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For some reason, best-selling sportswriter Jeff Pearlman has decided to weigh-in on the bizarre Bill Simmons-Pablo Torre controversy/non-controversy. The beef in question began after Bill Simmons called out Pablo Torre’s reporting on Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson.
“I’ve never seen anybody dine on a stupider story for a week and a half while pretending you’re a journalist,” Simmons said on his podcast. “What the f— was that? Seriously. ‘Belichick’s dating a girl. Oh, let me do nine shows about it!’ Settle the f— down… You don’t need to do a media tour about a f—— podcast.”
Pablo Torre then fired back at Simmons on social media, writing, “Since you have such a strong public opinion about my work… I happen to have a few questions for you, specifically. Unless you’re afraid of @pablofindsout and someone just ‘pretending to be a journalist,’ of course.”
On Tuesday, Torre appeared on Bill Simmons’ podcast and it basically turned into much ado about very little with Simmons admitting that he hadn’t actually listened to Torre’s podcasts.
Also on Tuesday, Jeff Pearlman, the author of best-selling books on the 1986 New York Mets, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, the Showtime Lakers, and Brett Favre, among others, posted a TikTok video with the caption, “The Bill Simmons versus Pablo Torre media feud makes my head want to explode.”
“As a veteran, veteran journalist, I’ve seen many media feuds through the years. I’ve probably been involved in a couple here and there. I try to block them out of my mind because there’s nothing dumber than a media feud,” Pearlman began the video. “It’s almost like an athlete feud, except weaker and stupider and with less teeth, because we’re all a bunch of wimps. Anyway, the one that’s going on right now is actually kind of funny. It’s Bill Simmons and Pablo Torre.”
Pearlman went on to add, “I guess Simmons, who obviously loves all things Patriots and loves all things Belichick, has been annoyed about Pablo digging into, sort of, Belichick dating a 24-year-old.”
Jeff Pearlman did agree with Bill Simmons, however, on one thing.
“Here are the things: number one, I do agree there is a real overkill about the Belichick story,” he said. “I mean, seriously, what are we doing here? Like, I know people like talking about it. I get it generates clicks, and it generates views, but, like, what? Come on. Like, how often are we going to talk about this? How much can we possibly talk about? He’s dating a 24-year-old. It’s weird. We all know it’s weird. It’s legal. It’s weird. He’s the coach of North Carolina. It’s an interesting story., but how often can we talk about this? It’s definitely been overkill by Pablo and others. There’s no doubt about it.”
But then he went in on Simmons, big time.
“On the other hand, I really hate hearing Bill Simmons question anyone’s journalistic integrity when that guy has shown literally zero journalistic integrity throughout his career,” he continued. “And I have a lot of respect for Bill Simmons. I think he’s created something in media that’s remarkable. I do. He created a media empire, there’s no doubt about it. I think it’s remarkable.
“But, when you’re the godfather of openly rooting for teams and players you cover and write about, shut the f— up about who’s a journalist and who’s not a journalist and you’re not a journalist. At all. Zero percent. You surrendered that a long time ago. And with that, I feel like you’ve surrendered your right to criticize other journalists for ‘being journalists.’ Like, you just can’t do that anymore.”
Pearlman wasn’t done there. Not by a long shot.
“Also, not for nothing, your empire is really run by gambling money you’re taking,” Pearlman went on to say. “Like, non-stop gambling on The Ringer. Non-stop. Non-stop. Over and over again. ‘Brought to you by.’ Brought to you by.’ Brought to you by.’ If it weren’t for gambling and gambling shows, you probably wouldn’t exist anymore. And that’s blood money. Let’s just be honest, that is blood money you’re accepting to keep your thing going.”
Ouch.
@jeffpearlmanauthor The Bill Simmons versus Pablo Torre media feud makes my head want to explode. #billsimmons #pablotorre #media #journalism ♬ original sound – Jeff Pearlman