The Bill Simmons Podcast The A’s Leave Oakland, ESPN’s Latest Shocker, and Million-Dollar Picks With Logan Murdock, Bryan Curtis, and Joe House
Sep 27, 2024
Logan Murdock, a writer for The Ringer covering the Oakland A's, reflects on the team's emotional farewell from Oakland and the implications of losing such a significant franchise. Bryan Curtis, editor at large for The Ringer, discusses ESPN's recent layoffs and their impact on the sports media landscape. Meanwhile, Joe House shares insights on NFL betting strategies, revealing his Million-Dollar Picks for an exciting week ahead. The conversation also touches on the complexities of sports ownership and community identity.
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A's Departure: A Personal Loss
- Logan Murdock shares his sadness about the Oakland A's leaving, similar to if the Mets left New York.
- The A's move is more emotional due to their consistent presence, unlike the Raiders' nomadic history.
The Power of Bad Owners
- Bad owners like John Fisher hold significant power, negatively impacting team culture and fan engagement.
- Their grip on teams makes it nearly impossible to remove them, despite their harmful influence.
Sports Extortion and Public Funds
- Sports teams exploit cities' desire for a team, accepting public funds while not truly investing in the community.
- This "sports extortion" diverts resources from essential services like education, disproportionately affecting low-income residents.