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Anybody hear anything from Columbia, SC?

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by beefncheddar, Jun 27, 2008.

  1. FreddiePatek

    FreddiePatek Active Member

    I didn't think about that ... very good point.
     
  2. BigRed

    BigRed Active Member

    Did you do a pool the day he decided to cover Clemson and Georgia home games the same day?
    That would've been a real money-maker.
     
  3. AgatePage

    AgatePage Active Member

    Bob Spear is a great golf partner and an even better writer. Best wishes on a nice, relaxing future. You deserve it.
     
  4. babb

    babb New Member

    As proud as I am that Mr. Spear can retire comfortably and safely from this business, today is a sad day if you've ever worked alongside him. He worked in Columbia since 1964, when he spent furloughs writing gamers during his days in the Marine Corps. He is a South Carolina journalism legend, and I'm young enough that I've never known any different.

    He has a sharp wit, a strong writing style and a unique voice that won't be duplicated. The Old Pro talks like he writes, and there are a lot of us whippersnappers who have been educated and amused by spending time with him in the office, in a press box, or in a car as he dropped a few of us "drunk ol' daaawgs" off at a bar.

    I hope retirement treats you well, Mr. Spear. You absolutely deserve some time away from deadlines and inch counts. What a great time it was working with you.
     
  5. SCEditor

    SCEditor Active Member

    Back when I was a young college punk, I used to freelance quite a bit for The State. The highlight of my day would be when Ernie Trubiano would ask me to join him for lunch. I'd sit in The State's cafeteria eating lunch with Trubiano, Bob Cole and Bob Spear. I wouldn't say a word; I just listened. The stories those three could tell always kept me entertained.

    I had the pleasure of sitting next to or near Jim McLaurin at a few NASCAR races. He was always willing to answer a question posed by a lowly small-town sports editor.

    McLaurin and Spear are fantastic reporters and fantastic writers, but they're even better people. Best of luck to both.
     
  6. longgone

    longgone Member

    Godspeed to both. Both are great newspaper people who know the ins and outs of the business. Better yet, they're great people. It's a loss for the industry.
     
  7. SCEditor

    SCEditor Active Member

    From Bob Spear:
    http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/450892.html

    From Jim McLaurin
    http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/450896.html

    Good luck to both of these guys. The State newspaper, and South Carolina's sports journalism landscape, won't ever be the same.
     
  8. MU_was_not_so_hard

    MU_was_not_so_hard Active Member

    Saw an update via Facebook -- the State is down to 6 full-time writers.
    Eek.
     
  9. MU_was_not_so_hard

    MU_was_not_so_hard Active Member

    Obley's leaving. I also heard a high school writer is departing. Not sure who will be replaced, given McC isn't giving raises until Jan. 2009.
     
  10. smithsonryan

    smithsonryan New Member

    Here's a JimmyMac story for you.

    In 1998, his car broke down on the way to the Richmond race in May. He had to stop at a relative's house, i think, and wrote a column about how his relative screamed at the TV when Wallace wrecked Gordon. It was comedy gold. The headline was, "Thank you, timing belt."

    After we put the paper to bed at The State, we all drank Rolling Rock and ate chicken wings outside. I can still see Coach throwing the bottles away in a big ol' trash can.

    Coach, Trubiano, and all the old guard treated all the new guys like beloved sons, and it really helped the section as a whole.
     
  11. SCEditor

    SCEditor Active Member

    Who's the preps writer leaving and where is he/she going?
     
  12. BigRed

    BigRed Active Member

    Where is Obley going? That's a surprise - he's a great writer and they'd just assigned him to the USC baseball beat.
     
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