Bill Simmons was named to TIME's inaugural "TIME100 Sports" list on June 9, 2026, cementing his legacy as the founder of The Ringer.
While the boss collects mainstream accolades, the network's staff remains focused on deep-dive sports obsession. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, soccer analyst Anthony Dabbundo recounted a recent conversation with colleagues at the company.
Discussing a hypothetical World Cup victory, Dabbundo admitted his ultimate sports fandom limit, saying, "if we did win the World Cup, I, I said this in, in Sweden last week to a few of our other soccer fans at The Ringer, I think I might be done with sports if we win the World Cup."
This brand of hyper-obsessive fandom is exactly what has fueled the company's rise. As the network continues to scale and receive elite industry honors, expect its creators to keep bringing the raw, unfiltered fan perspectives that built the brand.