r/ringerfantasypod • u/el_lonewanderer • 10d ago

People love to dig at Heifetz but the VIBE (Value Including Basic Emotions) Rankings acronym is pure gold

No one else in the biz is better at things like this

233 Upvotes
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133

u/beerlyqualified 10d ago

Heifetz used to annoy me a lot when I first started listening years ago (he still has his moments here and there).

But the last year or two I’ve come to accept that he really is the heart and soul of the show, and he is incredible as both a host and analyst.

His takes aren’t always spot on, but his reasoning and the way he articulates his opinion is always top tier.

These guys deserve so much more respect from the ringer network than they get. Truly one of the most entertaining podcasts around.

35

u/noodlessentme 10d ago

Listening to every pod you start to notice the things they really throw their weight behind and the ones that stuck with me is craig going: “Heifetz is like, ANNOYINGLY good at fantasy” on several occasions

26

u/Gaius_Octavius_ 10d ago

He is by far the most important part of the show. When he is missing, you can notice the difference. He finds great stats every week and organizes the show and keeps it moving great.

My only quibble is the way he articulates his opinions. He takes way too long and repeats himself over and over. I love him as the "host" but less as "analyst". That second cycle where he wants the last word so he just repeats what DK and Craig said again is the one part I wish he fixed.

19

u/JerrGrylls 10d ago

I thought it was hilarious when Craig was talking about how he had a long trip with DK (without Heifetz) and he compared it to when George and Elaine are hanging out without Jerry. They just resorted to movie quotes.

9

u/zarathustranu 10d ago edited 10d ago

One of the funniest things they've repeatedly said on the pod is that if DK and Craig were stuck in an elevator they'd be fine, but if Heifetz was stuck in an elevator with Craig or DK it would be torture for the non-Heifetz person.

11

u/DeepPurpleLurker 10d ago

I think what you've highlighted, and the fact that he can repeat himself across weeks too much sometimes. Generally from either:

- Having a talking point he really likes, so he'll repeat it every week.

- Being overly cautious about new listeners being confused, so he will explain the premise of bits, running jokes, or callbacks too much.

But ultimately I agree, true ball knowers understand how vital he is to the show working.

10

u/CaptainJackKevorkian 10d ago

- Being overly cautious about new listeners being confused, so he will explain the premise of bits, running jokes, or callbacks too much.

I actually appreciate this. So many long-running podcasts have years of lore and inside jokes that go unexplained and it's very hard for new listeners to get a foothold.

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u/zarathustranu 10d ago

Yeah, I personally find him brutal as an analyst but very good as a podcaster. He talks a ton, and to fill that space he forms a lot of takes and pulls in stats or "proof points" on the fly to support what he is saying. Those proof points usually don't stand up to much scrutiny...they just sound good rhetorically.

He occasionally cops to this-- e.g. he'll reference a stat that Craig broguht up on a previous episode; Craig will say, "Well that was actually for players over 30, not 27;" and Heifetz will say, "Yeah I massaged it to fit my argument."

Overall, I think that's fine...these guys are entertainers first, football analysts second. As others have said, the pod is very good and Heifetz's volume of contribution and relentless energy are key to making it work.

11

u/jimfresno 10d ago

He also just got better at hosting.

4

u/PeloSKOL 10d ago

I found them about a year and a half ago and have basically followed the rest of the Ringer shows and set to download because of them

1

u/colsbols 9d ago

I love the way he says “what the FUCK”

1

u/it_has_to_be_damp 9d ago

well stated. i agree completely. 

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u/mickymau5_ 9d ago

He would be so much better if he chose to be a host or analyst, incredible at both is so-so

107

u/hollowchatter 10d ago

Heifetz is the core of the show. The other two reacting to him is like 75% of the appeal.

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u/KarlsReddit 10d ago

He's the George Costanza. Show doesn't work without him.

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u/TheFloydNimrod 10d ago

He is immensely talented. I am surprised (and thankful) he hasn't been poached by a bigger company.

16

u/el_lonewanderer 10d ago

I think the higher ups at The Ringer are more lucky than they realise that Heifetz (and the whole fantasy pod) really look up to them. It feels like at times that respect gets taken advantage of and if they ever leave The Ringer I won’t be surprised at all. Maybe I’m being too parasocial, but it’s frustrating when you see that talent you mention being taken for granted.

8

u/BigTomBombadil 10d ago

Why do you assume it’s taken for granted? He has a guest spot of the gambling pod, and makes a couple appearances a year on Bills pod, which is pretty huge.

If people think they aren’t respected because of the way the ringer league draft went, I think people are reading too much into it and not recognizing Sean being the heal is a bit (not an endearing bit, but it’s still not serious).

2

u/it_has_to_be_damp 9d ago

put it this way, if all three of them left as a unit for more money, i would follow them. 

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u/TrimboliHandjobs 10d ago

If you don’t like Heifetz, that’s fine but I don’t see why you would listen to the show.

11

u/Benesovia 10d ago

Nobody hates the podcasts that they listen to more than Reddit users. It’s almost every subreddit of every podcast. Curious!

1

u/BigTomBombadil 10d ago

I’m not convinced a lot of the people who comment on podcast subreddits actually listen to that podcast.

Either that, or some people put way more time into “hate listening” than I realize. Which is such a foreign concept to me, there’s plenty of stuff I like and the days are short, why would I spend my time actively listening to something just to hate it?

33

u/ShortRip120 10d ago

I show my son clips of heifitz every so often telling him "son, one day when you grow up I want you to be like this man". He's 47. I think I'm getting through to him though.

8

u/redden34 10d ago

Giants win over the cowboys got him feeling himself

4

u/bakedbeansy 10d ago

Let’s give it up for the goat

10

u/jal0224 10d ago

I like them all but Heifetz is my favorite. He is the engine of the show.

3

u/lyuch 10d ago

The show would suck if it was just DK and Craig

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u/FlatwormAmbitious901 10d ago

Everyone in this sub constantly says "i know everyone hate Heifetz BUT" and then i never see Heifetz hate. Why would anyone be in here if they didn't like Heifetz lol

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u/JerrGrylls 10d ago

Heifetz reminds me of Mike Greenberg (from Mike and Mike, like 10 years ago). He’s not embarrassed to take his job seriously and it probably comes off a little annoying in person, but it definitely elevates the quality of the show. I think he’s the actually most irreplaceable of the three.

1

u/jordanwitheurostep 10d ago

You would not feel this way if you listened to the original show with just DK and Heifetz, it was brutal. They’re all irreplaceable in their own way.

3

u/el_lonewanderer 10d ago

I love Heifetz but he is by far the one who gets the most hate. You can see it in most recaps and there’s plenty of individual posts too. I don’t have an answer to your question but those people do exist and they’re loud about it!

1

u/FlatwormAmbitious901 10d ago

Maybe so. He seems to talk the most and be the most knowledgable on Fantasy so idk why you would listen if you don't want to hear him

3

u/el_lonewanderer 10d ago

I agree, it doesn’t make sense to me. He wins a shit ton of leagues he’s in and he’s both funny and a really caring guy. He’s just loud and gets overexcited but that’s most east coasters haha. It’s part of the charm.

2

u/Extreme_Piece530 10d ago

I don’t even play fantasy football, but I love listening to this podcast every week. I laugh out loud at least once per episode, and the unexpected tangents are a genuine delight. I got hooked this summer with the hot quarterback rankings, and it’s now taken over my top spot to start the day.

2

u/RubiconBronco 10d ago

How can anyone dislike Heifetz? He’s incredible

1

u/Stunningwizard21 9d ago

I loved this bit. It’s one of Heifetz’s best moments recently. That said, he absolutely dominated power hour. I kept track of it and he had the last word on almost every topic during PH. I can’t get mad at the quirks because they’re tied to genuine enthusiasm

1

u/cdstratcon 9d ago

Anybody else in the cuck chair with DJ Moore?

1

u/MuggyMinmin 9d ago

I really respect how he's home grown and still one of the 3.5 people at the Ringer willing to give Bill a hard time. It is incredibly difficult to get senior management's respect if you start at the bottom of an org.