Should we thank Bill Simmons for adding a little bit of sizzle to the slowest week in sports? The Wednesday and Thursday after the MLB All-Star Game, especially, may be the two bleakest, emptiest days on the annual sports calendar.
OK, let’s give a nod to Stephen A. Smith as well, for getting Simmons’ dander up. The star of ESPN’s First Take tweeted this out after Wednesday’s news that the U.S. Court of Appeals would not rehear Tom Brady’s DeflateGate case against the NFL.
Tom Brady was ARROGANT, UPPITY, SELFISH and in the end he brought this on himself.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 13, 2016
That’s our Stephen A.! Bold, brash, use of caps with adjectives. And there are probably plenty of sports fans who agree with this take on the New England Patriots quarterback.
One media personality who took issue with Stephen A.’s assertion, however, is outspoken Patriots fan Bill Simmons. Given the chance to rip an ESPN pundit, the host of HBO’s Any Given Wednesday was not going to turn down such an opportunity. Here’s his response, tweeted Thursday morning.
One of multiple ESPN employees used by the NFL to leak anti-Brady info during this saga decides to weigh in. https://t.co/g7rejeMaRZ
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 14, 2016
What is Simmons referring to? Probably the rumor and innuendo Smith passed along on First Take a year ago, in lieu of actual reporting on the matter, saying that he “heard” Brady destroyed his cell phone in order to hide text messages that he sent to the Patriots’ ball boys. When pressed on the matter, Smith admitted that he didn’t know if the story was true and couldn’t confirm the accusation.
Simmons wasn’t the only one taking issue with Stephen A. either. Curt Schilling tweeted out his own response to the opinions about Brady.
Which further reinforces you're a racist AND an idiot. You wouldn't have said BOO! if this was Cam Newton. https://t.co/9PuhE0JRkx
— Curt Schilling (@gehrig38) July 13, 2016
Yes, well… At least Simmons went on to explain his gripes with the NFL in the DeflateGate case in subsequent tweets, saying that this had been more about Roger Goodell’s authority, rather than Brady’s culpability in tampering with footballs. Disagree if you will, but he moved on from attacking Stephen A. to his true target.
FYI – DeflateGate stopped being about Brady a few months ago. It's now about Goodell legally protecting his power to do whatever he wants.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 14, 2016
It's the NFLPA's fault b/c in the last CBA, they gave Goodell the power to do whatever the F he wants… Legally they can't do anything now.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 14, 2016
Nobody cares b/c the DeflateGate story is too dense and nobody has the time to follow it… But that's what DeflateGate is now.
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) July 14, 2016
In the meantime, has anyone asked Ben Affleck what he thinks about Stephen A.’s anti-Tom Brady tweet?
(1/2) For those of you keeping score at home, I gave exactly 18 f*cks about my Pats. Upon reflection, 12 probably would have been sufficient
— Ben Affleck (@BenAffleck) June 23, 2016
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About Ian Casselberry
Ian is a writer, editor, and podcaster. You can find his work at Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He's written for Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, MLive, Bleacher Report, and SB Nation.