ESPN abruptly announced today that it would be suspending the publication of Grantland, Bill Simmons’s sports and culture brainchild site started in 2011. The news came as a huge and surprising blow to the site’s readers, particularly media insiders, with whom the site was a darling, mainly for its admirable, high-quality longform writing. Armed with a staff of respected writers, Grantland regularly churned out solid articles about music and contributed smart insights to the cultural conversation. Here at Noisey, we are big appreciators of Grantland’s content, so here are a few of our favorite pieces from our fallen web colleagues.All images via GrantlandYankees Suck! Yankees Suck!
by Amos BarshadThe jocks vs. punks debate has been going on as long as punk rock itself. But the two cross paths in this story of how a bunch of hardcore kids made one of the most popular Red Sox shirts in Boston history.The Curious Case of Riff Raff vs. Spring Breakers
by Amos BarshadThe most in-depth piece you’ll read about the bizarre intersection of Riff Raff and Harmony Korine’s wild exploration of drugs, partying, and death.Wu-Tang, Atomically
by Amos BarshadA portrait of one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all-time, with writer Amos Barshad spending individual time with ten members of the sprawling group.The Third Revelation of Father John Misty
by Sean FennesseyJosh Tillman’s Father John Misty character often gets taken at face value, losing the humanity behind the artist. This is one of the few profiles of Tillman that looks deeper, and in it, we see a man that is truly, hopelessly in love with his wife. It’s one of the most endearing looks at him.Here’s Earl
by Rembert BrowneRembert Browne spends a few days on tour with the famously press-shy rapper, and delivers one of the most definitive profiles of his career.Going Way Too Deep Down the Rabbit Hole With Nicki Minaj’s Recent Bar Mitzvah Appearance
by Rembert BrowneFor all the serious, in-depth writing that Grantland published (and special shouts out to Jonah Keri’s exhaustingly detailed MLB analysis), one of the site’s most compelling features was its willingness to go way too in-depth looking at the dumbest shit possible. This exhaustive examination of a photo on Nicki Minaj’s Instagram, of her posing with eight 13-year-old boys at a bar mitzvah, is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read.Three Wise Migos: A Very Special Holiday Tale for Our Times
by Shea SerranoExactly what it says it is, a beloved legend that we will tell to our children and our children’s children, complete with illustrations.SXSW Monday Recap: An Awkward Moment at That Jay-Z Concert
by Rembert BrowneAmong the many entertaining quests the sage Rembert Browne undertook during his time at Grantland was his trip to attend every single day of all three parts of SXSW. I think it might have driven him insane, but it also yielded this, one of the best thousand word discussions of race definitely written in a single morning that you’ll ever read.The Return of Young Jeezy
by Amos Barshad“It’s all good,” Jeezy barks out. “I’m standing on the money.”Eye of the Beholder
by Molly LambertMolly Lambert is perhaps our foremost chronicler of the culture of gazing on celebrity culture. She is one of our finest pop music critics and in particular one of our finest Taylor Swift critics. Her columns breaking down obscure music charts were a consistently entertaining feature at Grantland. She’s a great writer, so it’s hard to say what to choose. But much of what makes her so brilliant is perfectly captured in this essay about Taylor Swift.The ‘If I Fought This Rapper, Would I Win?’ Chart
by Shea SerranoIf you’re a rap fan, but you’ve never pictured your faves in a scrap and wondered who would come out on top and why, do you even exist? Shea Serrano’s always asking the tough questions.Girls in Trucks
by Mike PowellCountry music’s glass ceiling is a problem becoming more pronounced the more great records by female artists come out and stall at radio. Mike Powell sifts through a web of radio consultant and program director excuses to try and find out why.R.I.P. Das Racist, 2008-2012
by Amos BarshadThis post-mortem on the inevitable bust-up of a New York rap entity too great to fail but too ridiculous to survive is a quick study in how long you can toil on the edges of success throwing stones at the popular kids before you start to lose the plot.Introducing Keith Sweat’s SweatFest 2015, the Ultimate Keith Sweat Festival
by Rembert Browne“SweatFest 2015 is like if Coachella had a baby with Essence Fest and then that baby had a baby with the G20.”Overrated, Underrated, or Properly Rated: Weezer
by Steven HydenThis is one of Grantland’s most deeply satisfying franchises (see also: The Four Versions of Matt Damon).In Praise of Beach Slang, 2015’s Best, Most Sincere Rock Band
by Steven HydenGrantland’s last music feature. They went out with a bang of good taste.Oh, and did you know Grantland also did a few pretty great non-music stories, too?Tuesday Night Lights
by Shea SerranoProbably one of the most entertaining columns you’ll ever read. Writer Shea Serrano tells a gripping weekly tale of being an assistant coach for a junior high football team in Texas.The Woman Who Would Save FootballBy Jane LeavyA profile of Dr. Anne McKee, the neuropathologist researching chronic brain trauma from sports like football, and the ensuing backlash and controversy from and within the football community.The Broad Strokes
by Rachel SymeWhat makes a great profile is the ability to make the reader not only learn something about the subjects, but when the writer transforms the piece into an experience. Syme’s look at the two brilliant women behind Broad City makes you not only understand what they’re like as human beings, but why we fall in love with the work they produce.Slim Kardashian: Dopamine, Gork, and More Rewards for Being Consumed by the Most Important Game in the World
by Alex PappademasWho knew that someone could write thousands and thousands of words about an iPhone game? And more importantly, make those words insightful?Cat-tastic: A Trip to the Glendale Cat Show
by Molly LambertWhether she’s exploring a porn convention in Las Vegas or a cat show in Glendale, Molly Lambert always goes beyond the stereotypes and caricatures of subcultures, writing about them with an objective curiosity that gives humanity to subjects most others would dismiss.Knocked Out: Have Romantic Comedies Become Obsolete?
by Wesley MorrisWhether reviewing a single film or broad industry analyses like this one, Morris always managed to make his pieces about more than the subject at hand. It’s the sign of any great critic, but Morris’ consistently brought unexpected angles to how we think about film and culture, and this analysis of the role of romantic comedies and the evolution of gender roles and dynamics perfectly embodies that.Every Andy Greenwald 'Game of Thrones' Recap
by Andy GreenwaldTV recaps are invariably one of the most boring types of writing that exist. Andy Greenwald made the form so exciting that reading his joke-filled, referential takes on Game of Thrones became as much a part of the joy of watching the show (sometimes the only joy of watching the show) as the broadcast itself. Much like Jon Snow, I’ll be hoping they somehow magically get revived for a few more seasons.Life’s Rich Pageant: Meet a Florida Man
by Holly AndersonLeave it to Grantland to take a meme and stereotype and turn it into an interesting, funny and vividly written slice of culture about what’s ultimately really a small topic—one man and his crossbow.The Frontlines of Ferguson
by Rembert BrowneRembert sees unrest brewing in Ferguson, Missouri in the wake of the murder of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson and immediately flies out, not knowing the full force of the St. Louis police and their tributaries, tear gas, armored cars, and all, is what was in store for him. His recap of his fearless days on the streets of a city at war with itself is some of the most gripping, gutting writing on the incident.‘Mad Men’ Series Finale: Where You Just Drink Champagne and It Tastes Just Like Coca-Cola
by Molly LambertEvery recap Lambert wrote about the weird world of Mad Men should be required reading for college courses that study the culture of the 60s, but her take on the complicated and bizarre ending of Don Draper might be the best. This writing is so good you don’t even need to watch the show to understand it.Family Business
by Thomas GolianopoulosThis piece on Lakers boss Jeanie Buss is a master class in profile writing, a compelling look into the inner workings and complexities of one of the NBA’s most historic and marquee families in the wake of Jerry Buss’ death. As Golianopoulos says, “The only thing thicker than blood is NBA championship gold.”
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by Amos BarshadThe jocks vs. punks debate has been going on as long as punk rock itself. But the two cross paths in this story of how a bunch of hardcore kids made one of the most popular Red Sox shirts in Boston history.The Curious Case of Riff Raff vs. Spring Breakers
by Amos BarshadThe most in-depth piece you’ll read about the bizarre intersection of Riff Raff and Harmony Korine’s wild exploration of drugs, partying, and death.Wu-Tang, Atomically
by Amos BarshadA portrait of one of the most influential hip-hop groups of all-time, with writer Amos Barshad spending individual time with ten members of the sprawling group.The Third Revelation of Father John Misty
by Sean FennesseyJosh Tillman’s Father John Misty character often gets taken at face value, losing the humanity behind the artist. This is one of the few profiles of Tillman that looks deeper, and in it, we see a man that is truly, hopelessly in love with his wife. It’s one of the most endearing looks at him.Here’s Earl
by Rembert BrowneRembert Browne spends a few days on tour with the famously press-shy rapper, and delivers one of the most definitive profiles of his career.Going Way Too Deep Down the Rabbit Hole With Nicki Minaj’s Recent Bar Mitzvah Appearance
by Rembert BrowneFor all the serious, in-depth writing that Grantland published (and special shouts out to Jonah Keri’s exhaustingly detailed MLB analysis), one of the site’s most compelling features was its willingness to go way too in-depth looking at the dumbest shit possible. This exhaustive examination of a photo on Nicki Minaj’s Instagram, of her posing with eight 13-year-old boys at a bar mitzvah, is one of the funniest things I’ve ever read.
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by Shea SerranoExactly what it says it is, a beloved legend that we will tell to our children and our children’s children, complete with illustrations.SXSW Monday Recap: An Awkward Moment at That Jay-Z Concert
by Rembert BrowneAmong the many entertaining quests the sage Rembert Browne undertook during his time at Grantland was his trip to attend every single day of all three parts of SXSW. I think it might have driven him insane, but it also yielded this, one of the best thousand word discussions of race definitely written in a single morning that you’ll ever read.The Return of Young Jeezy
by Amos Barshad“It’s all good,” Jeezy barks out. “I’m standing on the money.”Eye of the Beholder
by Molly LambertMolly Lambert is perhaps our foremost chronicler of the culture of gazing on celebrity culture. She is one of our finest pop music critics and in particular one of our finest Taylor Swift critics. Her columns breaking down obscure music charts were a consistently entertaining feature at Grantland. She’s a great writer, so it’s hard to say what to choose. But much of what makes her so brilliant is perfectly captured in this essay about Taylor Swift.The ‘If I Fought This Rapper, Would I Win?’ Chart
by Shea SerranoIf you’re a rap fan, but you’ve never pictured your faves in a scrap and wondered who would come out on top and why, do you even exist? Shea Serrano’s always asking the tough questions.
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by Mike PowellCountry music’s glass ceiling is a problem becoming more pronounced the more great records by female artists come out and stall at radio. Mike Powell sifts through a web of radio consultant and program director excuses to try and find out why.R.I.P. Das Racist, 2008-2012
by Amos BarshadThis post-mortem on the inevitable bust-up of a New York rap entity too great to fail but too ridiculous to survive is a quick study in how long you can toil on the edges of success throwing stones at the popular kids before you start to lose the plot.Introducing Keith Sweat’s SweatFest 2015, the Ultimate Keith Sweat Festival
by Rembert Browne“SweatFest 2015 is like if Coachella had a baby with Essence Fest and then that baby had a baby with the G20.”Overrated, Underrated, or Properly Rated: Weezer
by Steven HydenThis is one of Grantland’s most deeply satisfying franchises (see also: The Four Versions of Matt Damon).In Praise of Beach Slang, 2015’s Best, Most Sincere Rock Band
by Steven HydenGrantland’s last music feature. They went out with a bang of good taste.Oh, and did you know Grantland also did a few pretty great non-music stories, too?Tuesday Night Lights
by Shea SerranoProbably one of the most entertaining columns you’ll ever read. Writer Shea Serrano tells a gripping weekly tale of being an assistant coach for a junior high football team in Texas.The Woman Who Would Save Football
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by Rachel SymeWhat makes a great profile is the ability to make the reader not only learn something about the subjects, but when the writer transforms the piece into an experience. Syme’s look at the two brilliant women behind Broad City makes you not only understand what they’re like as human beings, but why we fall in love with the work they produce.Slim Kardashian: Dopamine, Gork, and More Rewards for Being Consumed by the Most Important Game in the World
by Alex PappademasWho knew that someone could write thousands and thousands of words about an iPhone game? And more importantly, make those words insightful?Cat-tastic: A Trip to the Glendale Cat Show
by Molly LambertWhether she’s exploring a porn convention in Las Vegas or a cat show in Glendale, Molly Lambert always goes beyond the stereotypes and caricatures of subcultures, writing about them with an objective curiosity that gives humanity to subjects most others would dismiss.Knocked Out: Have Romantic Comedies Become Obsolete?
by Wesley MorrisWhether reviewing a single film or broad industry analyses like this one, Morris always managed to make his pieces about more than the subject at hand. It’s the sign of any great critic, but Morris’ consistently brought unexpected angles to how we think about film and culture, and this analysis of the role of romantic comedies and the evolution of gender roles and dynamics perfectly embodies that.
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by Andy GreenwaldTV recaps are invariably one of the most boring types of writing that exist. Andy Greenwald made the form so exciting that reading his joke-filled, referential takes on Game of Thrones became as much a part of the joy of watching the show (sometimes the only joy of watching the show) as the broadcast itself. Much like Jon Snow, I’ll be hoping they somehow magically get revived for a few more seasons.Life’s Rich Pageant: Meet a Florida Man
by Holly AndersonLeave it to Grantland to take a meme and stereotype and turn it into an interesting, funny and vividly written slice of culture about what’s ultimately really a small topic—one man and his crossbow.The Frontlines of Ferguson
by Rembert BrowneRembert sees unrest brewing in Ferguson, Missouri in the wake of the murder of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson and immediately flies out, not knowing the full force of the St. Louis police and their tributaries, tear gas, armored cars, and all, is what was in store for him. His recap of his fearless days on the streets of a city at war with itself is some of the most gripping, gutting writing on the incident.‘Mad Men’ Series Finale: Where You Just Drink Champagne and It Tastes Just Like Coca-Cola
by Molly LambertEvery recap Lambert wrote about the weird world of Mad Men should be required reading for college courses that study the culture of the 60s, but her take on the complicated and bizarre ending of Don Draper might be the best. This writing is so good you don’t even need to watch the show to understand it.Family Business
by Thomas GolianopoulosThis piece on Lakers boss Jeanie Buss is a master class in profile writing, a compelling look into the inner workings and complexities of one of the NBA’s most historic and marquee families in the wake of Jerry Buss’ death. As Golianopoulos says, “The only thing thicker than blood is NBA championship gold.”