NBA Playoff Chaos, Kawhi Drama, and UConn Goes Down (Ep. 347)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan and Kevin O’Connor to discuss the upcoming NBA playoffs (2:31), conspiracies surrounding Kawhi Leonard (5:04), and Bill’s disinterest in anything the Spurs are doing (21:03). Then, JackO comes through to discuss the Yankees, Red Sox, and more in the return of the MLB season (56:59); UConn women’s basketball losing to Notre Dame (01:11:37); and their favorite memories from this year’s NCAA men’s March Madness (01:16:10). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
2 Apr 20181h 28min
Kevin Durant Returns, Part Two (Ep. 346)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Kevin Durant dive right back into the mailbag to discuss the Warriors' best game this season (5:00), Klay Thompson stories (13:00), the "take" era of sports media (28:00), Durant's three-on-three dream team (40:00), LaVar Ball (46:00), basketball bloggers (56:00), and NBA free agency this summer (1:01:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
29 Mars 20181h 14min
Kevin Durant Returns, Part One (Ep. 345)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by self-proclaimed "Basketball Guru" Kevin Durant to discuss the distance between players and fans (5:00), growing the game of basketball (11:00), Twitter's impact on the NBA (19:00), the desire to master basketball (25:00), the All-NBA team (30:00), the revamped NBA All-Star Game (34:00), the Rookie of the Year race (41:00), the LeBron partnership (48:00), and the start to another KD mailbag (53:00). You can find the official Ringer web store here: http://bit.ly/ringershop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
28 Mars 20181h 11min
Al Pacino and Barry Levinson on 'Dog Day Afternoon,' HBO's 'Paterno,' and 'The Godfather' (Ep. 344)
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Al Pacino and Barry Levinson to discuss how the two get along so well (14:45), their new film ‘Paterno’ (19:00), and what they expect the reaction to the film will be (27:20). Then, Bill debunks a ‘Heat’ conspiracy theory (41:20) and Al talks about how Francis Ford Coppola saved his job (48:30), when John Cazale realized Meryl Streep was the greatest actor alive (56:00) and the impact Marlon Brando had on him (59:00). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
26 Mars 20181h 10min
'Billions,' 'Rounders,' and Andre the Giant With Brian Koppelman (Ep. 343)
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by ‘Billions’ co-creator Brian Koppelman to discuss the rewatchability of ‘Rounders’ (05:30), which ‘Billions’ character gets mentioned the most in real life (13:45), the show resonating with rappers and NBA players (1:04:00), and finding a way to make it entertaining without being campy (1:11:15). Then they discuss HBO’s upcoming documentary ‘Andre the Giant’ (1:24:50). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
23 Mars 20181h 37min
Michael and Martellus Bennett on LeBron James's Activism, Tom Brady, and Getting Traded (Ep. 342)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Michael and Martellus Bennett as they discuss why NBA players are more outspoken than NFL players (10:04), what Tom Brady is like as a teammate (34:32), how it feels to get the sudden call that you're being traded (53:02), what they want their legacies to be (56:57), and how elitism keeps change from happening in the NFL (1:16:51). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
21 Mars 20181h 14min
Portland's Rise, NBA Finals Sleepers, and UMBC vs. Tyson (Ep. 341)
HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Ryen Russillo to discuss the Trail Blazers's quest to conquer the Western Conference (03:45), the baggage that could hold back the Rockets (24:00), the Russell Westbrook conundrum (38:00), the insignificance of the triple-double (48:30), the Rookie of the Year race between Ben Simmons and Donovan Mitchell (50:45), Brad Stevens and the struggling Celtics (57:45), the Boston sports radio scene (01:09:45), and ranking UMBC's win over Virginia among the greatest upsets of all time (01:19:00). Read "Four Big Questions for the Thunder" by Kevin O'Connor here: https://t.co/jIxZTu6PCO Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19 Mars 20181h 32min
Chuck Klosterman: Can the NBA Save College Hoops? Should We Abolish Award Shows? (Ep. 340)
HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Chuck Klosterman to discuss the present and future state of college basketball and how it affects the NBA (03:00) and to debate the potential of the internet forcing today’s youth to grow up faster (15:00). Then they debate how much of an obligation you have to be plugged into society (30:00) before airing their frustrations with awards shows (57:30). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16 Mars 20181h 34min
