new action film 'Atomic Blonde' (5:00), auditioning with a poor English accent (11:00), Johnny Depp’s presence (16:00), Tobey Maguire's gambling (22:00), chatting with De Niro (33:00), consulting Patty Jenkins on 'Monster' (39:00), overcoming a neck injury (47:00), working with Seth MacFarlane (54:00), and the loss of irony (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Joe House to discuss Carmelo Anthony potentially going to OKC (5:00), Kyrie Irving's decision to demand a trade (14:00), the importance of All-NBA honors (18:00), John Wall vs. Kyrie (25:00), LeBron's blindsided act (35:00), David Griffin's best moves (43:00), Dan Gilbert's dysfunction (50:00), potential trades for Kyrie (56:00), LeBron's media strategy (1:03:00), and the big-picture move for LeBron (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on former Ticketmaster CEO and House Eats 3 judge Nathan Hubbard to discuss the booming business of nostalgia-rock concerts (5:00), James Dolan's desire to improve acoustics in arenas (18:00), the best bets for future Super Bowl performances (27:00), Taylor Swift's chance to perform at the 2018 Super Bowl (32:00), Dave Matthews Band and the emphasis on touring (37:00), the real reason season tickets exist (46:00), the impact of adding more arenas in Los Angeles (56:00), and how Twitter owns the moment (1:07:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on old buddy JackO to discuss Aaron Judge's slump after the home run derby (7:00), the Yankees' trade for Todd Frazier (12:00), the scariest hitters in the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry (26:30), and the genius behind 'Mike and the Mad Dog' (34:00). Then, The Ringer's Shea Serrano joins to break down the Best Worst Movie Dunks of all time (49:00) and explain what's going on with the Spurs (1:03:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler to give his thoughts on his exit from the Bulls (4:00), D-Wade's impact (11:00), tampering in the NBA offseason (18:00), idolizing the Jordan brand (26:00), Karl-Anthony Towns's unique skill set (31:00), his return to Chicago next season (37:00), Thibs's love for basketball (43:00), secret pick-up games in L.A. (53:00), and D-Rose's next destination (1:05:00). Then, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin joins to discuss the long-awaited return of 'Game of Thrones' (1:15:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with editor-at-large Bryan Curtis and New York Times best-selling author Jim Miller to discuss the shake-ups at ESPN (02:30), whether there is a business problem or a content problem (05:30), how the network has approached digital content (14:00), the deals with the NBA, MLB, and the NFL (25:30), the acquisition of Adrian Wojnarowski (40:30), 30 for 30 (54:30), and the demise of Grantland (66:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons answers the most pressing NBA summer mailbag questions. Topics include: LeBron on the Lakers (4:00), the best championship parade moment (12:30), CP3's Ewing Theory potential (16:00), Rookie of the Year odds (20:30), Paul George's trade value (30:40), Jamal Crawford's decline (35:00), Sidney Crosby's connection with Tim Duncan (46:00), the famous Monte Carlo scrimmage (51:00), Rob Pelinka's rise (1:01:00), San Diego's attractiveness to the NBA (1:13:00), and Russell Westbrook's style of play changing next season (1:20:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by John McEnroe to discuss the current state of the New York Knicks (5:00), the parallels between basketball and tennis (11:14), tennis at the collegiate level (24:44), McEnroe's first Wimbledon (27:03), the infamous tantrums (35:25), growing the game of tennis (49:40), and the 1980 Wimbledon men's singles final (1:05:05).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss NBA events from the past few days, including the Gordon Hayward signing (2:25), the Paul George trade and the best-case scenario for OKC (10:28), teams' challenges and advantages with regard to the salary cap (30:10), and the Point Blake L.A. Clippers (50:55).
Daryl Morey discusses Houston's monster acquisition of Chris Paul, his 12-year Rockets stint, free-agency stories, and ways the NBA should improve its game and yearly calendar. Then, music legend Jimmy Iovine (46:05) remembers his amazing career and talks about his new HBO documentary, 'The Defiant Ones.'
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss why the Clippers should hit the reset button (5:00), LeBron's L.A. suitors (14:00), the end of NBA tampering rules (18:00), Carmelo's fit in Houston (24:00), Blake Griffin on the Suns (29:00), Kyle Lowry on the Wolves (35:00), Andrew Wiggins's defensive problems (39:00), Gordon Hayward's chance to be a Celtic (44:00), Otto Porter Jr.'s market value (52:00), Paul Millsap on the Spurs (58:00), and Andre Iguodala's impact on the Warriors' future (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Judd Apatow to discuss the state of American politics (5:00), his attempt to humanize Muslim Americans in 'The Big Sick' (19:00), his return to the stand-up comedy circuit (24:00), the 'Freaks and Geeks' experience in today's TV landscape (30:30), the binge-watching culture and lack of conversation around shows (38:00), Garry Shandling's greatest comedic moments (44:00), LeBron's comedy chops (53:00), the forgotten art of DVD extras (1:02:00), and Ray Romano's role in 'The Big Sick' (1:09:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on longtime friend Joe House to break down the best and worst moments from the 2017 NBA draft.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Kevin O'Connor to discuss the Lakers' decision to cut ties with D'Angelo Russell (5:00), Brooklyn's best moves (8:00), Dwight Howard on the Hornets (11:00), Kristaps Porzingis's trade window (16:00), the Celtics' plan in free agency (21:00), Ben Simmons skipping summer league (27:00), and Josh Jackson declining workouts (30:00). Then, they go through all of the potential draft scenarios and select the best fit for each lottery team in the 2017 NBA draft (34:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Malcolm Gladwell to discuss the ridiculous rate of offseason story lines in the NBA (5:00), LeBron James's right to act in his own self-interest (13:00), dealing with juggernauts in the NBA (23:00), billionaire owners' spending habits (33:00), Tiger Woods's painkiller problem (36:00), trimming the NBA schedule (44:00), Tom Brady's concussions (53:00), solving the public-use problem for golf courses (1:02:00), and the Bill Maher controversy (1:06:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on staff writer Kevin O'Connor and executive editor Chris Ryan to make sense of why the Celtics traded back in the stacked 2017 draft. Then, Ringer staff writer Mark Titus joins to discuss who won the trade between the Sixers and Celtics (46:00), Jayson Tatum's rookie of the year potential (43:00), Luke Kennard's NBA fit (56:00), Josh Jackson's desire to win the dunk contest (1:02:00), and NBA draft diaries (1:05:00). Finally, Bill's dad calls in to give the final verdict on Danny Ainge's draft record and decide whether the Celtics made the right move to trade the no. 1 pick (1:08:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Will Ferrell to discuss the NBA Finals (4:00), the cable TV domination of 'Step Brothers' (13:00), the amount of denials before 'Anchorman' was made (19:00), working on 'Old School' while on 'SNL' (26:00), flubbing his first line on 'SNL' (34:00), his favorite 'SNL' sketch (40:00), the modern 'SNL' format with big-name actors (48:00), filming a Lifetime movie with Kristen Wiig (53:00), the way his kids act with Will Ferrell as their dad (1:01:00), Lonzo Ball on the Lakers (1:11:00), and the chance LeBron comes to L.A. (1:15:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons reports live from Oakland with 2017 NBA Champion and Finals MVP Kevin Durant to discuss the initial moment right after the confetti fell in Oracle (3:30), running the pick-and-roll with Curry (12:00), the shot in Game 3 (23:00), appreciating LeBron's journey (28:15), Curry's high-level play in the playoffs (33:30), Kyrie's "bag full of tricks" (34:00), Obama's congratulatory text (43:30), the Warriors free agents this offseason (49:30), building winning habits with the Warriors (58:00), the nonsense of comparing different eras (1:04:00), Rasheed Wallace's stretch five game (1:08:30), three-on-three in the Olympics (1:20:00), Iguodala's big Game 5 dunk (1:25:00), and Patrick McCaw's bright future (1:29:15).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons reports live from the road to discuss the NBA Finals with help from his old friend Joe House. Topics include: Cleveland's historic Game 4 (5:00), Kyrie's similarities with Isiah Thomas (9:00), Durant's place amongst the greatest forwards in history (14:00), the superteam misconcepcion (21:00), LeBron's long-term game plan (29:00), Kevin Love on the trade block (37:00), the NBA Finals officiating(42:00), Blake Griffin's fit in Boston (52:30), pre-draft NBA trades (58:00), the Bad Boy Pistons vs. 2017 Warriors (1:06:00), and whether the Cavs can come back down 3-0 (1:11:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor to discuss the many rumors and rumblings surrounding the NBA. Topics include: Jerry West's interest in the Clippers (5:00), CP3's no-trade clause (12:00), Lonzo and the Lakers (18:00), possible Kings trade packages (30:30), Isaiah Thomas's trade potential (39:30), the Paul George situation (47:00), LeBron to the Lakers (55:00), and adjustments for the Cavs in Game 3 (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on James Corden to discuss bringing 'The Late Late Show' to London (02:00), moving to America (12:30), starting his show as an unknown (21:30), the development of "Carpool Karaoke" (26:30), the logistics of success within today's media landscape (30:30), the time he spanked Donald Trump on Broadway (42:00), and improving the election process (45:00). Then they dive into the World Cup (55:00), the popularity of soccer in the U.S. (56:00), Bono's advice to Chris Martin regarding fame (01:03:00), the importance of television today (01:05:00), and James's friendship with Adele (01:12:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Kevin O'Connor to discuss their initial reactions from Game 1 of the NBA Finals (5:00), Kevin Durant's comfort level (13:00), Curry's Game 7 redemption (19:00), LeBron matching Durant (22:00), and Kevin Hart's nicknames for the Cavs (27:00). Then, JackO joins to discuss his and Bill's 25th college reunion this weekend (32:00), Aaron Judge's absurd upside (46:00), and ways to rekindle the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry (55:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons makes his 2017 NBA Finals prediction. Then, Ice Cube joins in the studio to discuss collaborating on the 30 for 30 documentary 'Straight Outta L.A.' (23:00), the Lakers-Celtics rivalry in the ’80s (31:00), the growth of N.W.A (40:00), the importance of 'Boyz n the Hood' (49:00), the reason 'Straight Outta Compton' worked (55:00), 'No Vaseline' vs. 'Hit 'Em Up' (1:05:00), and the Big 3 basketball league (1:11:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House and Bryan Curtis to talk about Tiger Woods's latest media frenzy (01:30) and make NBA Finals predictions (23:00). Finally, Bill and Bryan take time to remember the late Frank Deford (44:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by author Chuck Klosterman to discuss the recent passing of Chris Cornell (03:00), the importance of film soundtracks (10:00), if super-teams hurt the NBA overall (26:00), LeBron's legacy (40:00), the NFL's rule change on celebrations (57:00), and the conspiracy theory on Michael Jordan's first retirement (65:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian Bill Burr to discuss his love for hockey (10:00), the great food in Winnipeg (15:00), the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry (23:00), the major changes at Fenway (34:00), the weirdness of hockey (41:00), Kelly Olynyk's Game 7 (53:00), Chris Farley's comedic intensity (1:02:00), the potential for R-rated sports channels (1:17:00), Paul Pierce's farewell (1:21:00), and Trump's international tour (1:25:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on his dad to discuss the Celtics' worse playoff losses (5:00), Isaiah Thomas's injury (12:00), the free throw differential in the Eastern Conference finals (17:00), Avery Bradley's magic (21:00), LeBron in Jordan territory (28:00), Kyrie's improved play vs. Curry (34:00), and Kevin Love's impact on the series (37:00). Then, 'Daily Show' correspondent Hasan Minhaj joins to give his thoughts on his new Netflix special (42:00), the innovation of comedy specials (50:00), hosting the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner (55:00), the 2002 Western Conference finals (1:00:00), Vivek's ownership (1:10:00), Kings fans losing Boogie Cousins (1:14:00), Jeremy Lin's run in New York (1:18:00), the Warriors bandwagon in the Bay (1:24:00), and the Cavs' lackluster defense (1:27:00).
Is LeBron a baby? Could Boston trade for Anthony Davis? Is James Harden the Peyton Manning of basketball? Are the Lakers really taking Lonzo? What should Chargers fans do? Why are dogs allowed on airplanes? Earl Woods vs. LaVar? Did karma injure Kawhi? Who is 2017's Jerome James? Was the Boogie trade good for the Kings? How tall is Dom? What's the opening scene of a Clippers 30 for 30? Where will CP3's Clips statue go? Is it OK for Pop to be mean? Is CT one of the greatest Boston athletes ever?
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mark Titus to break down last night's draft lottery (02:00), if Markelle Fultz is definitely going to be a Celtic (11:30), what Lonzo Ball's draft declaration says about him (15:00), players who could be the second pick (28:00), and Malik Monk's stock (31:00). Then Titus shares stories about growing up with Gordon Hayward (36:00) and playing on the first team that Brad Stevens ever coached (38:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to discuss Game 7 of Celtics-Wizards (02:00), John Wall's performance in the series (07:00), who Scott Brooks trusted (15:00), a rested LeBron in the Eastern Conference finals (30:00), James Harden and the regular-season MVP vote (34:00), the Western Conference finals without Kawhi Leonard (41:00), and Tuesday night's fascinating NBA draft lottery (49:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Emmy Award–winning comedian Aziz Ansari to discuss shooting the second season of 'Master of None' in Italy (5:00), taking intense Italian lessons (15:00), directing modern Woody Allen moments (24:00), improvising scenes in auditions (29:30), hosting 'SNL' for the first time (33:00), stand-up at the Comedy Cellar (38:00), living outside the internet outrage cycle (43:00), working with Lorne Michaels (48:00), the untimely passing of Harris Wittels (53:45), shooting the 'Otis' video with Kanye and Jay Z (1:04:00), listening to Kanye albums before their release (1:08:00), Kanye and Jay's humorous side (1:12:00), the first time meeting Dave Chappelle (1:19:00), and the 'Girls' series finale internet controversy (1:25:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons celebrates 10 years of podcasting by bringing on 'B.S. Report' Hall of Famer Adam Carolla to discuss Sylvester Stallone's 1980s cop thriller 'Cobra' (9:00), the best '80s montages (14:00), the lifestyle of liking "bad movies" (28:00), Tom Hanks in 'Cast Away' (33:00), hanging out with Helen Hunt (39:00), the start of the 'Fast' franchise (44:00), the plot holes in 'Furious 7' (49:00), Vin Diesel's global lifestyle (1:02:00), Charlize Theron in 'Fate of the Furious' (1:11:00), and the perfect plot for the ninth 'Fast' movie (1:17:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Wall Street Journal sports columnist Jason Gay and Ringer editor-at-large Bryan Curtis to discuss the end of ESPN's 'The Sports Reporters' (5:00), LaVar Ball's impact on Lonzo Ball's draft stock (15:00), ESPN's priorities in today's media landscape (24:00), ESPN's attachment to live sports (34:00), the future of ESPN2 (39:00), Adrian Wojnarowski's rivalry with ESPN (48:00), the ESPN news ticker (55:00), the value of good writing in any medium (1:02:00), and parting shots on The Players' Tribune (1:07:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Michael Rapaport to discuss the uninspiring NBA playoffs (5:00), the upcoming 'NBA Awards' show (11:00), Kelly Olynyk's man bun (17:00), Phil Jackson's problems in New York (26:00), overhyping 'Hamilton' (33:30), Chris Paul's overrated status (38:00), Ty Lue complaining (41:00), reporter questions for Popovich and Belichick (44:00), LeBron's ability to avoid injury (49:00), A-Rod's stickman status (52:00), beefing with Dan Le Batard (1:02:00), and shooting 'True Romance' scenes with Christian Slater (1:13:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by 'South Park' cocreators Matt Stone and Trey Parker to discuss writing the show during the 2016 election (6:00), their show's similarities with 'SNL' (13:00), the NYT's 'Ghostbusters' review (19:00), the difference between humor and trolling (28:00), Bill Hader's increased involvement with the show (35:00), streaming 'South Park' (43:00), having creative free rein (47:00), the rivalry between Butters and Cartman (51:00), the sheer amount of powerful companies in the tech industry (55:00), beefing with Sean Penn (1:01:00), their desire to do another movie (1:06:00), and what's next on Season 21 of 'South Park.'
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons welcomes longtime friend of the show Joe House to discuss the CP3 era in L.A. (5:00), sign-and-trade options for Blake Griffin (18:00), reasons to reassemble the Clippers' core (21:00), Stockton-CP3 comparisons (29:00), Wizards-Celtics (32:00), Ian Mahinmi's struggles (38:00), Al Horford’s impact (44:00), the odds of a Warriors sweep (48:00), Gordon Hayward's free agency (52:00), Raptors-Cavs (58:00), Harden's sloppiness (1:04:00), Aldridge's future with the Spurs (1:08:00), and series predictions (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to break down the somewhat-uneventful first round of the NBA playoffs (01:00), Game 6 for Chris Paul (05:30), Golden State's chance at sweeping the playoffs (11:30), what's wrong with James Harden (15:30), a must-win game for the Celtics against the Bulls (22:00), and the Raptors eliminating the Bucks (30:00). Then, Mike Lombardi joins the show to talk about Mitchell Trubisky and the Bears (41:00), the Panthers taking Christian McCaffrey (57:30), the Texans taking Deshaun Watson (60:00), and Al Davis's eating schedule (1:11:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons welcomes back Cousin Sal to discuss potential NFL draft prop bets (4:00), the backup QB conundrum (10:00), the Pats' sneaky-good picks (16:00), a potential Jimmy G draft-day trade (19:30), the Warriors' 16-0 potential (28:00), Edmonton's Stanley Cup odds (32:55), and betting on the writers' strike (36:00). Then, two-weight world champion boxer Andre Ward joins (40:10) to discuss his Olympic gold medal in Athens (45:00), 12 rounds vs. 15 rounds (51:00), fighting Sergey Kovalev (58:00), contemplating retirement in 2014 (1:04:00), the rematch with Kovalev (1:14:00), the best Bay Area athletes (1:17:00), his favorite legendary fights (1:21:00), and the Raiders' exit from Oakland (1:25:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by old NBA buddy Haralabos Voulgaris to discuss Kawhi's MVP case (5:00), the importance of durability (10:00), Isaiah Thomas's improved play (14:00), James Harden's defense (20:00), Shane Battier's advanced stats (27:00), LeBron's injury luck (34:00), Blake Griffin's power forward style (40:00), the Warriors' "disease of more" (45:00), the Bucks-Raptors toss-up series (48:00), Joe Ingles on the Clippers (55:00), Giannis's rise (1:04:00), the '01 Lakers' dominance (1:13:00), and the return of Austin Rivers (1:17:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons discusses the top NBA playoff story lines, including Rondo's injury (4:00), CP3's future plans (11:00), Steven Adams's disappearing act (14:00), the Jazz's struggles (19:30), Spurs-Grizz (23:30), Raptors-Bucks (27:00), and Round 1 playoff predictions (28:20). Then, 'The Breakfast Club' cohost Charlamagne tha God joins (35:50) to give his thoughts on Charles Barkley (40:00), the power of Black Twitter (44:00), the cultural influence of 'The Breakfast Club' (52:00), Nelly's fighting skills (56:00), confronting Kanye (1:00:00), Jay Z's dominance (1:09:00), Nas's impact (1:14:00), ways to fix ESPN (1:20:00), Serena's pregnancy (1:30:30), and who owns the belt in hip-hop (1:38:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Viceland stars Desus and Mero to discuss NBA fashion (5:00), making waves on the internet (12:00), the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry (16:00), the plight of Knicks fandom (24:00), Phil Jackson vs. Melo (30:00), Blake Griffin's Kia commercials (36:00), Jordan's gambling (42:00), 1990s NBA fights (47:00), LeBron's brand (53:00), La La and Melo's split (56:00), Chappelle's return (1:02:00), Denzel's one-name status (1:06), and Eddie Murphy's comedic reign (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ringer staff writers Robert Mays and Jason Concepcion to discuss Bulls-Celtics (5:00), Rondo's playoff run (11:00), Fred Hoiberg out-coaching Brad Stevens (18:00), Jimmy Butler trade myths (22:00), a possible Porzingis trade to the Celtics (26:00), Phil Jackson's many missteps (32:00), Danny Ainge's master plan (35:00), James Dolan's youth (42:00), Draymond Green's blocks (45:00), picking Phil Jackson or Melo (48:00), and Vin Diesel's impact on the 'Fast' series (50:00). Then, Tate Frazier joins to run through the main story lines throughout the playoffs thus far (54:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kurt Russell to discuss the origin of Mr. Nobody in the 'Fast & Furious' franchise (5:00), the alternate universe where he (and not Kevin Costner) played Crash Davis (16:00), the big chance to play Elvis on ABC (23:00), Snake Plissken's motivations in 'Escape From New York' (29:00), shooting 'Silkwood' with Meryl Streep and Cher (36:00), meeting Goldie Hawn (41:00), experiencing tabloid culture as a celebrity couple (48:00), Robin Williams's incessant joke-telling (53:00), working with Sly Stallone (58:00), Val Kilmer's on-set antics (1:04:00), bringing Herb Brooks to life in 'Miracle' (1:10:00), and his love of wine (1:16:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to definitively determine who deserves the NBA's highest honor (5:00), redraft the supporting casts of the Rockets and Thunder (8:00), and decide the "winner" of each NBA season since 2000 (13:00). Then, film producer Neal Moritz joins (28:15) to discuss the origin story of Vin Diesel's "Dom Toretto" (32:00), his bias against CGI shots (42:00), Paul Walker's untimely death (48:00), the Rock's intro to the franchise (54:00), the new trilogy of 'Fast' films (59:30), the biggest flaw in each 'Fast' film (1:06:00), producing 'Cruel Intentions' (1:17:00), working with Tupac on 'Juice' (1:20:00), and the best signs for box-office success (1:28:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons answers a slew of mailbag questions from readers and listeners on the value/history of triple doubles and why Wilt never went for them (5:30), Bill's waffling on his MVP pick (10:45), lessons from Admiral/Olajuwon + MJ/Malone (19:00), Tony Romo's TV career (26:00), Jokic vs. Nurkic nickname ideas (35:00), Sergio Garcia's Masters win (42:00), Curry's 2016 MVP vs the 2017 candidates (48:00), the power of the TNT Bulls (53:00), Carmelo's future + a big 3-way trade prediction (57:00) and the winner of 2007's no. 1 NBA pick (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss the Cavs taking the East crown (6:00), Toronto's newfound toughness (11:00), John Wall's unmatched speed (16:00), Rob Hennigan's scouting whiteboard (22:00), the great MVP debate (32:00), the second-best Spur (40:00), Popovich's coach-of-the-year candidacy (47:00), All-NBA selections (54:00), Draymond vs. Gobert (59:00), Isaiah Thomas's second-team spot (1:04:00), Karl-Anthony Towns's spectacular season (1:11:00), and Boogie's next destination (1:18:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Bryan Curtis discuss the art of sports broadcasting (2:00). Then, Sally Jenkins of The Washington Post joins them to talk about Roger Goodell and the NFL’s credibility problem (28:45), the painkillers epidemic in sports (35:00), Pat Summitt (43:45), and the current state of ESPN (58:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on NBA All-Star Kevin Durant to discuss his near season-ending injury (4:00), the decision to embrace being the enemy in OKC (15:00), the amount of talent in today's NBA (24:00), Russell Westbrook's and James Harden's MVP cases (30:00), ways to fix the All-Star Game (38:00), Scott Brooks's redemption in D.C. (46:00), the loaded 2017 draft class (56:00), and Shaq vs. JaVale McGee (1:04:00). Then they address James Worthy's harsh reality (1:11:00), Durant's college recruiting process (1:22:00), and the timetable for his return to the court (1:26:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by two-time MVP Steve Nash to discuss his best chance to win a title (6:00), the specialization of basketball (13:00), the modern point guard (17:00), playing with Kidd and KJ in Phoenix (24:00), players resting in the NBA (32:00), the NBA vs. Premier League schedules (39:00), Dirk's longevity (48:00), working with the Warriors (56:00), and the greatest soccer players in the world (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on author Chuck Klosterman to discuss Kobe's storytelling in 'Musecage' (5:00), the Westbrook-Harden MVP race (15:00), Oklahoma City's talent disparity (22:00), the obsession with the triple-double (28:00), Devin Booker's 70-point outing (32:00), Carmelo's legacy (48:00), Gonzaga's mid-major dominance (1:00:00), the Final Four (1:12:00), and Kentucky's perfected recruiting pitch (1:16:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Kevin O'Connor to discuss the top-five draft picks in UK-UCLA (6:00), Lonzo Ball's NBA fit (13:00), the top-eight draft picks as of right now (23:00), the Clippers' losing ways (33:00), the NBA Sweet 16 model (40:00), Gordon Hayward's free agency (46:00), and the Nets' improved play (50:00). Then, JackO joins to discuss Trump's Time interview (54:00), the future of the Republican Party (1:01:00), and the Yankees' many prospects (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on comedian Larry Wilmore, the cocreator of 'Insecure,' to discuss the 2017 Lakers drama (5:00), Kobe's prime (14:00), LaVar Ball's brashness (23:00), competitive balance in the NBA (33:00), Dave Chappelle's new stand-up (45:00), Richard Pryor's honesty (54:00), the multiverse political scenario (1:02:00), the success of 'Black-ish' (1:10:00), and the biggest fear in Trump's America (1:15:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Mark Titus and Chris Ryan to induct 'Blue Chips' into the Sports Movie Hall of Fame. Topics include: the most ridiculous moments (5:00), Nick Nolte's intense coaching style (14:00), Bob Knight's mystique (19:00), point-shaving scare tactics (23:00), Shaq's final college game (30:00), the player cameos (35:00), rebooting 'Blue Chips' (42:00), post-retirement Larry Bird (47:00), and the best college basketball movies (53:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer to discuss technology's impact of viewing habits (6:00), the Clippers' need for a championship (12:00), the potential of a new Clippers arena (24:30), the Seattle expansion for the NBA (35:00), the NBA boardroom (42:00), understanding the salary cap (54:00), the future of this Clippers core (1:02:00), and the Microsoft scouting report (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on The Ringer's Mark Titus to discuss Evan Turner's ideal skill set (5:00), LeBron on a mid-major (8:00), Cousin Sal's best bet for the title (16:00), the best rivalry in college hoops (23:00), and Villanova's chance to repeat (28:00). Then, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor join to give his thoughts on the top NBA prospects in March (37:00), Jayson Tatum vs. Josh Jackson (46:00), Rick Pitino's regrets (53:00), and the need for Gus Johnson (1:03:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on former Grantland teammate Zach Lowe to discuss the Warriors' losing ways (6:00), the only teams to go three years without 20 losses (15:00), Durant on the Warriors (19:00), Jazz-Clippers (25:00), whether this is the last year for Doc Rivers (34:00), whether the Jazz are for real (40:00), All-NBA picks (48:00), are the Spurs smoke and mirrors? (55:00), James Harden's passing ability (1:02:00), and Croatian basketball power rankings (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Mike Lombardi and Kevin Clark to discuss NFL free agency, Deshaun Watson's draft fit (7:00), Mike Glennon in Chicago (11:00), the Patriots signing Stephon Gilmore (19:00), Brandin Cooks rumors (26:00), the Romo-coaster (34:00), and which L.A. football team will be the worst (40:00). Then, JackO joins to give his thoughts on Trump's presidency (48:00), Mike Francesa's reunion with Mad Dog (1:04:00), 'SNL' so far this season (1:08:00), and building a women's basketball dynasty at Holy Cross (1:11:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss the Wizards' impressive season so far (6:00), the Bradley Beal–Ray Allen comparison (11:00), the best free-agency acquisitions (23:00), Russell Westbrook's ball hogging ways (32:00), OKC's best-case scenario (39:00), and Westbrook chasing stats vs. wins (46:00). Then, NHL All-Star P.K. Subban joins to give his thoughts on the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry (57:00), his ability to be the NHL commissioner (1:05:00), hockey's concussion protocol (1:20:00), and Connor McDavid's skill set (1:25:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Celtics All-Star Isaiah Thomas to discuss his recent success (02:00), dealing with larger players' physicality (05:00), the polarizing Marcus Smart (14:00), his favorite NBA teams (16:30), the best players from Washington state (19:00), All-Star Weekend (25:30), meeting Tom Brady (29:00), Floyd Mayweather's fandom (32:00), Iverson comparisons (38:00), and the Celtics' title chances (46:00). Then, Ringer writer Shea Serrano joins to give his thoughts on 'John Wick: Chapter 2' (57:00), who owns the action hero championship belt (1:12:00), and Keanu Reeves's next chapter (1:17:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons sits down with Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton to discuss growing up in the Boston Garden (2:00), his father's reaction to Luke's getting a head coaching job with the Lakers (10:00), his rookie season with teammates Shaq, Kobe, Karl Malone, and Gary Payton (12:30), the chemistry of last year's Golden State Warriors (16:30), working with Magic Johnson (40:00), what he learned from Phil Jackson (52:00), and his 20-year, friendly rivalry with Richard Jefferson (59:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons ventures over to 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' to discuss the Oscars Best Picture mix-up (5:00), Ryan Gosling laughing (13:00), Cousin Sal's bad beats (16:00), Jimmy's near-death experience during rehearsal (25:00), behind-the-scenes Oscars insight (33:00), Jimmy's next hosting gig (44:00), and Jimmy's favorite fast food items (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris and Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey to discuss the Best Picture fiasco (6:00), Casey Affleck's win (13:00), 'La La Land' losing (19:00), the Oscars voting process (24:00), and the 'Sully' snub (31:00). Then, they talk about 'Moonlight' moments (37:00), the 2012 Oscars (45:00), Netflix's model vs. traditional movies (54:00), and the best movies of 2017 so far (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House, Chris Ryan, and Kevin O'Connor to discuss Boogie's impact on the Pelicans (8:00), Brandon Ingram's potential (12:00), Paul George vs. Jimmy Butler (18:00), GMs using the trade machine (28:00), the Nerlens Noel trade (34:00), Jrue Holiday's value (44:00), the top players in the 2017 draft (54:00), P.J. Tucker's impact on the Raptors (1:05:00), Finals scenarios (1:09:00), and Andrew Bogut's next destination (1:14:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Stratechery founder Ben Thompson to discuss the Apple–LeBron James comparison (6:00), Netflix's dominance (14:00), Hulu's handicap (21:00), Twitter's lack of evolution (27:00), Facebook and Google's advertising strategy (37:00), Slack's upside (43:00), and the perks of living in Taiwan (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Clippers guard J.J. Redick to discuss Doc Rivers's offense in L.A. (6:00), the 2009 Finals (14:00), is this the last dance for the Clippers? (19:00), the 3-point revolution (28:00), Bradley Beal's skill set (34:00), the UNC-Duke rivalry (39:00), Magic Johnson taking over the Lakers (48:00), the best non-Warriors team (55:00), ways to beat the Warriors (1:02:00), and the best unicorns in the NBA (1:08:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Malcolm Gladwell to discuss Dwight Howard's and Carmelo Anthony's main problem (6:00), the 3-point evolution (13:00), Jim Dolan's rich-son complex (24:00), Seattle SuperSonics–expansion-team scenarios (34:00), basketball in the center of culture (42:00), 'Battle of the Network Stars' (54:00), the need for candid athletes (1:03:00), Magic Johnson's new job (1:07:00), and the staleness of tennis (1:14:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Ringer staff writer Kevin Clark to discuss the trade of Serge Ibaka (5:00), Rob Hennigan's coaching hires (10:00), the only Magic players worth keeping (15:00), and Bill Belichick's draft-day trades (21:00). Then, Sean Grande, the voice of the Boston Celtics, joins to discuss potential Celtics deals (26:00), Isaiah Thomas's miraculous fourth quarters (31:30), Iverson vs. Isaiah (38:00), how playing style has changed in the NBA (45:00), Marcus Smart's value (53:00), Jaylen Brown's rookie season (57:00), and Andre the Giant at MSG (1:00:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on 'Billions' creator Brian Koppelman to discuss Jim Dolan's Fredo complex (5:00), Phil Jackson's influence on the Knicks (14:00), the greatest moment in Knicks history (20:00), Season 2 of 'Billions' (28:00), and the potential of a 'Rounders' sequel (38:00). Then, The Ringer's David Shoemaker joins to discuss the Andre the Giant documentary announcement (50:00) and preview 'WrestleMania 33' (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Warriors forward Kevin Durant to discuss his favorite thing about his new team (6:00), LeBron-Barkley beef (12:00), James Harden's leap (19:00), Durant's rivalry with LeBron (29:00), and what Thunder teammate he misses the most (38:00). Then, Roc Nation Sports agent Rich Kleiman joins to talk the 2012 Finals (54:00), "Waiters Island" (61:00), and his most comparable player (68:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to discuss the "supervillains" narrative (5:00), back problems in 2015 (8:00), Pat Riley's "disease of more" after championship runs (11:30), Steph Curry's magic (15:00), and John Stockton's dirtiness (18:00). They also tackle Luke Walton's impact on the Warriors (23:00), Durant-Curry growing pains (27:00), chasing 73 wins last season (33:00), the dysfunctional "Jail Blazers" (40:00), and social awareness in the NBA (43:00). Last, they address the Michael Jordan–Tom Brady comparison (51:00), the Chargers leaving San Diego (56:00), and the Warriors' move to San Francisco (59:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Mike Lombardi to break down the Patriots' incredible comeback and pinpoint where the momentum shifted (01:50). Then, Cousin Sal calls in to discuss how some outrageous prop bets paid off (27:55). Finally, Bill calls his dad to describe just how important this victory is to Boston (59:50).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ringer editor-at-large Bryan Curtis to discuss the emotional roller coaster of re-watching Super Bowls (6:00), Chris Berman's farewell (14:00), the end of the highlight era (21:00), Bill's first time meeting Berman (28:00), Berman's ESPN documentary (34:00), NFL Network's relationship with Berman (40:00), and the "stick to sports" audience in the current political climate (52:00). Then, Mike Lombardi hops on to give his final Super Bowl prediction (1:07:00), explain why the Falcons defense doesn't pose new problems for Brady (1:14:00), and the Falcons' "Nobody believes in us" card (1:20:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan and Rembert Browne to discuss ‘White Men Can’t Jump,’ the fourth inductee into the Sports Movie Hall of Fame. They cover Woody Harrelson’s hustling tactics (6:00), Wesley Snipes’s height (11:00), Rosie Perez’s polarizing character (17:00), the essence of pickup basketball (26:00), Woody’s fashion (30:00), Wesley Snipes’s career trajectory (37:00), the black actor championship belt (44:00), 'New Jack City' power rankings (48:00), and the premise of the remake (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal and Mike Lombardi to discuss all things prop bets for Super Bowl LI. Topics include: high-scoring teams' historical Super Bowl record (6:00), the origin of the "Matty Ice" nickname (12:00), Gatorade colors (15:00), Belichick's kickoff deferrals (21:00), first TD scored (27:00), Desmond Trufant's injury (34:00), Matt Ryan's passing yardage (38:00), Julio Jones's breakout potential (44:00), John Lynch's hiring (49:00), Tony Romo's likely release (54:00), the MVP race (57:00), and the Gary Russell prop bet of the year (68:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss the Bulls meltdown (5:00), Bill's six best made-up Carmelo trades to the Clippers and Cavs (15:00), and Melo's sneaky-best dark horse destination (32:00). Then, former Grantlander Rembert Browne joins to discuss the greatest sports moments in Atlanta history (35:00), the goodwill of Gucci Mane's release (46:00), Matty Ice in the Super Bowl (50:00), Pats-Falcons fanbases (54:00), and Super Bowl predictions (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by comedian and fellow Bostonian Bill Burr to discuss the joys of parenthood (6:00), Wayne Gretzky's interview style (11:00), the "Big Bad Bruins" (15:00), NBA rivalries (20:00), the Mount Rushmore of TV actors (25:00), Lakers fans claiming Minneapolis titles (33:00), the Belichick-Brady era (37:00), Michael Jackson's impact on the Pats' ownership (45:00), PED usage in sports (49:00), Super Bowl LI (54:00), and Derek Jeter's majesty (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls on Cousin Sal to discuss the Pats-Falcons Super Bowl matchup (5:00), the disappointing NFL playoffs (13:00), whether Tom Brady is the best QB ever (18:00), Tony Romo's trade value (20:20), the Pats' continuity (25:00), Matt Ryan's MVP candidacy (28:00), the Super Bowl LI line (30:00), and Kansas-Kentucky this weekend (33:00). Then, Wesley Morris of The New York Times joins to discuss his Oscar nominations (40:25), the Best Picture buzz surrounding 'Deadpool' (53:50), Tom Ford's directorial taste (58:00), the category fallacies (1:01:00), O.J.'s best movie bid (1:05:00), subplots of the Oscars (1:14:00), and whether weird movies are on the way (1:17:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ‘Late Night’ host Seth Meyers and ‘Good Place’ creator Michael Schur to discuss this weekend's AFC championship game between the Patriots and Steelers (3:00), the baseball Hall of Fame and MVP award debates (33:48), and working with Lorne Michaels on 'SNL' (42:20).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Mike Lombardi to discuss Antonio Brown's locker-room video (6:00), Will Fuller's inopportune drops (10:00), the Chiefs' defensive miscues (13:00), Le'Veon Bell vs. Bill Belichick (16:00), Falcons-Packers (21:00), Steelers-Pats (28:00), and Jimmy Garoppolo's trade value (30:00). Then, comedian Sarah Tiana joins to discuss her Falcons fandom (36:00), Arthur Blank's mustache (41:00), problems with 'The Bachelor' (44:00), and betting on 'Roast Battle' (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the Cowboys' devastating loss (5:00), the other Round 2 games (10:00), Denzel's Oscars odds (24:00), Packers-Falcons (29:00), Steelers-Pats (33:00), and Superfly Jimmy Snuka's passing (36:00). Then, director Peter Berg talks about 'Patriots Day' (46:00), Garry Shandling (65:00), and whether 'Friday Night Lights' will ever return (76:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on FS1's Mike Lombardi to discuss the NFL playoff divisional-round matchups (6:00) and designate a corresponding character from 'The Wire' for each remaining team. Then, comedian Jeff Ross joins to discuss 'Roast Battle' (33:00), his relationship with Ralphie May (38:00), Jamie Foxx's roast-hosting skills (46:00), the best roast joke of his career (58:00), Pete Davidson’s 9/11 jokes (66:00), beefing with Robert De Niro (71:00), seeing Trump on the golf course (76:00), and brainstorming his next comedy special (84:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the not-so-wild NFL wild-card weekend (6:00), Aaron Rodgers's ridiculous Hail Mary streak (8:00), Matt Moore's concussion protocol (15:00), Big Ben's bad throws (21:00), the divisional-round lines (27:00), Pats-Texans (32:00), Steelers-Chiefs (37:00), and Alabama-Clemson national title picks (44:00). Then Fox's Joe Buck joins to give his thoughts on calling Packers-Giants (52:00), fandom in the TV booth (58:00), the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry (1:06:00), Jerry Jones's impressive work with the Cowboys (1:15:00), and the best possible Super Bowl matchup (1:20:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by FS1's Mike Lombardi to discuss Brock Osweiler vs. Connor Cook (5:00), Atlanta's occasionally great offense (14:00), Eli Manning's mistakes (18:00), cold-weather cough-ups (21:00), Dolphins-Steelers (25:00), and Matt Moore's starting QB potential (30:00). Then, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin joins to offer up her thoughts on why announcers call Roethlisberger by his first name (37:00), Terrell Davis in the Hall of Fame (43:00), QB cluster theories in the draft (49:00), and Alabama vs. Clemson (53:00). Finally, House hops on the line to explain why Washington sports teams continue to suffer (1:01:00) and to discuss Kyle Korver to the Cavs (1:04:00), Eric Gordon's All-Star-caliber play with Houston (1:08:00), the increased talent level in the NBA (1:10:00), and ending the NFL stink streak of 2016 (1:15:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss Week 17 (1:22), the NFL MVP odds (9:43), who should be coach of the year (15:35), and the new coaching vacancies (17:22).They also cover this weekend's playoff matchups: Texans-Raiders (26:45), Lions-Seahawks (34:09), Dolphins-Steelers (40:15), and Giants-Packers (49:00).
The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Joe House discuss George Karl's controversial new NBA book (and the anecdotes that surprised Bill the most when he read it) (2:35). Then they rattle off their NBA power rankings for December (33:50), measure Cleveland against Golden State (1:10:50), and pick Week 17's big Lions-Packers game (1:10:18).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss Cowboys-Lions and Dez Byant’s catch of the year (2:00), Derek Carr’s broken leg and the AFC West (8:00), who should be the MVP (24:00), the firing of the Ryan brothers (35:00), Cowboys-Eagles (45:00), the Raiders’ chances with Matt McGloin (55:00), and their Super Bowl predictions (59:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss the best bets for NFL Week 16, Matt Barkley's friskiness (17:00), the best NBA Christmas Day games (24:00), LeBron's extended playing time (28:00), potential Nuggets trade options (32:00), Blake Griffin's injury history (36:00), NBA unicorns throughout history (47:00), Shaq and Wilt Chamberlain (1:02:00), Kareem's sky hook (1:05:00), George Gervin's finger roll (1:08:00), and the best college basketball class in decades (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss Pats-Giants trilogy potential (5:00), Broncos offense vs. Broncos defense (10:00), Macho Man Tommy Savage (17:00), the Pats' favorable schedule (23:00), the cold-weather home team theory (35:00), Titans-Jags (40:00), the derailed Vikings defense (45:00), Chip Kelly's work habits (51:00), and football on Christmas Day (55:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons leans on FS1's Mike Lombardi to discuss another rout of the Rams (6:00), Bengals-Steelers (10:00), Tom Brady's offensive balance (17:00), the Chiefs' need for turnovers (23:00), and Cowboys-Bucs (26:00). Then, Joe House joins to honor the late, great NBA reporter Craig Sager (33:00), offer up the best NFL picks for Week 15 (42:00), and discuss Chris Berman's betting record (45:00). Finally, The Ringer's Mallory Rubin hops on to give the definitive food delivery app breakdown (1:02:00) and explain why 'Star Wars' continues to be such a cultural phenomenon (1:06:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane to discuss his three-year incarceration and 2016 release (5:00), his humble beginnings in Alabama (8:00), what is unique about Atlanta's music scene (15:00), Atlanta's club culture (20:00), his goal of owning the "East Atlanta Hawks" (27:00), collaborating with Malcolm Gladwell (34:00), and Thanksgiving with Falcons receiver Julio Jones (39:00).
Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal discuss Dallas’s lackluster performance (1:20) and wonder if Tony Romo would have done better (5:04). They also review the remaining weeks of the schedule and the emerging playoff picture (8:30), debate penalty revisions (26:35), and talk Odell Beckham Jr. (28:05), Deflategate Part 2 (32:09), fantasy football (40:15), and this year's Oscars, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel (53:55).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Mike Lombardi to gush over their favorite scenes from 'Goodfellas' (6:00) and designate a character for each NFL contender (10:00). Then, Joe House joins (29:00) to discuss watching Kristaps Porzingis in person (33:00), the Boogie trade bandwagon (39:00), the Warriors' unselfish playing style (43:00), the failing Wizards (46:00), and the best bets for Week 14 (50:45). Finally, Bill's dad calls in to discuss the Chris Sale trade (1:00:00) and the panic meter for Pats-Ravens (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Bravo's Andy Cohen to discuss the rise of reality TV (6:00), 'Desperate Housewives' vs. 'Real Housewives' (10:00), the casting process of 'Real Housewives' (15:00), the potential of 'Real Housewives: All-Stars' (20:00), the tag "America's gay best friend" (27:00), Bill's reality show pitch: 'Malibu Little League' (32:00), idolizing Howard Stern's radio model (37:00), the craziest matchups on 'Watch What Happens: Live' (43:00), the Brangelina split (47:00), and escapism after the election (50:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal directly after ‘Sunday Night Football’ to discuss Cam Newton's dress code violation (5:00), Khalil Mack's monstrous season (10:00), Mike Nugent's PAT misses (14:00), Andy Reid out-coaching his opponents (17:00), firing Rob Ryan (24:00), Raiders-Chiefs (27:00), Carson Wentz's downfall (33:00), Jeff Fisher's extension (39:00), Broncos-Titans (44:00), Dolphins-Cardinals (48:00), potential Week 14 upsets (54:00), the history of Seahawks-Packers (58:00), Cowboys-Giants (1:01:00), and the post-Gronk Pats (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on FS1's Mike Lombardi to somberly discuss Gronk's season-ending injury and where the Patriots go from here (6:00). Joe House hops on the line to talk Tiger's return (20:00) and give out the best three bets for Week 13 (27:00). Then Ringer NFL writers Robert Mays and Danny Kelly join to discuss NFL futures and the best-case scenario for playoff matchups (41:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Ringer NBA writer Kevin O'Connor to properly rank all 30 teams in the league, discuss the Mavs' tanking strategy (6:00), the Brandon Knight issue with the Suns (12:00), if the Timberwolves should tank (16:00), the struggling Magic (20:00), Justise Winslow vs. Stanley Johnson (25:00), Luke Walton's baby Lakers (29:00), teams to watch at the trade deadline (37:00), Boston and Boogie (44:00), the not-so-great Pacers (52:00), the Hawks with Dwight Howard and Dennis Schroder (1:02:00), pseudo contenders like the Celtics (1:05:00), Rockets and Raptors, and Warriors vs. Cavs: The Trilogy (1:12:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal to discuss the aftermath of the Thanksgiving Day games (6:00), Gary Kubiak's decision to kick instead of take the tie (10:00), AFC West odds (14:00), Bruce Arians's sloppy Cardinals (22:00), Dak Prescott's MVP credentials (27:00), Andrew Luck's return (31:00), Matt Barkley's series of unfortunate touchdown drops (36:00), Michigan–Ohio State (42:00), is Jared Goff good? (46:00), Derek Carr's pinkie (54:00), the Panthers’ playoff hopes (1:02:00), and the best holiday entertainment this Thanksgiving (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss Sal's 0-3 Week 11 Vegas trip (5:00), the Chiefs’ surprising stumble (11:00), the Dolphins’ chances of getting to 10 wins (15:00), Dak's MVP candidacy (17:00), the reason behind Thanksgiving games (24:00), Vikings-Lions (27:00), Kirk Cousins's Flacco contract (30:00), the Bills’ upcoming schedule (34:00), Giants-Browns as the worst game of the weekend (38:00), Jeff Fisher's mediocrity (41:00), Trump claiming Brady's innocence (46:00), Chiefs-Broncos (51:00), Andrew Ward's decision over Kovalev (53:00), and Goldberg's quick bout with Brock Lesnar (56:00). Then, House calls in to hand out the best Thanksgiving Day gambling plays (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on FS1's Mike Lombardi to discuss the Pats' lackluster D-line (6:00), ways for the Titans to win the AFC South (10:00), Doug Pederson vs. Adam Gase (15:00), Raiders-Texans in Mexico (23:00), and Ben McAdoo's many Post-it notes (27:00). Then, Joe House joins (33:20) to give the best NFL picks for the weekend and to discuss the best burger joints in L.A. (40:00). Finally, The Ringer's Bryan Curtis comes on to give insight into covering the 2016 election (48:00), the Cowboys' return to prominence (58:00), and Tony Romo's locker room rapport in Dallas (1:10:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on NBC's Cris Collinsworth to squash their social media beef and discuss TV critiques (4:00), Al Michaels's new TV schedule (11:00), Green Bay's struggles (16:30), calling two NFL games in one week (21:00), and Collinsworth’s worst NFL loss (27:00). Then, The Ringer's Micah Peters joins to discuss U.S. soccer prodigy Christian Pulisic (35:00), Micah’s beloved Saints stealing the NFC South (46:00), Pelicans star Anthony Davis (52:00), and the highlights of FX's 'Atlanta' (59:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons leans on old pal Cousin Sal to discuss the Cowboys offensive line as MVP (5:00), the Seahawks' physicality (12:00), the L.A. football experiment (20:00), Pats-Seahawks rivalry potential (24:00), the Panthers packing their bags (29:00), Bills-Bengals (33:00), Colin Kaepernick's vote (40:00), Titans-Colts (47:00), the reprehensibly bad Packers (50:00), Tim Tebow's magic in Denver (1:02:00), and a word from the president of the Tony Romo fan club (1:08:00).
Bill Simmons brings on Mike Lombardi to discuss New England's defense against Russell Wilson (2:50) and which NFL teams are contenders or pretenders (9:25). Then Joe House joins to pick NFL games for the Callaway par-3 (27:00), debate a hypothetical John Wall trade to the Nuggets (36:40), and speculate on Klay Thompson's early shooting struggles (42:10). After that, JackO breaks down a wild election and wonders about the future of both parties (49:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss Matthew Stafford's comeback (6:00), who's going to win the NFC North (10:00), Melvin Gordon's redemption (14:00), the NFL's top records against the spread (18:00), Zeke Elliott's entertaining running style (25:00), Drew Brees's MVP potential (31:00), how bad Jared Goff is (39:00), Mike McCarthy's play-calling (48:00), Jeff Fisher vs. Jack Del Rio (52:00), and Seahawks-Pats on 'Sunday Night Football' (55:00).
Bill Simmons and JackO break down the greatest baseball game of all time (Game 7 of the World Series) (2:30). Then The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor joins the show to talk about early NBA season surprises (31:40). Plus, Joe House gives his Week 9 NFL picks and things to watch in tonight's Thunder-Warriors game (58:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss who's more cursed in the World Series, the Raiders' ridiculous road record (10:00), Dak Prescott vs. Tony Romo (17:00), and the top-tier teams in the league (20:00). Then, Mike Lombardi hops on the line to break down the Jamie Collins trade and Bill Belichick's message behind it (23:00). Finally, Bill and Sal run the gamut and give out their picks for Week 9 (34:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Mike Lombardi to discuss Gus Bradley's coaching future (4:00), the Panthers' comeback potential (8:00), the Vikings' O-line issues (14:00), reasons to trust Matthew Stafford (18:00), the ailing Bills (21:00), and the Chargers' playoff potential (24:00). Then, The Ringer's Robert Mays, a Cubs fanatic, joins to give firsthand World Series thoughts from Chicago (28:00). Finally, Joe House hops on to discuss if the Warriors should panic (52:00), LeBron's desire for the MVP (1:09:00), and Joel Embiid's ceiling (1:14:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the fall of football (3:00), adding entertainers to the TV booth (8:00), Tom Brady's MVP odds (13:00), 'Sunday Night Football' vs. the World Series (17:30), Blake Bortles's road record (22:00), the lowest NFL spreads ever (25:00), the problem with the PAT (28:00), the four worst teams in the league (31:00), the out-of-sync offenses (38:00), the NFC East vs. the AFC West (45:40), Dan Quinn's questionable call (50:30), Warriors vs. the field championship odds (56:50), LeBron's MVP campaign (59:00), the Cubs' curse (1:03:30), and the Indians' best hope with Andrew Miller (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on football aficionado Mike Lombardi to discuss Green Bay's talent pool problem (6:00), the not-so-bad Bills (14:00), Carson Palmer's struggles (19:00), the Jags' potential statement win (22:00), and the revamped 76ers (26:00). Then, Joe House joins for the annual NBA preseason tradition of picking over/unders (30:00). Topics include: Howard vs. Horford on the Hawks (34:00), the Celtics' improved spacing (39:00), LeBron's MVP mission (46:00), PG-13 and the sneaky-good Pacers (51:05), Delly on the Bucks (57:00), MSG and Brandon Jennings (1:00:00), John Wall vs. Brad Beal (1:04:00), the Nuggets’ League Pass potential (1:07:00), the Warriors' 16 potential losses (1:09:00), Thibs and the T-Wolves’ turnaround (1:20:00), the Jazz's crunch-time problem (1:24:00), and the many chips on Russell Westbrook's shoulders (1:28:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss Tony Romo's looming return (6:00), the Falcons no-call (12:00), Cam Newton's early celebration (18:00), "What's Wrong With Aaron Rodgers?" Week (22:00), the up-and-down Lions (29:00), the shaky Bengals (34:00), Andrew Luck's midseason motto (36:00), the Bills' bounceback (44:00), Dan Quinn's demeanor (49:00), Mike McCarthy's odds to be the first coach fired (56:00), and the consistency of the Rams (58:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on noted Falcons nonbeliever Mike Lombardi to discuss the Bengals' lack of physicality (10:00), the Cowboys' two-down offensive dominance (16:30), Ben McAdoo's mismanagement (23:00), and Buffalo's limited talent level (30:30). Then, Joe House joins to give his top NFL picks for Week 6 (35:30) and offer up a primer on the NBA over-unders in the Western Conference (50:00).
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal call up Jimmy Kimmel to talk about Dak Prescott vs. Tony Romo, the comedy gold Donald Trump has brought late-night TV, and their live event benefiting the Scholars at Risk program at Harvard University (2:00). Then, Bill and Sal go over the Week 6 lines (30:00) and the Boston Red Sox’s chances in the MLB playoffs (59:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on front office guru Mike Lombardi to discuss the stable Vikings (5:00), the hopeless Colts (10:00), Carson Palmer reverting to his mean (13:00), the most talented underachieving teams (23:00), and course-correcting the Sixers' process (31:00). Then, Joe House jumps on the line to help make his top-3 picks for Week 5 (39:00), discuss the NBA MVP odds loopholes (49:30), and run through the over-unders and expectations in the Eastern Conference (55:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal of 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' wonder if the Falcons are a contender and if Carolina and Arizona are in trouble (4:00). Then, they guess Week 5 lines (17:30), come up with the week's best teaser, and mull over some 2016 MLB playoff bets (43:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls Mike Lombardi to talk about what Carolina needs to fix against Atlanta, Josh Gordon's release from the Browns, and more (2:30). Then Joe House joins the show to discuss his picks for Week 4 of the NFL season and what we should be watching for in the Ryder Cup (32:30). Finally, JackO gives his thoughts on David Ortiz retiring and shares how he felt after the first presidential debate (47:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to guess the lines for Week 4. Topics include: Carson Wentz's big week (5:00), Vin Scully's farewell (8:30), the struggling Bengals (17:00), Matthew Stafford's garbage-time magnificence (24:00), Tom Brady's vacation (28:00), the top-tier teams (36:00), Mike Mularkey's coaching record (41:41), Chargers-Saints (49:30), the stout Minnesota defense (56:00), and Ryder Cup best bets (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on NFL insider Mike Lombardi to discuss Pats-Texans, Brock Osweiler's sustainability (5:00), the top four teams heading into Week 3 (8:00), Green Bay's predictable matchup offense (14:00), Kirk Cousins as a one-year wonder (19:00), the Jets' durability (25:00), and the Pats' 16-0 potential (29:00). Then, Joe House joins (33:30) to offer up his three best NFL bets, break down why the Warriors over-under is so high (48:00), and discuss KD's slighted stance (54:00). Finally, The Ringer's Chris Vernon hops on the line (1:02:30) to give a preview of his podcast plan for the college football and NBA seasons and give out his best bets for the weekend.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal to discuss the Emmys aftermath, Mike McCarthy's 'first coach fired' potential (8:00), Pats-Texans (16:00), Wentz's impressive start (20:00), AP's injury (31:00), trading Gus Bradley for Rex Ryan (38:15), Broncos-Bengals (45:40), conditions at the Coliseum (55:45), Jay Cutler's love life (1:02:00), and reasons to trust the Steelers (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons celebrates the triumphant return of Mike Lombardi to the pod by discussing Bill Belichick's "born to run" mentality (6:00), the Colts' double-digit deficits (12:00), the Cardinals' sloppiness (17:00), Ryan Tannehill vs. Blake Bortles (20:40), whispers about the Bills and Rex Ryan (25:00), and Tampa Bay's sleeper status (33:00), and then the two rehash the Pats' AFC championship game loss. Then, Joe House joins (37:00) to offer up his three best bets for Week 2 and discuss the decent Cowboys (44:00), Matthew Stafford's engagement level without Megatron (50:00), a healthy Jadeveon Clowney (58:00), and Matt Ryan's trade value (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Cousin Sal on the 'Any Given Wednesday' set to discuss Week 2 NFL matchups, Al Michaels's double shift (13:00), Bill's Giants-Pats Super Bowl prediction (21:00), RG3's injury bug (28:00), the irrelevant Falcons (36:00), Baby Doll's Emmy prediction (44:00), and Sal's first week on Facebook (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss the Broncos-Panthers season opener (10:00), Cam Newton's durability (15:00), and the three best picks for the Sunday NFL slate (20:00). Then, New York magazine writer-at-large Rembert Browne joins to give his thoughts on Donald Glover's 'Atlanta' (30:30) and the tortured history of Atlanta sports (55:00). Finally, Bill's dad joins (1:04:45) to give his final preseason thoughts on the Patriots, Jimmy Garoppolo, and the pulse of the Boston sports scene.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons returns with Cousin Sal to dish out the best bets for Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season. The duo discuss Jameis Winston's breakout in Year 2, the Chiefs' Super Bowl odds, Aaron Rodgers's return to form (19:00), the Browns with Robert Griffin III (31:00), Matt Ryan's elite status (37:00), Russell Wilson's MVP potential (41:00), Captain Gronkowski (51:00), Garoppolo's Pats (56:00), and the need for two Monday Night Football games (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons talks to Tony Kornheiser about the evolution of sportswriting (9:00), the Colin Kaepernick controversy (23:30), the mechanics of 15 years of 'PTI' (50:00), and 'The Night Of' (1:03:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Cousin Sal celebrate the 10-year anniversary of them guessing the NFL lines by bringing in Joe House to discuss the Patriots' 12-4 destiny, the Belichick-Hillary parlay of the decade (24:40), Brock Osweiler's hot hand in Houston (33:20), the putrid NFC East (43:50), and Russell Wilson's MVP potential (1:01:00), then wrap up with a roundup of odds and futures (1:05:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Michael Rapaport discuss the NBA's crazy summer, Belichick and Popovich (13:00), Dwight Howard and Boogie Cousins (16:15), KD and the Warriors (26:00), OKC and Westbrook (46:00), Mike's fantasy football obsession (53:30), Robert De Niro (1:02:30), more all-time consummate stickmen (1:12:00), and LeBron's spot in the NBA pantheon (1:17:45)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Malcolm Gladwell on ways to fix track and field (3:00), how sports doping has changed over the years (10:00), Michael Phelps’s status as one of the world’s biggest athletes (29:00), and what the NBA can learn from FIBA (41:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on acclaimed author James Andrew Miller to discuss his new book, 'Powerhouse: The Untold Story of Hollywood's Creative Artists Agency'; Ari Emanuel and power struggles within agencies (23:00); the CAA connection to LeBron's 'Decision' special (36:00); the importance of live events in television (51:00); and the highs and lows of the John Skipper era (56:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Chris Ryan to discuss Team USA basketball's struggles against Australia (12:00). Then, ‘AGW’ writers Joel Solomon and Travon Free join to give their final thoughts on A-Rod (32:25). Finally, 'Roast Battle' runner-up Sarah Tiana and ‘AGW’ writer Pat Barker discuss the artistry behind the roast (54:00) and Blake Griffin's comedic chops.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by six-time MTV 'Challenge' champion Johnny Bananas to discuss his decision to get revenge against Sarah (6:00), T.J. and the crew's reaction to his money grab (17:00), NBA comparisons to 'Challenge' stars (28:00), mastering the first-night toast (48:00), and Bananas's next challenge: his own show (1:04:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and 'ShackHouse' cohost Joe House talk MLB trade deadline (3:00), Westbrook's big decision (5:00), and whether the PGA Championship needs an identity change (19:00). Then, Bill's longtime buddy JackO weighs in on the DNC (40:00) and whether the Yankees should fold for 2016 (58:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Cousin Sal for an emergency summer bet proposal to curse Donald Trump's presidential chances. Then 'Any Given Wednesday' writer Brendan Lynch joins (27:05) for another edition of his internet deep dives. Finally, Bill's buddy JackO gives his final thoughts on the Republican National Convention (52:00), breaks down Trump's tirade, and predicts Hillary vs. Trump debate scenarios.
This bonus 'Bill Simmons Podcast' includes extra material from the first four episodes of 'Any Given Wednesday,' including interviews with Charles Barkley (2:15), Ben Affleck (15:30), Malcolm Gladwell and Mark Cuban (24:00), Bill Hader (36:45), Joe Rogan (41:00), Anthony Anderson and Chris Bosh (49:30), and Aaron Rodgers (56:30).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls up his buddy JackO for an emergency quickie bonus podcast to discuss Day 1 of the Republican National Convention, how Donald Trump wound up a presidential candidate, and what to make of Melania Trump's speech.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on his dad to discuss Tom Brady bailing on Deflategate (6:00) and the current feelings in Boston on the Red Sox's recent trade for Drew Pomeranz and on Celtics draft pick Jaylen Brown's inability to finish around the basket. Then, 'New York Times' critic at large Wesley Morris talks pitfalls of the summer movie scene (26:00), the relevance of 'Good Times' today (35:00), Blake Lively's shallow character in 'The Shallows' (52:00), and how to deal with the tragedies poisoning our times (1:02:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on longtime pal Joe House to discuss Dwyane Wade's decision to sign with the Bulls, star players ending careers with different teams (17:00), the battle for Al Horford (22:00), the Knicks' plan for the future (32:00), OKC's new look and next move (40:00), debunking Kevin Durant's "weakness" (48:00), 'The Decision' vs. KD's self-determination (57:00), and House's impending eat-off against Danny Chau (1:06:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss the first official day of NBA free agency, Durant's window with Golden State (10:00), Curry's "superstar" durability (24:00), Dwight's next destination (32:00), the most tortured NBA franchises (40:00), Miami's ability to avoid disaster (50:00), the Celtics' FA scenarios (56:00), and the Thon Maker age conspiracy (1:01:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons welcomes Joe House to break down the 2016 NBA draft, OKC's Oladipo theft (8:00), Thon Maker to the Bucks (19:00), the Celtics and Jaylen Brown (24:00), the Knicks' uncanny knack (34:00), and the NBA Finals and LeBron passing Larry Bird (45:00). Then, Orlando native and Ringer staff writer Kevin Clark joins (52:00) to discuss the Magic's bizarre move. They conclude by discussing Orlando’s response to its tragic mass shooting.
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on two-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA All-Defensive team honoree Jimmy Butler to discuss being a late-blooming draft steal, Tom Thibodeau's raw deal with the Bulls (15:00), guarding LeBron vs. guarding Steph (22:00), the importance of the 3-pointer (29:00), his personal beefs (35:00), dispelling trade rumors (46:00), and playing for Team USA in Rio (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on 3 'Any Given Wednesday' writers to discuss Stephen Curry's Finals no-show (so far), Kevin Love's trade value (16:00), 2016 Team USA options (28:00), J.R. technical foul goading strategies for Draymond (37:00) and Brendan's fetish for bizarre internet deep dives (52:00).
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell to discuss Rick Barry's free throw mechanics, GSW's reinvention of the wheel (14:00), expanding the pool of NBA stars (23:00), Kevin Durant's next destination (30:00), Steph Curry's brand and cheap contract (35:00), Muhammad Ali's era and surviving the 1960s (43:00), LeBron James's ridiculous training regimen (1:01:00), and the Carmelo Anthony-Kevin Love trade potential (1:04:00).
