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My money's on Vac in that fight.

 

In a fair fight, yes.

Fought on the News' turf, given all of the players involved . . . maybe not.

 

There is no such thing as a "fair fight" in this business. You're still bolstered or limited (and in some ways both) by which paper you're on.

Red Smith's paper died and while he was syndicated nationally, his only NYC outlet for four years was Women's Wear Daily until the Times finally hired him. He was still Red Smith, he was still arguably the greatest sports writer ever, he still had the respect of sports writers not only nationally but in NYC, but just how many readers do you think followed him to Women's Wear Daily?

The Times or the Post could dig up Red Smith and Jim Murray, bring them back to life and have them write a column; they could lure John Schulian (my all-time favorite) back to the biz. Lupica's still going to be the name brand in that market and it will be that way until he quits the Daily News. He has his audience and it's a very large one. In one sense that audience was given to him -- as is the case with EVERY columnist -- but that audience is his and will remain so no matter who else is writing in New York. That audience did not follow Lupica in great numbers to The National, it did not follow him in great numbers to Newsday, nor will it leave him just because another paper hires a columnist that in your opinion is better than Lupica. He occupies that spot and no one -- in house or on a competitor -- will knock him from it.

 

Valid point. As is yours, Frank... but didn't the Post trumpet moving ahead of the DN in circulation not so long ago?

 

True a year ago, but latest figures (9/30/07) show the News back in the lead, by a small margin.

 

Weekdays VERY close. DN remains ahead, Sundays.

 

The circulation is one factor in the amount of clout, but not the only factor. Lead sports columnist for the Daily News is center field for the Yankees. The Daily News or the Yankees can have a bad year, but there are still lots of readers who will assign the position automatic respect based on tradition.

 

There is not one marketing study or reader focus group that indicates readers pick up the paper to read Lupica. There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that readers dislike him. Walk through the streets of NY and it's doubtful you'll find one fan. Or answer the phones in news or sports. Readers don't call to say they liked something he wrote. They call to say how much they can't stand him. I've worked in several major markets and I've never witnessed such animosity.
Lupica has two powerful backers. Jeff Wilpon and Mort Zuckerman. Mort gave Lupica a personal services contract, so Lupica can do what he wants. You don't want to be the one who answers the phone if his mug shot is left off the front or back page. He's the reason the sports section is in disarray. Leon Carter can't do a thing about it. And when the Green Bay coverage was brought up in a news meeting, an editor was too afraid to blame Lupica so Lisa took the hit. The News could hire seven more copy editors or reporters if Lupica's contract was canceled and they paper wouldn't lose a reader. Not one.

 

It may take a while longer for the reality to catch up to the fantasy . . . but it'll happen, eventually.