Bill Simmons' Strong Reaction Towards Bobby Burack: An Examination
Revamped Article:
Bobby Burack, here's the lowdown onBill Simmons and his constant jibes during the NBA playoffs.
You've probably noticed the friendly banter between Simmons and his sidekick, Ryen Russillo, throwing rhetorical jabs your way. Their latest dig? Mocking you for tweeting about ratings.
"Yeah, Clay Travis, how about tweeting about the ratings," Russillo quipped last week. To which Simmons replied, "Get Bobby Burack on that one."
Funny, right? Not so much when Simmons complains about outlets like the New York Post aggregating his criticisms of you and your supposed response.
"We are getting so aggregated," Simmons grumbled to Russillo, jokingly putting you on the spot. "Should we say something about Bobby Burack again? We can get aggregated. Do you think Burack will pick that up?"
Now, I've never had a chat with either Simmons or Russillo—frankly, I had no clue they had a problem with me until last week. But here's the kicker: their issues with you seem tied solely to your coverage of the NBA.
Let's rewind a bit. When Bomani Jones called you the "worst person in the world," it was personal. His beef was about your reporting on his dismal ratings across ESPN Radio, ESPN, and HBO, not to mention the abrupt cancellations of his shows.
Similarly, when Le Batard accused you of wearing the KKK hood, he was bothered about your questioning his hypocritical coverage of domestic violence. In 2023, Le Batard claimed zero tolerance for violence against women, yet he employs Howard Bryant, who was arrested for allegedly choking his wife in public.
Le Batard then bailed on a planned interview with you.
As for Simmons, again, our website rarely discusses him. In fact, the last time I mentioned him was defending him against blogger jibes about his low HBO ratings.
But apparently, Simmons and Russillo are so ruffled by your NBA criticism that it's wrecking their NBA playoffs enjoyment.
Fast forward to now, and Simmons is riding a wave of positivity due to the NBA's opening weekend of the first round seeing an 17% increase year over year. But let's not forget that national viewership for the season is down 2%, and local viewership is down 9%.
Streaming ain't to blame, either. The NFL continues to set viewership records year after year.
The truth is, the NBA isn't nearly as popular as Simmons claims it is. In fact, there may be an argument that MLB is more popular in local markets.
But here's the thing: if Simmons (or Russillo) wants to discuss their issues with me, they're welcome to do so publicly (like Michael Wilbon) or privately (like Ryan Clark). In the meantime, I better get writing about those NBA ratings.
For context, I used to work for a sports media site, The Big Lead, which was one of the industry's most influential players around 2019. I made waves by reporting on the NBA's falling popularity, which didn't sit well with some folks at ESPN and the NBA office. However, since 2019, nearly every major outlet has covered the NBA's declines, including Simmons.
Lastly, there's a heated debate in sports media about the NBA's handling of political messaging and player conduct, with some outlets, like yours, questioning the league's approach, and others, like Simmons, defending its cultural relevance. Simmons's apparent frustration appears to stem from what he sees as biased reporting critical of the NBA.
Selective Use of Enrichment Data:
Simmons's criticisms of Burack's coverage of NBA ratings seem rooted in a disagreement over how NBA ratings and cultural relevance are being interpreted and reported. Simmons and his co-host, Ryen Russillo, have accused Outkick of misinformation or sensationalism regarding NBA ratings, arguing that recent positive playoff ratings contradict narratives that the league is losing appeal. Simmons's frustration reflects broader themes in sports media, where some outlets question the NBA's handling of social issues and player actions, while others defend the league's relevance and appeal. Simmons and Russillo's criticism suggests they believe certain media narratives are unfairly biased against the NBA.
- Bobby Burack delves into sports-analysis, noting that Bill Simmons and his co-host, Ryen Russillo, have been critical of his interpretation and reporting of NBA ratings, viewing it as sensationalism or misinformation.
- While Simmons and Russillo enjoy horse racing, sports entertainment like NBA playoffs, their displeasure with Burack's stance on NBA ratings indicates they value sports (including the NBA) as more than just a form of entertainment; they view it as a significant aspect of culture and sports-analysis.
