He practically denegrates Cal Ripken Jr. in this article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...e=simmons/vault


Why was this article even published?

I had trouble finishing that article. Simmons could hardly seem to write a paragraph without talking about the Red Sux. Who gives a crap about Pedro and Nomar, we're talking about the Orioles here! Of course, that's part of his problem. Most writers would rather pretend that Baltimore doesn't exist than acknowledge it's importance to baseball. Simmons asserts that Ripken's notoriety was due to playing in the Washington area. Hmm, thought we were talking about Camden Yards, not the then empty RFK, pal.

To borrow from this talentless hack: "Let the record show that Bill Simmons wrote a column for Page 2 this week ... and I couldn't have cared less. My apologies. I think I speak for more people than you might think."

Funny. Surely, he's never heard of Derek Jeter?

That article was truly the biggest bunch of written bullshit I've ever seen. I don't know what's with ESPN lately, but I have to say they are on a roll with those crackpot sportswriters.

He must be related to Richard.

Word around the campfire is when you're around Richard, it's reccommended thatyou clench your colon.

He wrote the "column" in 2001 for crying out loud...it was a self-serving, "what a cool, neat guy am I" piece that was bad in 2001 and has not aged well in the ensuing 5 years...if anything it reeks. Are they that desparate to fill column inches that they dug up this piece of faux-cool to re-publish.

I know it won't bust their chops but I'm not renewing my Insider subscription even though that means I can't read Rob Neyer. And I hate the fluff they call "The Magazine."

I don't like this article either as it was written by a Red Sox bandwagoner, but I have always thought that Cal Ripken's streak was overrated. He showed up to a game everyday for years. Construction workers and coal miners who have a similar or greater streaks are lucky to receive a pin from their employers for such a feat.

Simmons says it all, as he describes himself in this article:

"You get the idea. I'm the jerk. I'm the party pooper. I'm the butt-head sports columnist who feels obligated to throw cold water on everybody. I'm the turd in the punch bowl."

At least he got that part right. The rest is swill.

Bark:

Duly noted; a lot of hard-working people humbly go about their business every day for entire careers. They are truly impressive and should be honored.

I will suggest, however, that if you ask any Major League player how impressive that streak was, you'll see that "wow" factor that Simmons describes. Taped ankles, mental toughness and a pain threashold beyond most people's kept him in the lineup. That's a big "wow." Oh, and we've also seen him throw runners out from his knees at third base. I guess that doesn't wow Simmons either. The guy is a schmuck, and I don't mean Peter.

I agree that Cal was much better defensively then some give him credit for. He was no Ozzie Smith, but he was quite agile and had an above average arm. Unfortunately Ripken may be surplanted as the best SS ever (unless you are a Honus Wagner fan) by Tejada. He would have been killed by A-Rod too if it wasn't for the move to 3rd base. I feel dirty just mentioning A-rod. :doh:

162 games is a long season and as far as perfect attendance records go Ripken's is the best for baseball. In sport history, I'd have to give it to Doug Jarvis with his 964 hockey games.

How about the incredible Brett Favre? Now that's one heck of a streak--especially when you consider the beating he took behind some shitty offensive lines. The guy played with a broken thumb on his throwing hand. Talk about tough. I'd want Favre, Cal and Jarvis with me if I were going into battle, that's for sure.

I will say that football is the most punishing of the three sports, but at only 16 games a season (one per week), I wouldn't even mention it in the same breath as hockey.

Tejada? hah. Not likely. God know's how quickly he's gonna decline.

Really, since he is probably 35 yrs old.