The National (kinda, sorta) Resurrected

Kinda.
Here's the deal. It's fantasy time. Build your sports section. No budget constraints, no space worries. A blank check. Fill in your writing staff, hire anyone you want:

3 columnists:
Local, national MLB beat writers
Local, national NFL beat writers
Local, national NBA beat writers
Local, national NHL beat writers
Local major college beat writer
National college FB writer
National college bkb writer
Golf writer
Auto racing writer
Horse racing writer
Feature/takeout writer
Investigative writer

 

Jim Murray (RIP), columnist
Mark Whicker, columnist
Me, columnist/SE
Three ASEs
NFL writer (and a backup writer)
NBA writer (no backup)
MLB writer (and a backup writer)
NHL writer (no backup)
2 major college writers (FB, hoops, baseball)
1 Golf writer who covers local and national
Auto racing writer
2 GA feature writers
2 investigative writers
10 High School writers/desk
2 college writers for local non-major sports/JCs
8 copy editors (slot/rim)
5 designers
6 photographers just for sports
2 graphic artists

Holiday bonuses for everyone ... meaningful ones, not the $10 gift card for a grocery store.
Top of the line laptops for everyone
One deadline for all copy so every score makes it in the next day's paper.

OK, wake me up now. This is only a dream thread ...

 

Is this a competitive market or not? That would make a big difference on who I'd want. In a competitive market, I'd want newshounds even if I sacrificed a bit on the writing.

 

Now I know why most people on the board are literal (not liberal). Just pick your team (staff), pick your league (market). But since this is merely an exercise for discussion purposes, why get bogged down in competitive market or not.

 

3 columnists: Dave Hyde, John Canzano, Mark Kriegle (sp?)
Local, national MLB beat writers: Bob Klapisch, Buster Olney (I might have them split national and local team duties)
Local, national NFL beat writers:
Local, national NBA beat writers: Tough call. Jason Quick, Frank Isola, Johnny Ludden, K.C. Johnson, Steve Aschburner would be on my list for both spots.
Local, national NHL beat writers
Local major college beat writer: Jerry Tipton
National college FB writer: Chris Dufresne
National college bkb writer: Dan Wetzel
Golf writer: Doug Ferguson
Auto racing writer: Wouldn't have one, unless I'm in the southeast; would divert the resources elsewhere
Horse racing writer: Wouldn't have one.
Feature/takeout writer: Bill Plaschke, Joe Posnanski (I'm using the Auto and Horse racing spots for extra takeout and investigative writers)
Investigative writer: George Dohrmann (sp?), Rachel Bachman

 

Remember, this is pure fantasy. No lack of resources, no budget. Hire anyone you want.

I'd go with Thomas Bonk or Glenn Sheely as my golf writer.

 

Not if you're trying to be the best you can be. NASCAR is more than the Southeast.

 

Stoda....
And you have to have an auto racing writer. Doesn;'t have to be a NASCAR writer, but there has to be one as much as there is golf...

 

I reserve the right to amend/alter this as need be.

Editor/ME: Doesn't matter, as long as they're a member of genus Nonmeddlings Leaveusaloneness
SE: Kevin Whaley (I'd start here... at the top)
ASE: Dan Dinsmore, Mike James, Creig Ewing, Chris Simmons (not a self-important assclown in this talented quartet)
3 columnists: Gary Peterson, Mark Whicker, Sally Jenkins
MLB writers: Buster Olney, Tim Brown, Tom Verducci
NFL writers: This is SoCal. We don't need one of those... yet
NBA writers: Mark Heisler, Marc Stein (fellow Titan)
NHL writers: Helene Elliott, Kevin Paul Dupont
College FB writers: Chris Dufresne, Mark Schlabach
College Bkb writers: Andy Katz, Tommy Bonk (he was the one who coined "Phi Slamma Jamma" covering Houston)
Golf writer: John Hawkins
Auto Racing writer (if I have to have one here): Jim Short
Investigative writer: Lance Pugmire
GA/Features/Takeout: Bill Gildea, Dave Hyde, Steve Elling (read his Sean O'Hair story), Mark Alesia
TV/Radio/Media columnist: Tom Hoffarth
Preps: A fivesome of effin studs who -- even though Mizzou doesn't acknowledge/recognize their status as such -- can write and report... if given the chance. Along with my quartet of takeout writers, this crew will also cover the soccer, tennis, horse racing, beach volleyball, or other odds n' ends that pop up. It will also serve as my de-facto farm system, since -- unlike many papers -- I prefer to do things the right way and hire/promote from within, all other factors being constant.

 

SE: Stanley Woodward (RIP)
ASE: Blackie Sherrod (discovered Dan Jenkins for crying out loud)
3 columnists: Joe Posnanski, Jim Murray, Red Smith
MLB writers: Roger Angell, T.R., Verducci
NFL writers: Goose, DeMasio, P. King
NBA writers: Stein, Jack McCallum
NHL writers: (Can't answer since I don't pay attention to the sport)
College FB writers: Dan Jenkins
College Bkb writers: John Feinstein
Golf writer: Rick Reilly
Auto Racing writer (if I have to have one here): Jim Short
Investigative writer: Danny Robbins
GA/Features/Takeout: Gary Smith, Wright Thompson, Juliet Macur, Barry Horn, Josh Peter, Jenny Carlson
Boxing writer (replace TV/media): Mark Kram Sr.
Preps: Tim MacMahon, Trae Thompson, Sam Mellinger

 

Depends on the market. There are plenty that don't have -- and don't need -- them.

 

What about your token female writer(s) that don't deserve the job and bring the whole section down but have to be hired thanks to political correctness gone awry?