Replacing Kravitz at the Indianapolis Star is...

...Gregg Doyel.

http://www.indystar.com/story/sports/2014/10/08/gregg-doyel-to-join-indystar-as-sports-columnist/16905811/

 

Worlds colliding. This should be fun.

 

Whoa.

 

Wow.

That's a fucking home run right there.

I know what I've said about Ramos, and I like Kravitz a lot, but that's a huge upgrade.

I'm going to have to start reading the Star.

 

This will either be a smashing success or smashing catastrophe for all concerned, but worth following either way.

 

Agreed. I have a ton of theories about why Doyel would do this. It may simply be that CBS Sports isn't paying top dollar for columnists anymore. Freeman is gone. Doyel is gone.

Who is the must-read national columnist at CBS Sports right now?

 

Does anyone remember if Freeman had to take time off as dictated by a non-compete in between CBS Sports and joining Bleacher report?

I'm wondering if Doyel took this to avoid that. I have ZERO idea if anyone at CBS Sports has to sign a non-compete clause. I know Schefter had one when he was at NFL Network and Reilly had one when he was at SI.

Hell, even if Doyel only stays at The Star for a year, it will be one hell of a year. He's perfect for that job. He knows college hoops as well as anybody.

 

Wow. That's a surprise. Good for Gregg.

Say what you want about newspapers and Gannett, but these days the writers and especially columnists can build their brands and make themselves marketable (which is why they should be paid more).

 

Gregg is one of the few columnists out there who I consider a must-read. It's stunning to see him move from a national job to a paper, but it wouldn't surprise me if he's somebody who ESPN steers away from. That is not meant as a knock on Gregg.

 

I hired Gregg at our college paper circa 1990, helped him land a full-time job in Tampa circa 1992, and I was lucky to have him on my team when I was one of the deputy SEs there. I'd like to think I'm responsible for his entire career. You're welcome, America.

In all seriousness, he did good stuff in Tampa and great stuff at his subsequent stops, and I've every reason to believe he'll do excellent stuff in Indy. Given his passion for college basketball, telling stories about real people and having strong points of view, this should be a comfortable fit.

Nice hire, IndyStar. Enjoy your new adventure, Gregg.

 

If Gregg is so great at college basketball, why did he go to Indy? To cover Butler?

Just kidding, Mr. Crean.

 

Are there other examples of guys going from a national site back to newspapers?