Rick Reilly had $3.4 million reasons to leave SI for ESPN

It isn't just about circulation and ad sales for the magazine. As someone mentioned before, Reilly will likely be used across all of their platforms -- magazine, Internet, radio and television -- in multiple forums. He can drive eyeballs and subscriptions.

 

Doesnt Wilbon get $2 mill per year?
If so, Reilly's salary seems appropriate.

 

More than anything: When you hire a big gun from your most hated competitor, not only do YOU get said big gun, but THEY don't have him anymore.

I'd guess $1.7 of that deal was his potential for ESPN, $1.5 of that deal was taking him from SI, and .$.2 mill of thaat deal was Dan Patrick payback...

 

we live in a 'winner-take-all' society.

the value generated by all the grunts at espn is going into reilly's pocket.

the CEO of merrill lynch was fired for losing $8 billion and pocketed $159 million going out the door. where did that money come from?

the income of average workers against inflation has declined in the last ten years - because the money is going to 'winner take all'.

i don't think it's justified by hard numbers. it's a mentality that overpaid executives encourage for self-serving reasons. if reilly is worth $3.4 mil per year, what is george bodenheimer worth? must be more. what is john skipper worth? must be more. it's how they justify ratcheting up their own compensation. winner take all.

 

Don't be so bitter. Instead, try to make yourself better and rise up and make yourself better.

 

Isn't it pretty to think so?

 

Well done, Xan.

 

Hemingway may not be worth it to a publisher, but I'm sure tourism officials in Africa, Pamplona and Havana would pony up.

 

This could very well be a stupid question, but is this the highest contract a sports journalist has ever received?

 

I've read that Bill Conlin makes fuck-you money and they sweetened his deal with a Florida condo.

 

And now Reilly is living the high life while waiting for the noncompete to end, according to Westword in Denver.