ESPN paid millions for this?

That pretty much sums up how I feel.

I remember right before my freshman year in high school I read Reilly's brilliant feature on Bryant Gumbel, who was in charge of NBC's coverage of the Seoul Olympics. I thought it was one of the most amazing features I'd ever read.

As soon as school started, I tried to sign up for the student paper. When they told me you had to be a junior, I pestered the teacher until he agreed to let me join for second semester.

I think back on some of Reilly's features like the one on Elway, Marge Schott, McGwire and what it meant to pick up that week's issue of SI and see that Reilly had the cover story and how it was almost a given that it was going to be brilliant.

Without getting into too much detail, I know Reilly very well. Not only is he not the same writer he was even five years ago, he's not even close to being the same person either. A lot of people on here will know what I'm talking about.

Without being too melodramatic, it's kind of painful to watch.

 

Now I'm curious. Has his fame and success gone to his head? Or does he have some personal problems that have impacted his work? Or does he just not care and take his talent for granted?

 

Yes, yes and yes.

 

They should make him write long pieces on golf, that might get his juices flowing again.