Here’s to The Ringer

In December of 2011, a coworker of mine emailed me a link. I work in the field of education and the link was for something called Grantland. I filed it away for when I had more time to look at things like grants.

A few weeks later, I realized my silliness. For the next five or so years, Grantland was a go-to for when I needed something interesting to read about sports or entertainment and the BS Report podcast was in heavy rotation for my bike rides, long drives, and lawn mowing.

The Ringer is going to be awesome!

This week, Bill Simmons, former Editor in Chief of Grantland, announced he’s starting up a new site: The Ringer. In his latest Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons talks in general terms about what he’s gone through

I’m a way bigger and better consumer of sports information than source. When I first read a Simmons column, he was dissing the Lakers in ways I had never heard. Before long, I came to realize was a master troll — someone who could get a reader’s blood boiling. He was the perfect sports writer for the dawn of the Internet age. His podcast was and is earnest and intriguing. His YouTube platform with Grantland was underrated.

Over time, I came to respect his views more and more. Writers and sports personalities without a rooting interest tend to bore me. I’m a big fan of, well, fans — and Simmons is one of the all-timers.

When ESPN let Simmons go and eviscerated Grantland, it left a gaping hole in the online sports and entertainment landscape. We should all be glad that Simmons is building something new with the knowledge he’s gained from his time with Grantland. Simmons said on his podcast that he’s not trying to make The Ringer the same site that Grantland was. It will be different. Hopefully it will be better. I just hope it starts to fill the hole that Grantland’s death left.

Here’s to great content ahead. Here’s to The Ringer.