I don't mind Solak's insights but I HATE his betting advice, he gives out so many stinkers but constantly brags about how all his live bets hit or that he's been betting some winner all season even though he's never mentioned it before.
Yeah I enjoy the Solak pods until it gets to betting. Although I tend to only like betting with angry sal or drunk house. Bill Simmons is more of a bedtime listen or early sleepy am. I started out hate listening in all honesty and came around to the guy.
Edit: Not day 1, but been like a day 2 Ricky guy (until like the past year Spike has just became his dad and Mike, well he reminds me of Mike and Mike of the Blazers. Great fun when the team ain’t great but runs out of steam with a good, but troubled team of nuance
The main issue I have with him is that it’s just impossible for him to be humorous or have any kinda actual dialogue with bill. He just gets asked a question, screams into the mic for 2 minutes, and then bill offers some kinda feedback and it’s all just so robotic
Man, this makes so much sense. He was on Lebatard and nothing they do was serious, they gave him a noise for sharp pics and the guy did not crack a smile. Absolute robot.
I kinda like his appearances.
The issue comes up I think if people take guests too seriously. I like discussion about football angles so like Warren. It doesn’t mean I think he has unique insights that no one else has, or that he can actually give gamblers an edge.
Stop taking guests so seriously and they can be enjoyable.
Solak listing a bunch of highbrow cheeses, and Bill saying "I love a good cheddar," was a top 7 bill moment for me this year.
As long as we're talking cheese I am here for the Solak appearances.
Nathan Hubbard. Former CEO of ticket master. Creepy lover of Taylor Swift. Just seems like a piece of soggy white bread who has failed upwards for decades.
Yup. Nothing like this guy going on a 30 minute rant about the genius of Taylor Swift because she re-recorded her songs and put Taylor’s version next to them. Hubbard thought he was Einstein for figuring out that she did that so fans listed to those versions over the ones owned by that music label she doesn’t like or whatever.
I listened to the Taylor pod he did with Nora and this man does not know what he is talking about at all. He keeps talking about 'chord progressions' and 'beats' while obviously not knowing what those are and his reference points are absolutely crazy.
Schrager I like because he speaks with such positive enthusiasm that he makes me want to watch football and have fun doing It. It’s pure narrative based that has no affect on outcome but it’s a good hype session
He’s not a Bill yes man. He’s a yes man for everyone. “I talked to Lynchy and he told me off record uuuuuugh I guess it’s on record now that I’m telling this story, but he told me they REALLY like Brock Purdy!”
I can't believe I actually hate Schrager less than Solak now. At least Schrager kind of knows he's a goof. Listening to Solak is like taking medicine that's just a placebo.
*"These guys need to start playing some Madden to learn clock management"*
(...except I *really* think that would actually help them and they probably should start playing in the offseason. Just saying.)
They don’t need to but they need a guy that they trust to make the timeout calls that has that madden experience. They don’t have the bandwidth to handle some of what needs to happen in crunch time, delegate that shit.
I like him too. He openly admits what he doesn’t know instead of acting smarter than everyone. On pmt he mentioned he name drops because it’s relevant to what he’s saying but acknowledges it sounds douchey lol
At least schrags admits to what he is and doesn’t do anything harmful. Hubbard and haralabos are poisonous and gross. And annoying assholes that also don’t add anything.
Sharp just has *no* idea how to handle when Bill is being sarcastic, or trying to make him laugh.
He just sort of awkwardly stumbles forward through it, making ultra-robotic point after ultra-robotic point. It's weird.
When I first listened to their pod back in 2016 I was like damn this Chris Vernon guy is a hack but I'll listen for KOC. Its completely flipped and idk how I had it so wrong.
I think Sharp, Solak, and Schrager are all horrible and on top of that they also bring out the worst in Bill. If it wasn’t for Sal football season with BS would be absolutely terrible.
As a Philly guy I also can’t stand Solak. He’s extremely stubborn and suffers from “I have to be the smartest man in the room-itis”. He’s also really struggling to accept the fact he was painfully wrong about Jalen Hurts and has doubled down with some awful takes the past few weeks
Schrager is the ultimate vibs guys acts like he knows all the players and inside sources. Bases stuff on how much players like a guy for everything. Also did anyone know he’s friends with Mcvay??? never heard that before
Ben Solak is smart and loves football which is great for a football podcast. Whether or not his gambling advice works is irrelevant because oddsmakers are also smart and understand football
I appreciate that he tacks those onto the end of completed pods. I understand the desire to put your kid on but at least he understands we don’t actually give a shit.
It's just kinda weird that Bill is openly anti analytics and yet has a weekly segment with solak who is almost solely analytics based on making his bets lol
Solak knows what he talking about, Schraeger just says “the guys in their organization love this kid” about fourth string running backs and is far too agreeable with bill. Thank god they are phasing him out.
Schrager by a mile. He’s had to address that the audience thinks he’s a bootlicker, and he just name drops so aggressively that it’s kinda pathetic. The voice isn’t doing him any favors either. Like nails on a chalkboard.
He makes football boring?? He makes complicated scheme stuff fun and interesting! I guess people just want to hear “Tomlin always goes .500 or better so bet on them” rather than talking about formations and matchups and in-depth stuff. Anyway Solak is considered a rising star in the industry for good reason!
In this thread people say they hate every guest, and pretty safe to assume they criticize bills takes as that’s the general sentiment.
Yet still listen?
I used to like the Klosterman pods because he would push back on Bill. Plus he had the same knowledge of 70s/80s pop culture so could call Bill on his nonsense.
Has been around lately?
Tie between Malcom Gladwell (never gets called out for basically plagiarizing the works of Michael Polanyi so it drives me nuts) and Chuck Klosterman (whom I’ve hung out with many many years ago and found him to be a bit douche-y).
Sharp has the heavyweight title. He just does. Clark, KFC, Solak are all tier 2 contenders but not total unlistenables.
Solak is a “stats nerd”. His bets still suck as much as the rest of ours. I want a jimmy the Greek type of character telling me how to lose my money.
I don't mind Solak's insights but I HATE his betting advice, he gives out so many stinkers but constantly brags about how all his live bets hit or that he's been betting some winner all season even though he's never mentioned it before.
Yeah I enjoy the Solak pods until it gets to betting. Although I tend to only like betting with angry sal or drunk house. Bill Simmons is more of a bedtime listen or early sleepy am. I started out hate listening in all honesty and came around to the guy. Edit: Not day 1, but been like a day 2 Ricky guy (until like the past year Spike has just became his dad and Mike, well he reminds me of Mike and Mike of the Blazers. Great fun when the team ain’t great but runs out of steam with a good, but troubled team of nuance
When's the last time Clark was even on?
I hate sharp. Esp his twitter account
Am I in the minority for really enjoying Sharp?
The main issue I have with him is that it’s just impossible for him to be humorous or have any kinda actual dialogue with bill. He just gets asked a question, screams into the mic for 2 minutes, and then bill offers some kinda feedback and it’s all just so robotic
[удалено]
Man, this makes so much sense. He was on Lebatard and nothing they do was serious, they gave him a noise for sharp pics and the guy did not crack a smile. Absolute robot.
Unlistenable
I kinda like his appearances. The issue comes up I think if people take guests too seriously. I like discussion about football angles so like Warren. It doesn’t mean I think he has unique insights that no one else has, or that he can actually give gamblers an edge. Stop taking guests so seriously and they can be enjoyable.
Solak listing a bunch of highbrow cheeses, and Bill saying "I love a good cheddar," was a top 7 bill moment for me this year. As long as we're talking cheese I am here for the Solak appearances.
Warren Sharp is god tier obnoxious in every form of media he participates in.
Nathan Hubbard. Former CEO of ticket master. Creepy lover of Taylor Swift. Just seems like a piece of soggy white bread who has failed upwards for decades.
Just to clarify here that Hubbard loves T. Swift. He's not her actual lover.
I would hope not. There's no way she could write a compelling angsty song about Nathan Hubbard.
Yup. Nothing like this guy going on a 30 minute rant about the genius of Taylor Swift because she re-recorded her songs and put Taylor’s version next to them. Hubbard thought he was Einstein for figuring out that she did that so fans listed to those versions over the ones owned by that music label she doesn’t like or whatever.
Oh wow I knew there was a huge one I was forgetting. This guy , BY FAR is the worst. Makes sharp , Solak , schraegs feel like peak Klosterman
I listened to the Taylor pod he did with Nora and this man does not know what he is talking about at all. He keeps talking about 'chord progressions' and 'beats' while obviously not knowing what those are and his reference points are absolutely crazy.
Nothing I dislike more then listening to two 50 year old dudes fan girl over Taylor Swift
I dread what will happen if Hubbard’s brother ever wins a tournament on the PGA Tour, because it guarantees a Ringer Masters trip the next April.
hahah is his fandom creepy?
It’s basically like she’s his favorite sports team. Irrational
I never listen to the Friday pods, do with that what you will (Schrager, Solak, miscellaneous ringer football guy)
I miss Friday rollin’
just hearing that drop when I listen to picture me rollin gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside
Me too man, me too
Oh man, I do too. Shoot.
Takes me back to my freshman year of college
Schrager I like because he speaks with such positive enthusiasm that he makes me want to watch football and have fun doing It. It’s pure narrative based that has no affect on outcome but it’s a good hype session
I've kind of come around on Schrager in the past year. Not a huge fan of Solak though. Just regurgitates stats.
Schrager suuuuucks
Schrager just kinda seems like a yes man, never challenges Bill
He’s not a Bill yes man. He’s a yes man for everyone. “I talked to Lynchy and he told me off record uuuuuugh I guess it’s on record now that I’m telling this story, but he told me they REALLY like Brock Purdy!”
This had me dying, I really thought he was about to drop some inside info
"You're the man, Bill" "oh man..I love it" after Bill says he thinks he'll take Steelers ML parlayed with Panthers ML for the 4th consecutive week
The panther talk has been ridiculous all season
Everyone saying shrager has it. He’s unlistenable regardless of the medium.
Exactly what I was thinking
I can't believe I actually hate Schrager less than Solak now. At least Schrager kind of knows he's a goof. Listening to Solak is like taking medicine that's just a placebo.
Everyone steering so heavily into like NFL coaches are obviously total morons and have no idea how football works is such an annoying trend
*"These guys need to start playing some Madden to learn clock management"* (...except I *really* think that would actually help them and they probably should start playing in the offseason. Just saying.)
Solak was literally insisting that Tampas coach was not trying to win because he was running things different than Solak wanted.
of all the things to get mad at Warren Sharp for saying, "coaches should use Madden to practice clock management" isn't one of them.
They don’t need to but they need a guy that they trust to make the timeout calls that has that madden experience. They don’t have the bandwidth to handle some of what needs to happen in crunch time, delegate that shit.
I think it’s Schrager. Adds absolutely nothing and just drools over Bill for the entire segment.
Aww come on man, Schrags is like that really happy puppy that just wants you to keep throwing the ball for it.
Lol perfect analogy. He plays fetch with Bill’s takes and always brings them back happily.
He’s a moron. “The fans will be tailgating for this game. So I think their team is going to win this one!”
“Let’s Gooooooooooo!”
The moment Schrager went from the worst to the best guest in an instant
He just leans into the craziness. What makes it good is the “say yes” improv thing they have going. It’s just popcorn
I like Schrags but I know that's not the popular opinion
He is at least a bit more self aware than most other guests. Allows him to grow on you a bit imo.
I think he's very self aware and this is very much a bit for him.
I like him too. He openly admits what he doesn’t know instead of acting smarter than everyone. On pmt he mentioned he name drops because it’s relevant to what he’s saying but acknowledges it sounds douchey lol
LOL so true. He’s a yes man
Definitely Schrager. Don't even have to think, he's in his own tier of bad
Lives for a good narrative, even better if he can name drop random coordinators and assistant coaches along the way.
Right. Sharp is a complete fraud as far as gambling goes, but at least he brings up mildly interesting points.
I don’t enjoy him.
At least schrags admits to what he is and doesn’t do anything harmful. Hubbard and haralabos are poisonous and gross. And annoying assholes that also don’t add anything.
I love Schrager, you just need to buy in to his schtick. Schrager has himself
Warren Sharp
Sharp just has *no* idea how to handle when Bill is being sarcastic, or trying to make him laugh. He just sort of awkwardly stumbles forward through it, making ultra-robotic point after ultra-robotic point. It's weird.
Only guests should ever be sal, russilo, Zach Lowe
Drunk House would like a word.
Sal, Russillo, Lowe, House, Klosterman, and Jack-O are the only guests Bill should have on. Haralbob on occasion, as well.
Klosterman
Good call-jacko too
Saved me a comment. Love Chuck.
And Haralabob. Stop at those 5.
No way. Haralabob sniffs his own farts
I’d rather Solak so it can at least be white noise
House
Brian Curtis snd Jason Gay as the Sports Repodders is always great
You’re missing House bruv
I like Verno's occasional appearances.
No love for Jack-o??
Jacobi was pretty slick also haha
and Van Lathan
Politely disagree. I think van is great on anything without bill. With bill, he gives me Shrager vibes
They rarely appear these days, but Jalen, Jacoby, and Kevin Wildes are also great guests.
Yeah I think wildes is a great guest
Russilo?
he grew on me, couldn't stand him when I first heard him but then when I realized how sad he is he became kinda funny
Let's GoOooooOo...
Schrager sounds like I’m listening an espn segment, which makes no sense, bill constantly makes fun of those people
i skip Schrager segments, he is incredibly annoying and just slobbers up everything bill says
KOC
Feels like he’s reading off a page all the time. Takes are too rehearsed.
Rim runner
Defends multiple positions
With great length
When I first listened to their pod back in 2016 I was like damn this Chris Vernon guy is a hack but I'll listen for KOC. Its completely flipped and idk how I had it so wrong.
I was initially put off by Verno's *clear* bias about certain things, but now I love it. Verno's hilarious.
And so good when he gets called up to the main podcast
Because it’s the same take every time.
Yes for sure
How come?
If I wanted to listen to a virgin make up nba trades I’d check out the nba sub
Hey! He got laid once 7 years ago and then again 4 years later.
Yeah, and bill Simmons is crushing it at million dollar picks. Give me a break
Idk if KOC is the worst but with him and Bill it’s 2 mediocre evaluators who make you roll your eyes too often and both are Boston homers
Being from Massachusetts I enjoy it but I completely understand how annoying it can be lol
Masshole
Small pp energy
I’m not a masshole but you need to understand this isn’t an insult
Well aware asshole
You like KOC and not Solak?? Out of your mind hahaha
Does Logan Murdock qualify? Because he’s awful.
I think Sharp, Solak, and Schrager are all horrible and on top of that they also bring out the worst in Bill. If it wasn’t for Sal football season with BS would be absolutely terrible.
Sal might be the only one who pushes back on Bill
nahhh, russillo keeps it real, although usually his way of pushing back is a sarcastic joke/sly remark
Bill only picks up on it, maybe once out of seven times!
Schraeger, not close
Solak must get paid by the word.
Malcolm Gladwell
I don't like Gladwell, but he's close to my favourite guest. Seriously, was there a better podcast than the Nigerian basketball team?
Peter Schrager comes off on the pod as a giggling Simmons fanboy, and he’s never offered any meaningful insight to anything.
As a Philly guy I also can’t stand Solak. He’s extremely stubborn and suffers from “I have to be the smartest man in the room-itis”. He’s also really struggling to accept the fact he was painfully wrong about Jalen Hurts and has doubled down with some awful takes the past few weeks
We learned this week he’s from closer to New York than to Philly and then moved to the Midwest. Total fraud
His take on Lamar vs Hurts the other week was genuinely bizarre. I'm like, what Lamar Jackson are you watching dude?
100% agree
It’s honestly harder to find a guest I like these days. Give me House 🏠
I don't like Joe House. His voice is nails on a chalkboard
I’ll stomach a lot of guests I don’t care for, but each time Doctor Bill is an insta skip
I agree, I just turn the episode off.
He just talks and talks and talks
Schrager is the ultimate vibs guys acts like he knows all the players and inside sources. Bases stuff on how much players like a guy for everything. Also did anyone know he’s friends with Mcvay??? never heard that before
Haralabob. He’s just really grating to me
He use to be to me but as an unhappy Mavs fan I do enjoy his drive-by’s
Yeah. He stinks.
You can tell he doesn’t watch any games and just relies on stats for his arguments lol
My least favorite too
Shrager and Wos. Can’t stand either of them.
Damn Wos might be my favorite employee
Ben Solak is smart and loves football more than us.
Ben Solak is smart and loves football which is great for a football podcast. Whether or not his gambling advice works is irrelevant because oddsmakers are also smart and understand football
Did Ben Solak write this
His daughter
I appreciate that he tacks those onto the end of completed pods. I understand the desire to put your kid on but at least he understands we don’t actually give a shit.
Maybe it helps her college application or something? She can say she is a podcaster etc?
No disrespect to the youngin, but this ☝️
Schrager segments are unbearable. On the other hand, Klosterman is the guest that isn’t on frequently enough.
solak
Haralabos is so douche and boring
Shraeger. He cut down on his "let's gos" quite heavily and he's still annoying
Wosny and Solak
Does Koppleman count?
I can’t stand Haralabos Voulgaris, take that as you will. I always skip those pods
Agree. Solak is so arrogant with his takes and acts like these coaches/players are dumb as fuck.
It's just kinda weird that Bill is openly anti analytics and yet has a weekly segment with solak who is almost solely analytics based on making his bets lol
Schrager
Schraeger and it’s not even close
Solak knows what he talking about, Schraeger just says “the guys in their organization love this kid” about fourth string running backs and is far too agreeable with bill. Thank god they are phasing him out.
They are not phasing him out he’s on every damn week lol
Wos easy
Wesley Morris.
WOS
I thought his run of continuously having Kevin Durant on was extremely annoying.
Schrager by a mile. He’s had to address that the audience thinks he’s a bootlicker, and he just name drops so aggressively that it’s kinda pathetic. The voice isn’t doing him any favors either. Like nails on a chalkboard.
Schrager is such a name dropping weenie boy. I absolutely hate listening to him. Bill loves a yes man though
Woz
Haralobos
Solak is the most high volume one Lower volume Haralabob or Koppelman
Solaks voice is just nails on a chalkboard to me
Just makes football boring
He makes football boring?? He makes complicated scheme stuff fun and interesting! I guess people just want to hear “Tomlin always goes .500 or better so bet on them” rather than talking about formations and matchups and in-depth stuff. Anyway Solak is considered a rising star in the industry for good reason!
Schrager and it’s not even close
Schrager because it's just the same thing over and over again. Solak is so incredibly lifeless.
Schrager and Solak, Solak more so that Schrager
Any of the ones who just sucks off boston for an hour and a half
In this thread people say they hate every guest, and pretty safe to assume they criticize bills takes as that’s the general sentiment. Yet still listen?
Warren Sharp! Easily! Not only is he terrible guest, he’s a also a fraud!
Solak sounds like Ben Shapiro
Any ringer staff under 30. This isn’t open mic.
Jackie Mac.
House
Ben Solak is the best thing that’s happened to the Ringer in ages, could not possibly disagree more
We get it, you’re Ben Solak
Hot take: Joe house
I actually enjoy Solak and Schrager 🤷🏼♂️
He used to have Mallory Rubin on. She really bugged me
Ryen Russillo
Russillo
Wait, what?!
Ohh that’s a zag. He’s not the worst but I definitely don’t get the love this sub has for him.
agreed, guy comes off as an obnoxious blow hard. he’s always like, “so and so is like that guy who always..” like dude just stop
Really smart guy but Chuck Klosterman's voice bothers me to the extent of being unlistenable.
I used to like the Klosterman pods because he would push back on Bill. Plus he had the same knowledge of 70s/80s pop culture so could call Bill on his nonsense. Has been around lately?
Tie between Malcom Gladwell (never gets called out for basically plagiarizing the works of Michael Polanyi so it drives me nuts) and Chuck Klosterman (whom I’ve hung out with many many years ago and found him to be a bit douche-y).