Laughter is genious

Sports and comedy are not always synonymous, and are usually never used together to make money.

In fact, I cannot really think of any two comedic products and sports products that are intertwined. Sure, sports events may throw in some humor every once in a while, ( think Kiss Me Camera on Scoreboard)and ya content may be funny now and then and broadcasters are probably to corny sometimes in an effort to create a laugh, but rarely ever do sports outlets give fans an entire product that's sole purpose is to make people crack up.

Not until ESPN began the Bill Simmons column, who is formerly known as " The Sports Guy."

A former writer for " The Jimmy Kimmel Show" Simmons has been writing a column for ESPN.com since 2002. The column, which is called " Page 2" is absolutely hilarious. While the columns themselves can be very lengthy, taking a side an hour to read it will cheer anyone up. Simmons style is very pessimistic, and he makes fun and takes stab at any athlete or owner who deserves it ( and some that don't) Check out his most recent column making Oakland Raiders Quarterback Jamarcus Russell look like a Pee Wee player.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/091009
Many times, Simmons won't even talk about sports, but things that have very little to do with actual X's and O's. In the same column linked, Simmons answers an e-mailer’s questions about what she should wear for Halloween so she could piss off her fellow New Yorkers. Simmons then gives her numerous choices of athletes and gimmicks, including dressing up like Derek Jeter with a syringe in his arm to imply he does steroids (Anyone that knows baseball knows that's not true.)

Simmons is also a native of Boston, and he usually gives hilarious anecdotes associated with his Boston’s sports passion, like how he took a four hour walk with his dog and got lost after a Celtics loss.

What was once actually on a separate link form the ESPN.com home page ( hence the name Page 2) is now and for the last year or so, on the home page of ESPN.com In fact, right next to Rick Reilly's column ( one of the greatest sports writers of all time), the only other column featured on the home page is Bill Simmons'.

But of all things, why does Simmons deserve such an honor? Wouldn't a more insightful column appear on the first page, as opposed to a comedic piece that is more entertainment than informative?

That's like movies.com putting Dumb and Dumber on its all time movies list? Good movie but not all time.

So why does ESPN believe in Simmons so much? Well, for one, The Sports Guy's column has great numbers and is the most read sports column on the site and maybe in the world.

Side note, ESPN has also had friction with Simmons. Remember Disney owns ESPN, and Simmons sometimes can say too much of what is on his mind, so there is not the biggest love relationship there.
( http://deadspin.com/248853/bill-simmons-isnt-going-anywhere)

So why than did ESPN sign Simmons until 2010?

Or better question, why do so many people read Simmons?

The meaning is in the humor. Listen, I am not a Psychologist, but I am a really smart sports person who knows when content is good and why it is good.

Simmons is great not only because he makes you laugh but he makes fans think. How many times have you seen a movie that really makes you laugh but also has a profound effect on you? ( I.e. Sideways)

Simmons anecdotes are so easy to relate to as a sports fan, and many of his pieces are extremely insightful. Sometimes, humor columns make me think more than serious opinion’s one can.

The best quality of Simmons is that he says what is on his mind, putting the reader inside his head. All the negative things that writers hold back from writing, or perhaps just say in a politically correct way, Simmons never refrains from saying. As a reader, you are always wondering what he is going to say next.

To prove that Simmons is not all about fun and games, he once had a forty page debate with media scholar Malcolm Galdwell ( http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090513/part1) debating topics such as the role of leadership in sports. To keep it simple, Simmons proved he could THINK about sports as well.

Listen, ESPN knows what it is doing. Humor and sports is great, if it is done well.

And hey, its sports, lighten up and laugh, even if you think Simmons is a jerk.