Bill Simmons on Ensuring that the Celtics City Documentary "Isn't Just an Infomercial"

      Bill Simmons has been a devoted Boston Celtics supporter his entire life, attending games with his father from a young age. His passion for the Celtics, particularly during the successful era of the 1980s, laid the groundwork for his future as a sports journalist and the founder of the Ringer media company. However, he was resolute that the new Ringer documentary, Celtics City, which debuts today on HBO, would not become "an infomercial."

      During the recent Boston premiere of the nine-part documentary, Simmons expressed his long-standing desire to create a film about his hometown team, but he did not wish to present a sanitized or overly flattering narrative. Many documentaries compromise some creative freedom for access to individuals and archival materials, but Simmons insisted he would not follow that path.

      "Once you involve people, particularly those with stakes in the intellectual property, things can go wrong and turn into an infomercial," he explained to the audience. "A significant challenge for us was determining whether the Celtics would actually allow us to tell the story, as it needs to be honest and thorough."

      He acknowledged Wycliffe “Wyc” Grousbeck, the Celtics' lead owner, for his hands-off approach.

      "When we initially pushed for this project, many others had similar ideas. We assured them, ‘We’re going to do it best. Trust us to make it work.’"

      Grousbeck shared with MovieMaker that, while he viewed some preliminary footage, he refrained from interfering: "I did see portions of it, but we allowed them creative freedom. I never vetoed anything—that’s the truth," he stated at the premiere.

      The series, directed by Emmy winner Lauren Stowell (“SC Featured: Taquarius Wair — Unstoppable”), explores the Celtics' history from their establishment in 1946 to their anticipated 2024 NBA Championship. It includes interviews with notable figures like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Larry Bird, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown, highlighting both the highs of the Bird era and the tragic lows, like the 1986 death of draft pick Len Bias before he could join the Celtics.

      The fifth episode, screened at the premiere, tackled the complex racial legacy of Boston and the perception during the 1980s Lakers-Celtics rivalry that the Celtics were predominantly a white team, which was particularly disheartening to Black Celtics fans. Among those interviewed were members of Boston's New Edition and Lakers star James Worthy, who openly disliked Boston during the '80s.

      "I look at that little leprechaun," Worthy remarks about the Celtics' mascot, "and sometimes I just want to spit in his face." (This line is featured in the trailer below.)

      The title of the fifth episode, “F— the Celtics,” captures the straightforward candor of the docuseries, which is executive produced by Simmons and Connor Schell (The Last Dance, OJ: Made in America) and co-executive produced and showrun by Gabe Honig (The Captain).

      Simmons, like the documentary, adeptly considers various perspectives. He attended the premiere wearing a jacket honoring rival Los Angeles—specifically Jackie Robinson’s legacy at UCLA. We spoke with him about his experience as a Celtics fan, relocating to Los Angeles, and securing interviewees willing to take a critical stance in Celtics City.

      MovieMaker: What motivated you to include your dad, Dr. Bill Simmons, in the film? I found it very touching.

      Bill Simmons: We interviewed 100 people to gather diverse perspectives. We wanted a couple of season ticket holders, such as Mike Rotondi, who's been one since 1980, along with my dad. It felt logical to feature fans in a documentary about the team and the city.

      MovieMaker: How do you balance being from Boston while living in L.A.?

      Bill Simmons: Not well. [Laughs.] My daughter lives here for college, and my dad is still in Boston, so I return frequently. It feels like I live here, and my time in L.A. is more like a vacation.

      I've been in L.A. for 23 years now, but Boston will always be my home base.

      MovieMaker: Was there a particular moment in the documentary that evoked nostalgia for you? The feeling of being 10 or 15 years old?

      Bill Simmons: Yes. In the fourth episode, while there has always been a lot of Celtics-L.A. material, the Boston-Philly rivalry—an authentic rivalry—I hadn't seen highlighted much. We really delved into that, particularly the 1981 series, which was immensely significant for me—coming back from a 3-1 deficit. That was a standout moment.

      MovieMaker: I appreciated how you confronted racial issues in the fifth episode. It's a topic associated with Boston that can be challenging to discuss. Can you share your thought process on this?

      Bill Simmons: