The predominance is still gay, but, particularly on weekends, the mix is moving toward 50-50. He hosts The Bill Simmons Podcast which regularly rotates through conversations and interviews with Hollywood personalities, professional athletes, other media pundits, old friends, and family. This will be done with lawyers. It was all a game of timing. Says Caven, in one of his pet bar owners phrases, From then on, it was wall-to-wall bodies., He opened one other bar in Dallas at the time, a place called the King of Clubs on Field Street. The longer they stay, the more they drink. Frank Caven and Charley Hott seem to know no bounds. You can bet on it.. E-mail HUGE: hugeshow1@gmail.com, Facebook: hugeshow Walter 'Walt' Simonson (born on September 2, 1946) is an American comic book writer and artist, won numerous awards. Those were the worst, meanest bar fights Ive ever seen.. Example video title will go here for this video. Guards apprehended him; strapped to his leg was a plastic detergent bottle filled with gasoline. While my day job as a radio personality means that I am sometimes subjected to false claims and personal attacks, my family does not deserve what my former colleague has done to them. He wears baggy trousers and a rumpled short-sleeved cotton- sport shirt. Quien Es Mas Macho? They werent dealing with the whims of convenience of the Greenville Avenue crowd. That noisy swirl is making them a fortune. He wears baggy trousers and a rumpled short-sleeved cotton- sport shirt. The OP-Dallas, for example, has four separate bars, one always seemingly an arms-length away; even on the busiest nights, a customer rarely has to wait more than 30 seconds to get a drink. One of these clubs had bands play which became famous later on. The product of a middle-class family in Arlington, Charley had a strong work ethic and a fascination with money. The rest of the Caven/Hott clubs are cruise bars much smaller, non-disco, totally gay. [1][9] He attended the Greenwich Country Day School[9] and then Brunswick School in Greenwich, Connecticut, for high school. When she was a junior at Maui High School, she won her first election as class president. I almost drove off the road. It wont be on WBBL, but rather on WJRW (1340-AM) in Grand Rapids and WKLQ (1490-AM) in Muskegon, with plans to quickly expand. With the OP-Houston, Caven adopted a layout design that has since been duplicated in all of his other discos. A huge supporter of law enforcement, the military, and children's charities, and an active father of five! Most of the discos, like the OP-Dallas, have begun to attract more and more of a mixed crowd gays and straights alike. [29] In May 2010, it was reported that Simmons and ESPN came to an agreement on a new contract, although no official announcement was made on the terms.[43]. Those were the worst, meanest bar fights Ive ever seen.. But can the disco fad hold up? We will make no further comments at this time.". [114][115], Simmons also has created numerous internet memes, most notably the Ewing Theory[116][117] (though the idea was originally proposed by a reader[116]), The Tyson Zone[118] and the Manning Face.[119]. A huge supporter of law enforcement, the military, and childrens charities, and an active father of five! [7][8][9] His father was a school administrator,[7][8] and his stepmother,[10] Molly Clark, is a doctor. Its dictated by our market. In fact, from my perspective, it seems like it's still doing well. But Frank Cavens years in the bar business had, more than anything else, taught him resiliency. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. "[76], With his column, Simmons aims to speak for,[43] reconnect sportswriting with, and reproduce the experience for the average fan. The more passing and bumping, the more friendly it is. If you continue browsing, you accept our use of cookies. Spartans At A Crossroads After Blowout Loss at Iowa, HUGE OPINION: NOT A GOOD VIBE ON THE FUTURE OF COLLEGE SPORTS. Report due to the content being edited out of them. [12] As a child Simmons read David Halberstam's book The Breaks of the Game, which he credited as the single most formative development in his sportswriting career. This, they are fond of saying, is strictly a business. That business has become a big one. He and his staff struggled to make the Mark Twain go. Caven recalls all of his bars with a kind of fatherly pride. Host of the Saturday Night Huge Show on CBS SportsRadio, Bill has also voiced NFL Blitz video games, was play-by-play for the XFL Chicago Enforcers, and was the football voice in the Kurt Russell movie, Touchback. Some weeks after the opening, a man fell through a false ceiling in the building. [24] On July 27, 2009, Simmons announced his retirement from the magazine[7] but continued to write for the Page 2 website. Bill Simonson Biography Mini Bio (1) Bill Simonson is known for Touchback (2011). Sometimes Bill goes by various nicknames including Bill H Simonson, William H Simonson, Willia Simonson, William Simonson and William H Simonson. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. On Harwood Street, near Ross Avenue, they found a spacious old parking garage. The good sound aspect of Cavens philosophy is a simple one. [69] The book spent five weeks on The New York Times extended best-seller list. Bill is also a big supporter of law enforcement, our military, and any charity that helps children. (The clubs in Florida, in fact, are wholly owned by Caven; Hott prefers to concentrate in Texas: Frank is like an octopus, says Charley. The two men had high hopes for their new nightclub here on Cedar Springs. But things havent always been so good for Frank and Charley; the Old Plantations life has been nearly snuffed more than once by arson, by sabotage, by police harassment, by legal hassles, by cutthroat competition. [22] In late 2004 ESPN launched an online cartoon based on his columns[14] which Simmons later called a "debacle" and decided to stop. Report was regularly the most downloaded podcast on ESPN.com[9][40] averaging 2 million downloads a month. Most of you think I hate Matt Stafford. On a visit to El Paso in 1955, he noticed the pedestrian soldiers of huge Fort Bliss, figured he could sell them used cars, and set up shop in Texas. When the gay boycott of Coors arose (in response to anti-homosexual remarks made by Mrs. Joseph Coors), the OP switched to Miller Lite. Regional Director - Gulf & Agribusiness Segment Leader:<br> * Responsible for managing 3CU's Gulf Region underwriting operations (FL, AR, LA, MS, OK, TX) in all segments we write.<br . They own the place. [39] Simmons created one or two hourlong podcasts a week, generally carrying one theme throughout, talking to everyone from sports and media notables to his friends. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. A restless businessman, Caven eventually sold out his interest in Mother Blues to Simonson and opened a disco on Lemmon Avenue called the Mark Twain. They both get a kick out of it. It was built first as The Old Plantation it is now called S-4. [45] He left the show prior to the 20142015 season. Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Bill Simonson, sports radio host of "The Huge Show". Certainly the gay world will continue to grow and continue to provide wanting market places. Report was downloaded more than 25.4 million times. Now, the worst had happened. On May 24, 2022, Simmons hosted Jalen Green as a guest on his podcast, where the two discussed the controversy and cleared the air. [33][23] In 2009, The B.S. [51] Months after it decided not to renew its contract with Simmons, ESPN shut down the Grantland website on October 30, 2015.[52][53]. It stems from a basic issue among gays whether or not this basic trend toward the mixed crowd, this influx of straights into the gay discos, is a desirable one. They seem to have nothing in common except a mutual compatibility and a nose for the bar business. Instead, he saw something else. Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. The X's and Bro's Morning Show from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. with Anthony Bellino starts your mornings by breaking down the biggest Michigan sports stories of the day. Today's non-award-winning TLO conduct is presented by the Grand Spa @ Grand Casino & Resort! Before he entered the bar business, Cavens life was selling cars. [55] Simmons's multimedia deal with the network continued, and he announced there were plans for future projects at HBO. By late Friday, the format had changed to country. "I confronted my former colleague when his actions were made public back in February and tried to resolve this matter quietly and professionally, asking for an apology for actions that were (in my opinion) unethical, improper and immoral. Many years ago when I was in my 20’s I was lucky enough to have a job tending bar at a club in Dallas Texas called Mother Blues. Whoever burnt me out, says Caven, did me a big favor. Frank Caven, 58, and Charley Hott, 26, sit in one of their Tampa bars posing for photographs. I worked for Bill from 1974-77 and saw and met too many of the music legends to count. The thing had gone up so fast, had been so hot, that the huge steel support beams had melted into a twisted wreck. Make Mother's Day "Spa-tacular" with a gift from the Grand Spa at Grand Casino Hotel & Resort! [19] The website quickly built up a reputation as many of Simmons' friends from high school and college were e-mailing it to each other. In 2007, Simmons and Connor Schell[34] conceived the idea for 30 for 30, a series of 30 documentaries commemorating the 30th year of the "ESPN era. "A friend and I were walking along, trying to get to the `L,' and some kid jumps up and sucker-punches us," he said. Personal details about Bill include: political affiliation is currently a registered Republican . Simonson said plans are still being worked out for online listening. LANSING - A feud between two Michigan sports radio talk show hosts has made its way to court. Bill Simonson is best known as the co-owner of Mother Blues (1971-1981), which some consider the greatest music club in Dallas history. There wont be a lot of changes that a lot of you will notice at all, Simonson said Friday afternoon in a Facebook Live post. For a man destined for the bar business, he had two things going tor him: He was Irish and he grew up in Atlantic City. There have been other problems. Simmons first gained attention with his website as "The Boston Sports Guy" and was recruited by ESPN in 2001, where he eventually operated the website Grantland and worked until 2015. [88], On September 1, 2021, The New York Times published an investigation into The Ringers workplace culture. next game. POSTS "The allegations in that lawsuit are untrue and lack merit. There was dancing, but it was more of a mingling bar. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. ", Michigan expands absentee voting for military members, A look at big proposals on West Michigan ballots, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Rain & Snow Return Monday, The 13 Weatherball turns 20 | The history, upkeep and future in West Michigan, "RYAN SCHUILING WANTS TO INFILTRATE BILL SIMONSONS 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTERS INNER CIRCLE,", "Simonson has defamed Mr. Schuiling in an effort to intimidate, embarrass, harass, damage his reputation, damage his business opportunities, and create unfavorable and unwanted publicity for Mr. He has his own consulting company, plays the stock market avidly, and deals in real estate, But those are my passive investments; my active investment will always be the bar business. Frank immerses himself in his latest construction project; he can hardly finish his coffee after dinner, hes so keyed up to get back to the construction site where he will work until after midnight. [113], Simmons and his family established the Simmons Family Foundation. Marty Booher of the Michigan Media Network said in a release that when things are finalized in the coming days, sports talk radio content will be enhanced and improved in Grand Rapids and Muskegon. Tomorrow they would put down the carpet and begin fine-tuning the place for their grand opening, just five days away. The post, titled "RYAN SCHUILING WANTS TO INFILTRATE BILL SIMONSONS 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTERS INNER CIRCLE," makes "numerous false allegations against Mr. Schuiling, including that Mr. Schuiling attempted to orchestrate some alleged sexual interaction with Mr. Simonson's daughter," according to the civil complaint. [8] Simmons was an only child and grew up in Marlborough and Brookline, Massachusetts, before moving to Stamford, Connecticut, to live with his mother after his parents divorced when he was 13. Simonson released the following statement after the State Journal contacted him on Friday: "It has come to my attention that a former colleague who now works for a station that competes with part of our radio network recently filed suit against my employer and me. "[65] Critics noted that Simmons employed his nephew as a producer and had created a podcast for his teenage daughter. Here in Portlandia I'm lucky to have many samish venue theaters (less than 2000) and a couple of clubs that get touring great bands that aren't famous. He said he planned to soon begin a podcast via his Facebook page with a similar format. When was Bill Simpson born? Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. ", "Isiah Thomas. Burgess sought to crack down on the club, citing a city ordinance which prohibits dancing after 2 a.m. and the OP was his target. [1] In 1997,[18] unable to get a newspaper job, Simmons "badgered"[1] Digital City Boston of AOL[19] into giving him a column, and he started the web site BostonSportsGuy.com while working as a bartender and waiter at night. After two years of success with The Bayou Club, Caven decided to sell, to a man named Dennis Sisk, who operated the place for about six months; then, with his partner Tony Caterine, Sisk moved to a much larger and more extravagant location on Pearl Street, and the bar became the Bayou Landing. Two more OPs are planned for Atlanta and Jacksonville. Bill Simonson. Career. I quote: "What is puzzling about Campbell's story is that West Point is centered on building leadership qualities. He decided this time to call the place the Old Plantation. Bill Simonson Latest Updates. [73][79] His columns often mention trips to Las Vegas[80] or other gambling venues with his friends, including blackjack and sports gambling. Well, I think the next move may be to rock discotheques. And friendliness, friendliness at the door well, thats critical.. [21], In July 2008, Simmons announced that he would be taking 10 weeks off from writing columns for ESPN.com's Page 2 to concentrate on finishing his second book,[70] The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy, which was released on October 27, 2009. Now the name some what spells it out but I would like to elaborate on this very small (300 person standing room) nightclub. [94] ESPN nixed the interview, saying that they would allow its reporters and columnists to interview a presidential candidate only after the nomination had been finalized. Actually, there will be a lot of growth.. Bill has been added to the Forest Hills Eastern 2021 football roster. If ever there was a person who needed a hug from Angi Bruss, it was Bill Simonson. [76] Simmons has stated that he "will never write a traditional sports column. How old is Bill Simpson? Two bands that made it off the top of my head at this place are Metallica and Slayer. Bill Simpson was born in Detroit, MI. 750 North St.Paul St. An incredible ten days after the fire, he and Charley opened a temporary OP on Denton Drive. Simmons retained editorial control of the website. [40] The B.S. Bill Simpson weighed 184 lbs (83 kg) when playing. The Old Plantation on Rawlins, meanwhile, was forced to move when the owners of the building decided to tear it down. But, in fact, they see and hear it all better than anyone. No self-respecting disco would be caught without an earthquake bass. A good sound system means a minimum investment of $25,000. Back in the 70’s if you were a famous band and on tour, when you got to Dallas you had to go to Mother Blues. . The website also hired a number of staffers who formerly worked with Simmons at Grantland. Since 2009, Simmons has also been a moderator and panelist at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference[44] Starting in the 2012-2013 NBA season, Simmons joined the NBA Countdown pregame show as a panelist/contributor during ESPN/ABC's coverage of the NBA. Movies. He wears tight blue jeans and a smart striped knit shirt. Helen Simonson Biography. Written By: Case Conley Sparky McEwen knew that it would be a challenge when he took the Davenport head Michigan Sports Network | 2023 All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy, Charlevoix - Petoskey WMBN 104.7 FM | 1340 AM, St. Joseph - Benton Harbor WSJM 106.1 FM | 1400 AM. He can be in a hundred places at once. His eyes are magnified behind thick-lensed glasses in pinched frames too small for his face. Caven aimed the Old Plantation at the older, moneyed gay crowd 25 and over, businessmen, professionals. They are indeed. The HUGE Show is the only statewide afternoon sports radio talk show super-serving Michigan sports to the hungry masses. As the festivities began, Frank went home and went to bed. 7:00 PM. [94] Obama was still running against then-senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination at the time. Caven cant resist a chuckle at the notion of Uncle Sams building a gay bar. ", "RemDawg: Simmons Out of Running for RSN Prez", "Jemele Hill 'checkmated' ESPN: Bill Simmons says she accomplished what he could not", "At The Ringer, Staff Writers Say They Are Second-String", "Gilbert Arenas, Ryan Hollins defend Jalen Green after Bill Simmons' comments", "A Celtics-Heat Rock Fight with Bill's Dad. The odd couple, whispers an amused observer. They now sell more Lite than anyone in the area. I talked with Rex Hoggard of the Golf Channel about the crazy controversy swirling around Phil Mickelson. ", "The Secret: A hopelessly banal point about chemistry and sacrifice", "PRO BASKETBALL; So, How Many Knicks Does It Take to Screw in a Light Bulb? Schuiling's lawsuit was accompanied by a request for a temporary restraining order, which would prevent Simonson and Cumulus Media from defaming, making false allegations or "acting in any manner" that could damage Schuiling's reputation or lead to unfavorable publicity. A native of New York City, Symington attended the Gilman School in Baltimore; he subsequently graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Dutch art history. Join Facebook to connect with Bill Simonson and others you may know. Besides, who am I to stand at the door and ask people what their sexual preferences are? [9] In 2001, his website averaged 10,000 readers and 45,000 hits per day. Back in the late 70's into the early 80's on Long Island, we had two clubs that were made for big show ROCK!. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Continuing their game of musical bars, Caven moved back into the old Rawlins Street house. which was to premiere after the Super Bowl. Bill Simpson is 6-1 (185 cm) tall. He fidgets with a bar straw and sips occasionally at his whiskey sour, orange slice and cherry clinging to the glass rim. The joint was called The Woodstock. Many think not. This is all a roundabout way of giving background to the following thing I ran across today on Deadspin: a blog entry, written by Simonson, that is possibly the stupidest thing I have read in my entire life. Brings new meaning to the phrase Sunday Funday. [86] Simmons later removed himself from consideration and Remy was named president. That was fifty bars ago. A sportsman of sorts (he used to play ice hockey and drive stock cars), he likes to fish, likes to golf, likes to dabble in the stock market; but mostly he likes to play the bar business. The cruise bars, like those lining Fitzhugh Avenue, are somewhat more clandestine; its here that the gay community seeks social refuge from the mix that is moving in on the discos. [58] The site was to be run as part of his venture, the Bill Simmons Media Group, that was launched in the fall of 2015. She is a long-time and proud resident of Brooklyn, New York, though she has also spent some time living in the Washington DC area. This story is about two aliens from outer space - Captain Itt and Co-pilot Ott - who live on the planet Torres. There is nothing I hate worse than a dirty bar, he says. Thats why Franks places work., Caven offers his own basic philosophy of disco success: Good drinks, good sound, cleanliness, and friendliness in that order. The Old Plantation, backing up his words, does pour solid drinks; it also pours them cheap. [82][83][84] Upon a meeting in Las Vegas, they both decided they were entertainers at heart. I don't know if I believe that live music is fading. The OP-Dallas alone grosses in excess of a million dollars a year. Helen Simonson has lived in America for over twenty years. Hosted by Bill Simonson for nearly two decades, The Huge Show pulls no punches when it comes to opinions and commentary about Michigan sports teams, both professional and college. Moss, in a statement, said he has not been sued by Schuiling. How much did Bill Simpson weigh when playing? [93], A month before the feud erupted, Simmons was scheduled to interview then-senator Barack Obama for a podcast. We have no choice but to keep our bar prices low, says Hott. [19] For the first 18 months, Simmons would send it to about 100 people, until it became available on the web in November 1998. The older man is big, a fat man really, with a burly neck, heavy jowls, thin hair combed straight back. You must log in or register to reply here. The OP, as its regulars fondly dubbed it, began to skim the cream off the top of the Bayou Landings clientele. May, 1979: The two men sit close together at the bar, their elbows planted on the counter. To socialize they have to pass by each other, bump into each other, look into each others eyes. Listen to recent episodes to find out why The HUGE Show is the most widely heard sports talk show in Michigan. [32] Simmons' writing in his columns is characterized by mixing sports knowledge,[16] references to pop culture[16][18][32][77] including movies and television shows,[78] his non-sports-related personal life, his many fantasy sports teams,[32] video games,[32] and references to adult video. It was built for, and caters to, the gay community, but straights have discovered it in increasing numbers. The King of Clubs wasnt around for too long. [96] On November 25, 2008, Simmons returned to recording his B.S. I just realized I didn't link the video to my thread. The pale stucco of the building, broken only by a few dull green doors, is undistinguished. @OP..those were the golden years of clubs and a truly happening music scene just about everywhere. Fan favourite Walt Simonson took over as writer and penciller of Thor in 1983 with issue no. In late July 2018 it was revealed that HBO decided to renew Simmons's contract to remain with the network moving forward. The Bayou Landing continued to operate, but under a dark cloud. If you remember, my hat's off to you. "[49] Some key contributors to the website included Jalen Rose, Zach Lowe, Kirk Goldsberry and Wesley Morris. Ray Wylie Hubbard pretty much sums it up. If there was one thing Caven hated about the bar business, it was keeping the books. It had definitely been a torch job, and a highly professional one at that. "My lawyer tells me that truth is an absolute defense to lawsuits like those brought by my competitor. [29] In 2005, according to ESPN, Simmons' column averaged 500,000 unique visitors a month. Credit: The Schuiling Report and The Huge Show/Facebook, Ryan Schuiling, who hosts "The Schuiling Report," and Bill Simonson, who hosts "The Huge Show. [21] Since Simmons was writing on the web he figured that "in order to get people to read it, it had to be different from what people got in newspapers and magazines. Fourth row, $17. Simonson said Friday afternoon in a Facebook Live post. How tall is Bill Simpson? The stations normal lineup of network sports aired during the day Friday along with a guest host for Simonson, who has been on vacation. "If Mr. Schuilling does want to sue me or my website, my legal team will defend it vigorously with the potential for a countersuit due to the frivolity of any such claim.". Schuiling, who used to work for Cumulus Media, claims Simonson's "numerous false statements" were a violation of a non-disparagement clause in a non-compete agreement Schuiling signed with the station in August 2015, about a month after his employment with the company ended. Dallas has become one of the most attractive cities in the country for gay professionals, and its center is the World Trade Center and the huge market and fashion trade here. Thats small. The mens side was generally calm, but the womens side used to attract a lot of stewardesses. Besides, they knew their clientele. Its really none of my damn business.. January, 1976: The two men stood in the dim light and surveyed their new domain. Actor: Touchback. "[22] It was crucial for Simmons that he could write for the show and on ESPN.com and in ESPN The Magazine, which was possible because of the Disney connection with ESPN and ABC.