So far, Bill Simmons is a man of his word.
Simmons, who is launching a new website called “The Ringer,” said last week that his relationship with ESPN will be even more unfriendly moving forward, as his former employer apparently has banned anyone in the company from appearing on his podcast.
The popular sports media personality fired his first significant shots Tuesday via Twitter, ripping apart ESPN’s “Mike & Mike” because he felt that hosts Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic failed to ask the tough questions while interviewing Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino, whose program has been the subject of a sex scandal in recent months.
I hope Rick Pitino can recover from that vicious grilling that Mike and Mike gave him today.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick, your program used hookers to recruit teenagers and you're saying you're not accountable – so, um, who's winning the tournament?"
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick – you presided over an escort scandal that got your school banned from the tournament and you didn't quit. Who are your sleepers?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick, you've had two damaging scandals at Louisville and you refuse to step down – what's it like to coach against your son?"
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
"Hey Rick – most schools give their recruits free dinners, your school gave them free orgasms. What do you think of the one-and-done rule?"
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 15, 2016
Simmons’ Twitter rant against “Mike & Mike” might be justified, but it also is very unsurprising given several variables at play.
Simmons obviously hates ESPN. He’s had an issue with “Mike & Mike,” in particular, in the past, even while he still was employed by ESPN. And he’s a noted Boston Celtics fan, which could mean he harbors some ill will toward Pitino, who had a horrendous coaching tenure with the C’s from 1997 to 2001.
Thumbnail photo via Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Images
