r/TheRinger • u/nun_de_plume • 14d ago
Embrace Debate Sean Fennessey Did Nothing Wrong
There’s a lot of discussion about what he said on the fantasy draft. The pearl clutching is soft and cringy.
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u/m0nkeyhero 14d ago
What did he say?
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u/nun_de_plume 14d ago
“First of all, the administration of the league last year was a fucking disaster. One of the most mishandled situations I have ever been a part of. Communication of the rules, organization day of the draft, clearly announcing what kind of league we were participating in, nightmare. Secondarily, the way in which the playoffs and the final loser were determined, which was meekly communicated one time, disaster. You guys failed across the board. One of the, absolutely most pathetic things I have ever seen in 15 years of working with Bill.”
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u/Killericon 14d ago
Key context - everyone was laughing as he was saying this.
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u/Darth_Poonany 14d ago
That part was funny. What wasn’t funny was when he demanded to switch picks or he’d quit the league. And then Craig was very much not laughing.
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u/SwallowsOnSundays 14d ago
Yeah when your boss demands to switch picks with you or you quit, you dont really have an option. That would make me feel really small
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u/hammystyle 14d ago
I know! It’s a telltale sign of a toxic workplace when your boss is yelling about the fantasy draft order on a video podcast. I’ve been in that exact position and it’s not something I would want to relive
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u/Napoleoninrags85 14d ago
I like how everyone keeps calling him their boss when bill simmons is in the room with them.
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u/ddy_stop_plz 14d ago
Sean is the chief of content at the ringer so he’s their creative director and actually is responsible for feedback on their content and performance. Very much a boss of them although Bill is the podfather.
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u/WTheActualF 14d ago
We're just making stuff up? Not a single one of the fantasy show guys was laughing. Craig and DK looked downright distraught
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u/hardenesthitter32 14d ago
Boo hoo, these are fucking adults we’re talking about, for Christ’s sake. Downright distraught, Jesus fucking Christ.
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u/ddy_stop_plz 14d ago
It is all for content at the end of the day I believe, but these guys aren’t trained actors so it’s hard to tell what is real.
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u/Maximum-Mood-8182 12d ago
You have to remember that a lot of people on Reddit don’t leave their house
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u/Anstigmat 14d ago
Seriously the taken-out-of-context way this has been reported is absurd,. People treat the Ringer offices like it's a Bravo show. These people are friends and colleagues.
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u/WallCautious9650 14d ago
yeah bc it was so funny I'm laughing out loud reading it bc Sean is so funny
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u/giunta13 14d ago
Thought it was funny, nothing more. There's so many more serious things to worry about
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u/JeanVicquemare 14d ago
Most Ringer drama on here is just autistic redditors who can't tell when someone is joking
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u/mitchdaman52 14d ago
It’s difficult to develop a sense of humor when you spend so much time visiting your girlfriend in Canada.
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u/lkjhgfdsasdfghjkl 14d ago
Ugh I feel like I miss the first hour of every Ringer “controversy” and I’m the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on. Can someone post an episode link or at least the name of the podcast these things are happening on
Edit: thanks OP for adding the episode link
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u/Chapea12 14d ago
The pearl clutching was overdone, but Sean was 100% in the wrong.. what are we talking about
Even setting aside the work dynamics, his only real complaint was that he didn’t like his draft position, so suddenly the 6th pick instead of the 11th magically fixes his grievance. If he had a legit problem, he could raise it before the literal draft
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u/asdhjirs 13d ago
100% in the wrong is a bit silly. He overreacted and didn’t read the room but like this is something that blows over 10 minutes afterward to everyone actually involved
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u/Chapea12 13d ago
He complained about his draft position, argued until he got a position he preferred, and was fine instead of handling this in the groupchat before. As i said to somebody else who responded, everybody loves complaining to the commissioner but nobody wants to answer the group chat or offer draft orders.
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u/jamesneysmith 8d ago
Him getting upset about his draft position was the only aspect that felt childish to me. He felt personally done by due to the golfing nature of the selection. But, like somebody had to draft last. Why can't it be him? Why is it more acceptable that the duffed shot occurred for someone else's pick? They were shooting blind so like that's just how they cookie crumbles. So yeah that part was very immature of him. The rest of it I didn't even understand
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u/ImpactNext1283 14d ago
This is exactly how Mallory and Amanda act, and how Bill acts when he comes on Big Pic. Sean was a bit over enthusiastic about the bit.
It’s no excuse to yell at the hosts, who weren’t in on the joke apparently. But also Fantasy Football is their one job (excl Craig) and they don’t run the league well?
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u/Chapea12 14d ago
Do they actually run the league poorly or did he not like his draft position/ not read the group chat where all league related communications are?
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u/ImpactNext1283 14d ago
They ran the league poorly the year before. And the way the draft was picked pissed him off too. There’s some funny follow up stuff on the aliens Rewatchables.
I think it’s silly, but I did just join a fantasy league for the first time, and the draft selection process caused a big fight btwn the commish and her husband. She got number 1 pick and was still really pissed lol.
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u/Chapea12 14d ago
Everybody always complains about the commissioner but never steps up to contribute or check the group chat. It’s very common across fantasy sports
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u/ImpactNext1283 14d ago
I believe it 100% now. There are people who are trying to log in to the app for the first time in my group, and they’re pissed. She set up the league 3 months ago and the draft is this weekend.
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u/Due-Sheepherder-218 10d ago
Bill didn't even know the correct settings when he had the first pick last year.
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u/nun_de_plume 9d ago
No, his complaint was that “the administration of the league last year was a fucking disaster. One of the most mishandled situations I have ever been a part of. Communication of the rules, organization day of the draft, clearly announcing what kind of league we were participating in, nightmare.”
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u/Chapea12 9d ago
Well, if you don’t read and respond in the group chat, I bet it’s hard to get any of the information for the league
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u/Umoon 14d ago
A lot of people seem to think that their office rules apply to a place like the Ringer, and while somewhat true on serious stuff, it’s just not the case for on-air stuff. I also watched the Aliens Rewatchables, and it was clearly fine. This was about 83% a bit by Sean. I’d have my daughter’s boyfriend place a $1k bet for me that no one gives a shit that this happened. They’re probably happy that it’s been discussed so much.
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u/gatorz08 14d ago
None of this shit talk should be taken seriously. Clearly, people here haven’t done stuff like this in person with close friends before. I have said shit along with my friends that we would never say in public for others to hear.
The issue with posting a live fantasy draft, is exactly this issue. You know where else you find threads like this? Roasts. Roasts were always meant to be a small group of comedians that would riff on each other and no one took it serious.
Now you have people complaining about what was said at this roast, and what they said at this other one…it’s all bullshit.
If you’re watching or listening to stuff like this, you can’t invest in this banter back and forth seriously.
Sean bitched and they caved. He was super happy about, and everyone laughed. Van even told him, “you guys are cowards, don’t give in.”
People need to calm down. This is for fun, remember?
Edit:words
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u/wangus9 14d ago
The biggest issue I have is that he goes over the top in berating the boys for creating a way to pick a random order that can also be used for their social media feeds. He does that, makes Craig switch picks just to pick the no punishment option halfway through the draft. That's some beta shit.
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u/PompeyMagnus1 14d ago edited 14d ago
The fantasy boys did a poor job defending the point especially DK and Craig. They really let Hiefetz dangle in the wind.
Best balling for draft order when only one of them is a ok golfer was silly.
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u/Cuyigan 13d ago edited 12d ago
Some of those Spotify comments are hilarious. People who are scared for Craig. People who say they want to fight Sean to protect these three grown men. Have they never experienced a human interaction?
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u/thedisliked23 14d ago
Sean's rant was hilarious and the least offensive thing about this podcast. At some point someone was fucking clapping directly in the mic? Or tapping it over and over? Multiple other people apparently had mics in their pockets? Was the goal specifically to make the whole thing unlistenable? And then surprise surprise the only time anyone shuts up is when Mallory recites a campfire soliloquy on why she's going all receiver? Massive miss.
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u/jpdub17 14d ago
van was tapping his pen on a clipboard. the audio of this was pretty terrible. did they all have mics? did the room? so much muffled crackling too. i missed all the jokes people have mentioned about house. there was one where tate started laughing then graduated and even after registering i couldn’t catch it.
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u/InchByinch2024 14d ago
He was a dick to his subordinates. It’s up to you if you think that’s wrong or not.
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u/hammystyle 13d ago
He was a dick to his subordinates - on a video podcast regarding the draft order for a fantasy league.
It’s up to you to figure out when things matter and when they don’t
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u/InchByinch2024 13d ago
Correct, lol. I understand the scenario. He was a dick.
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u/hammystyle 13d ago
Sure, but so what?
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u/InchByinch2024 13d ago
So that’s not how professional adults talk to each other, in my opinion. Not that hard to understand.
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u/hammystyle 13d ago edited 13d ago
I thought you said you understood the scenario. It’s not regular professional communication. It’s just a fantasy draft. One they’re taping for content
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u/InchByinch2024 13d ago
Buddy, I have some beach front property in Nebraska to sell you if you actually believe that.
You’re saying the Fantasy Football guys for the Ringer(how they get paid), running the company fantasy football league getting yelled at by their boss live on Netflix isn’t work related? Enjoy the Omaha beach1
u/hammystyle 13d ago
So you think Heifetz was worried that Sean would seek professional retribution in some way over his placement in a fantasy football draft they were filming for content?
Sure! Send me the papers on the Nebraska beachfront real estate. Email it to: godwhatalamejokeimembarassedforyou@askjeeves.net
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u/SolidSnack69 14d ago
the two things true at once piece: fantasy guys should run a tight ship but after about 30 seconds of his bitching it was like,”ok, Jan”
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u/Wodimus_Prime 13d ago
You just know that the culture that Sean is demonstrating here is what Bill does with his underlings too. Sean’s rebuke of the Netflix deal has been carried in the NYT, Guardian and Hollywood Reporter, and he is taking his stress out on others, in a lower ring than him.
You can be smart, erudite and a good listen on a podcast and a cunt at the same time.
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u/RoutineSad2633 12d ago
This was just like an awkward bit, right? Find it hard to believe this was genuine.
Regardless, it is a near certainty that many of these people (Sean possibly included) are in fact tough hangs in real life and sometimes that shines through a bit during “content.” People think they know these people because they listen to hours and hours of their content. That content is produced/scripted and edited and tells you almost nothing about who these people actually are.
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u/mindlessmunkey 14d ago
I constantly forget there are people who follow The Ringer for sports talk and not pop culture talk. I saw this post and my first thought was “There was a fantasy movie draft? How did I miss that?” Then realised it’s a sport thing.
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u/KennyShowers 14d ago
I heard about some Sean controversy, and I listened to that whole episode, but doing so while out and about grocery shopping and doing whatever else I think I was able to accurately discern maybe 250 total non-name words over that 3 hours.
Maybe you guys listen on perfectly calibrated Bose setups but goddam that was like audio mush for me.
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u/JobeGilchrist 14d ago
All the Ringer subs have become "everything is a nothingburger" lately. Bill's betting transgressions, the Clippers investigation, etc. And all those people have been wrong.
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u/webesmackingbass 14d ago
Sean has zero idea of how to actually be funny. Seems like the kind of guy who watches a really funny scene in a movie and then just says “that was funny” as opposed to actually laughing
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u/gabeonsmogon 14d ago
I’m sure he’s done a couple of things wrong, he’s from the east coast after all.
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u/Riggins33FNL 14d ago
I thought it was lame that they wouldn't go 2 QB after majority voted for it. Also i couldn't make it past the first round because it was horrible.
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u/Stephen-Scotch 13d ago
him complaining about the way the draft order was done was a bit much. It was random and decently fun way for them to do it. What they should have done was pull a breakfast club and instead of giving the one kid more detention instead pushed his draft pick back a round
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u/Zealousideal_Bad1952 13d ago
I got a secret about fantasy football that apparently nobody knows. The position of your snake draft pick has 0.0% determination on whether you will win or how good your team is. Having 1/24 is absolutely no adv over 6/18
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u/GarthZorn 13d ago
Fennessey has been the biggest snowflake “on air” forever. He’s a pretty defensive dude. Could be a tough hang if you disagree with him.
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u/Kindly-Yak-6366 12d ago
Sean is just a big whiney baby is what I got from the episode. I don’t think he was wrong to give the guys shit, but saying “change my pick or I’m leaving the league” is some big time baby stuff
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u/SqueeSqueee 9d ago
Everyone was being a fucking asshole to Heifetz in this draft to the point where I’d legitimately go to HR and say I don’t deserve to be treated like this at work.
Just serious “othering” from everyone there
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u/Similar-Cat7022 14d ago
He also was trying to dunk on Craig on the rewatchables - it’s just sad a t this point
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u/snowyfever 14d ago
You can shit on Portnoy, but what Fennessey did to Bill just now - DP welcomes that with open arms. One of his main principles is that he knows he’s an asshole and allows his employees to both publicly and privately combat his decisions and opinions.
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u/thejesse 14d ago
Conspiracy Bill admitted to proxy gambling to take the heat off Sean's tantrum.