It\u2019s hard for me to explain why I like Bill Simmons because originally I thought he was a pompous, arrogant journalist who thought banging his chest would get him noticed. But I couldn\u2019t have been more wrong. I understand Simmons may be considered more of a blogger, but he goes about it in a journalistic way \u2014 reporting facts and using observation at live events instead of making assumptions.<\/p>\n
My favorite article by Simmons was \u201cDaring to ask the PED Question.\u201d The article came out in 2013 addressing the often under-talked about use of performance enhancing drugs in sport. I got really into this article because he cited examples of possible PED usages that all my friends commonly talk about. And just like Simmons and his co-workers, the topic is rarely publicly brought up.<\/p>\n
Simmons goes into examples of league\u2019s that use different methods to make it harder for their athletes to get caught cheating. While this has changed, Simmons is able to pinpoint scenarios that make you question both athletes and the leagues they play for.<\/p>\n
My second favorite Simmons article was the \u201cConsequences of Caring.\u201d While this one is more of a relaxed story, I still found it refreshing for the impact that sports journalists can have on people. He tells the story of being a sports fan through his daughter\u2019s eyes and the passion and mostly heartbreak that goes along with it.<\/p>\n
As the article gets into its latter stages, he reverts back to why he wanted to become a sports journalist in the first place \u2014 sports have the ability to move people in a way unlike anything else in our society. It reminded me of why I wanted to get into sports journalism too.<\/p>\n
Interestingly enough, Simmons brash attitude is what eventually drew me back to his writing. He wasn\u2019t afraid to make people uncomfortable or point out the elephant in the room. He\u2019s made many people angry in his time as a sports journalist and that is something I feel like many journalists struggle with. They are afraid about being everyone\u2019s friend instead of reporting what needs to be said and Simmons just isn\u2019t like that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"