Rick Reilly leaves Sports Illustrated - now confirmed by NYT

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

No need for a second thread on the highest paid sports journalist in the business? The most famous sports journalism face in the industry?

I tend to think this is a big deal, but hey, I'm just a blogger.

One reason that bloggers don't get the respect they feel they deserve is everything turns into a confrontation with the "MSM." Quit demanding respect and earn it, you'll get it. The public will decide. But you also have to be patient.

[Some Guy]

About a year and a half ago, I re-subscribed to SI for the first time in ages. I think it was part of a fundraiser for my little cousin's elementary school.

Then Rushin left. Now, possibly, Reilly.

I'll probably be canceling my subscription, soon. Yeah, I still liked both those guys. Screw the elementary school.

[thebiglead]

It's up, Mayfly. Has been for about 30 minutes.

They've got to replace him, right? Over the last 20 years, there hasn't been a more important face to any sports publication.

PW - Who is demanding respect?

[Mizzougrad96]

My guess is he goes into radio.

He loves himself too much not to see himself on TV... He'll be at ESPN...

[txscoop]

My guess is he goes into radio.

He loves himself too much not to see himself on TV... He'll be at ESPN...

Good point

[Pulitzer Wannabe]

PW - Who is demanding respect?

It was meant to be about bloggers in general. The constant whining about how the "MSM" doesn't recognize them, etc., etc., etc. (demand for credentials and so forth ...).

But, specifically, it was your passive-aggressive "I'm just a blogger" line.

[Mayfly]

Who just e-mailed who to ask what?

Because we have taken some heat of late for running with unconfirmed rumors, we did the honorable thing - we emailed Riley to ask him.

What would Pat Riley know about the Sports Illustrated situation?

[thebiglead]

Ok, fair enough. If you read the blog, you realize TBL doesn't care for any of that. It seems a bit odd that folks would doubt Reilly leaving, considering out proven track record with sports journalists changing jobs. Granted, we're the only ones who really report on such a thing ...

[thebiglead]

Who just e-mailed who to ask what?

Because we have taken some heat of late for running with unconfirmed rumors, we did the honorable thing - we emailed Riley to ask him.

Thanks for that. fixed.

What would Pat Riley know about the Sports Illustrated situation?

[BillyT]

If I am on the desk, and the story runs, I give it decent inside play.

A lot of people read him and talk about him after SI comes out.

Hard-core sports fan know him.

Personally, I disagree with the "mail it in" line. I think he's a unique voice.

I also had a great time reading his book.

[Jones]

I mean this seriously: If any of you were offered the job, would you take it? Great profile and money, a ton of pressure and a big personality's heels to follow.

[Some Guy]

I mean this seriously: If any of you were offered the job, would you take it? Great profile and money, a ton of pressure and a big personality's heels to follow.

Uh, yeah. Even if I suck and get fired in a year, that's some serious bank to put away. You can always get a job somewhere else with SI on your resume.

[Jones]

Not if you suck and get fired, I'm thinking. That's a pretty public failing.

[TheMethod]

I think it's hilarious to think any sportswriter in the country would turn down a columnist job at Sports Illustrated. I suppose if you're somebody like Dr. Z, Bill Simmons or Peter King and you've already carved out a specific (and lucrative) nitch, maybe you turn it down, but that's the biggest job in sportswriting.

[Some Guy]

Not if you suck and get fired, I'm thinking. That's a pretty public failing.

Someone will still hire you. Hell, I've seen people get fired from major metros and hop to another one.

[Jones]

It's precisely because it's the biggest job in sportswriting that I'm asking. If that's my job, my principal motivation is fear... And that means that the job becomes my life, when I'm awake and when I should be sleeping. I'd want to hit fifty home runs a year; a triple would leave me feeling dejected for weeks, a single and I might hang myself. That's just how I've always operated... Whatever fearless gene that Manny Ramirez has, I don't have.

And it might only be 800 words a week, and the pay might be great, and suddenly you're a household name, but it's not like a job like that doesn't have its costs. You're getting paid for a reason. If you do the math, Reilly was getting paid something like twenty-five bucks a word. You think each and every word wouldn't consume you?

You get paid that much because a job like that is your whole entire life, or at least it should be.

[BillyT]

If I am on the desk, and the story runs, I give it decent inside play.

A lot of people read him and talk about him after SI comes out.

Hard-core sports fan know him.

Personally, I disagree with the "mail it in" line. I think he's a unique voice.

I also had a great time reading his book.

I meant if it was actually happening, not the rumor.

[jason_whitlock]

Reilly starts at ESPN in June.

[Jones]

Jason -- is that a prediction or a fact? I think it's obvious he goes there, too, and that Dan Patrick takes Reilly's back page. I'm just wondering whether you know if the deal's already done.

[jason_whitlock]

He has to sit out a six-month non-compete.

[Dangerous_K]

What is the likely route for Reilly with ESPN? I would assume the .com, but would they use him on Pardon the Interruption? Maybe give him his own show?

[Jones]

Gotcha, Jason, thanks.

An old film script of Reilly's has also come to fruition -- Leatherheads, starring and directed by George Clooney -- coming out in December, I believe. That could help fill the gap.

Along with some time in Tahiti.

[Write-brained]

Holy shit, both Jones and Whitlock are back. What a great day.

[Jones]

I can't speak for Jason, but I just followed the inexplicable boner I so suddenly popped.

[Mizzougrad96]

Let's start the Whitlock to SI rumor...