OT: SportsGuy vs. Big O

[BradyManny]

SportsGuy jabs WEEI - Boston Herald

I've heard this alluded to on air, but didn't really follow it all.

He also lashed out on Twitter. “Hey WEEI: You were wrong, I did a Boston interview today. With your competition,” Simmons wrote. “Rather give them ratings over deceitful scumbags like you.”

Ordway took the high road. ‘Bill,” Ordway said last night, “lighten up.”

“This is a radio show we do. It’s entertainment. We’re not bullying anybody. We’re doing exactly what he’s done for years in print where he’s ripped everybody,” Ordway said. “He does the exact same schtick that he’s accusing us off.”

I might express my displeasure with EEI from time to time, but Ordway is way better at his job than SportsGuy. For years now, I have been saying its a disgrace SportsGuy tries to rep Boston sports. Not only does he know nothing about any sport in particular, he's grown so out of touch with Boston sports.

I hope Big O buries SportsGuy, at least in the local market. So far, looks like SportsGuy is coming off as a child. Big-O might not be my favorite sports host, but he seems like a decent enough guy, and I'm glad he's taking the high road.

 

[oldskool138]

Bill Simmons even slams EEI on page 2 of this interview.

Bill Simmons | Books | The A.V. Club

 

[JAYHAWKS34]

but Ordway is way better at his job than SportsGuy. QUOTE]

you must be joking:wha:

 

[Nordberg]

I heard Simmons on Felgers show bash The Big Show.....

I don't think I have ever nodded my head up and down more.

Simmons was spot on. Loved it

I'm amazed that show is still on the air. Bunch of dumb animals on that show.

 

[Rob0729]

Both guys are/have been being idiots in this. Listening Simmons on 98.5 was funny, but embarrassing for him. Even Felger tried to warn him that even if he is right, he is going to look really bad in this.

Ordway, for his part, has been petty and vicious over the years towards Simmons for any criticism no matter how valid Simmons has made of his show. Ordway baited Simmons into his meltdown by trashing him on the airwaves last week.

Ordway was smart enough to take the high road after Simmons had his meltdown (hence why he is more media savvy than Simmons), but he has gotten down and dirty on this feud about as much as Simmons. The difference is Ordway is a broadcast media guy who is more exposed to what media feuds are like and knows how to approach them with some savvy. Simmons is a print guy and not used to public feuds other than with guys like Gregg Easterbrook who has some real personality issues himself.

 

[lamafist]

Simmons' column is the biggest page-view drawer on the biggest brand in sports' website.

More individual people read each of Simmons' columns than will likely ever hear Ordway's voice in their life.

Simmons just wrote a book that reached #1 on the Times' best-seller list.

Considering that attracting readers/listeners is their job, I think it's a simple, demonstrable fact that Simmons is far, far better at it than Ordway.

 

[Rob0729]

I heard Simmons on Felgers show bash The Big Show.....

I don't think I have ever nodded my head up and down more.

Simmons was spot on. Loved it

I'm amazed that show is still on the air. Bunch of dumb animals on that show.

I agree even though it was a rant, it was a very accurate assessment of the Big Show. But doing it make him look like an arse. So eventhough he was right about the Big Show and Ordway, he came off worse. Granted it was compelling radio listening to him.

 

[Patpartizan]

Simmons is the most read columnist at ESPN, which is sports highest rated web site. Ordway is a local radio guy at WEEI, so it is Ordway who is dominated on the famous scale. Simmons has been feuding with Ordway since his days at Boston.com before it became the Globe. Ordway treated him badly according to Simmons, he won't let it go. Payback can be a ***** Glen.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I heard the segment. Simmons came off like a whiny, tempermental little biatch, which is apparently what he's increasingly become over the years. Huge ego for a guy who got nothing but opionions to hang his hat on, voice for print (gives Mazz a run for his money...). The funny part was Felger alternately lapping it up for his own ratings and trying to talk him in off the bridge burning ledge. Felgie knows when all else fails, Glen will still find a place for you to feed your family in between failed gigs...

FWIW, Glen is exactly right, pot and kettle.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I agree even though it was a rant, it was a very accurate assessment of the Big Show. But doing it make him look like an arse. So eventhough he was right about the Big Show and Ordway, he came off worse. Granted it was compelling radio listening to him.

Agreed. Simmons may be more credible, but Big O came across like the accused defending himself- which is exactly what he should do.

I know it's a quasi long standing feud of sorts but what touched Simmons off to start this whole thing?

 

[Rob0729]

Agreed. Simmons may be more credible, but Big O came across like the accused defending himself- which is exactly what he should do.

I know it's a quasi long standing feud of sorts but what touched Simmons off to start this whole thing?

Last week on the Big Show they were trashing Simmons for all his columns over the years where he was critical of WEEI and specifically the Big Show. He was supposed to go on the Big Show for an olive branch thing and they canceled on him the last minute. Apparently, Simmons felt they were screwing with him since he is an ESPN guy and can only go on local radio on WEEI. Simmons did find a loophole in that ESPN allows him to go on any radio station if he is promoting his book and not ESPN.

 

[Deus Irae]

Last week on the Big Show they were trashing Simmons for all his columns over the years where he was critical of WEEI and specifically the Big Show. He was supposed to go on the Big Show for an olive branch thing and they canceled on him the last minute. Apparently, Simmons felt they were screwing with him since he is an ESPN guy and can only go on local radio on WEEI. Simmons did find a loophole in that ESPN allows him to go on any radio station if he is promoting his book and not ESPN.

Actually, that's not how it happened.

 

[Rob0729]

I heard the segment. Simmons came off like a whiny, tempermental little biatch, which is apparently what he's increasingly become over the years. Huge ego for a guy who got nothing but opionions to hang his hat on, voice for print (gives Mazz a run for his money...). The funny part was Felger alternately lapping it up for his own ratings and trying to talk him in off the bridge burning ledge. Felgie knows when all else fails, Glen will still find a place for you to feed your family in between failed gigs...

FWIW, Glen is exactly right, pot and kettle.

Felgie doesn't have to worry about Glenn giving him a place for him to feed his family. Felger and Mazz were third in the Boston radio market for afternoon drive right behind the Big Show at second for the month of October. Felger won't have to looking for a new radio job for a long, long while at this rate.

Felger has decided not to take shots at Ordway though. It seems that even when callers call in and trash WEEI, most of the Sports Hub are trying to take the high road. Same can be said with the folks on WEEI. Although Felger is still a target for the Big Show, but nothing more than when he was on the WEEI roster.

 

[patsox23]

I might express my displeasure with EEI from time to time, but Ordway is way better at his job than SportsGuy.

I'm not sure you realize what Sports Guy's job is if you hold this opinion. Simmons is, in my view, VERY good at his job. Ordway and the 'EEI folks are largely horrendous, imo. Not "D & C" horrenous, but prett darn bad.

 

[Rob0729]

Actually, that's not how it happened.

Well, that is what Simmons said. Of course Ordway would say something different. I do know that the Big Show did trash Simmons on the radio last week because I heard it. I do know that Simmons was supposed to tentatively go on the Big Show since they teased it as a possibility. What really happened we will never know.

 

[BradyManny]

MoLewisRocks is right though - even if you agree with SportsGuy's criticisms of EEI, whatever bad things he wants to say about them can be said about SportsGuy and then some. SportsGuy's columns are predicated on ripping into people, for him to accuse EEI of being a bunch of bullies - what a joke!

SportsGuy has sucked since around the 2004 WS. He sold out, been living in Cali too long, and frankly, doesn't know jack about sports and doesn't realize it. At least the Big O has some sense of the boundaries of his sports knowledge for certain sports and has the sense to defer to guests at times. SportsGuy is a mess. Honestly, I know he's real popular with the male 14-21 crowd, and I fit into that at one point when he was getting real popular. And I used to be a huge fan of him, but as a sport fan, you quickly outgrow him.

I'd pay good money to make SportsGuy go away, or at least stop associating himself with Boston sports.

 

[BradyManny]

I'm not sure you realize what Sports Guy's job is if you hold this opinion. Simmons is, in my view, VERY good at his job. Ordway and the 'EEI folks are largely horrendous, imo. Not "D & C" horrenous, but prett darn bad.

I don't think any of them are great. But the lesser of evils would be the Big Show. How is Simmons good at his job? He's not a talented writer, he's not knowledgeable on sports, he's extremely out of touch with Boston sports and he has the attention span & maturity of a 14 year old. He appeals to a certain crowd, and maybe he does that well, but he's about six years removed from writing anything well. I don't care how many hits he gets, or how popular he is as an ESPN writer, his stuff is crap now. To think he considers himself an authority on basketball makes me want to vomit. I doubt Simmons has even stepped on a basketball court in his life.

 

[Rob0729]

MoLewisRocks is right though - even if you agree with SportsGuy's criticisms of EEI, whatever bad things he wants to say about them can be said about SportsGuy and then some. SportsGuy's columns are predicated on ripping into people, for him to accuse EEI of being a bunch of bullies - what a joke!

SportsGuy has sucked since around the 2004 WS. He sold out, been living in Cali too long, and frankly, doesn't know jack about sports and doesn't realize it. At least the Big O has some sense of the boundaries of his sports knowledge for certain sports and has the sense to defer to guests at times. SportsGuy is a mess. Honestly, I know he's real popular with the male 14-21 crowd, and I fit into that at one point when he was getting real popular. And I used to be a huge fan of him, but as a sport fan, you quickly outgrow him.

I'd pay good money to make SportsGuy go away, or at least stop associating himself with Boston sports.

I don't disagree with you that Simmons does a lot of the things he rips into Ordway about, but he has been critical of Ordway for other aspects of his show. I think both guys get paid to be critical of people in sports and the media. So ripping on each other is fair game. I think both have done their share of hitting below the belt though (at least sorting through both sides of the story).

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

Bill Simmons even slams EEI on page 2 of this interview.

Bill Simmons | Books | The A.V. Club

5 stars for this link alone. Great interview.

Disclaimer: Huge Simmons fan, here, despite his chicken-little attitude towards the Pats and his poor showing after Spygate.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Deus Irae]

Well, that is what Simmons said. Of course Ordway would say something different. I do know that the Big Show did trash Simmons on the radio last week because I heard it. I do know that Simmons was supposed to tentatively go on the Big Show since they teased it as a possibility. What really happened we will never know.

No. Given that I actually heard the Ordway commentary on the air, I already know that it did not happen in the manner you described.