Anybody hear anything from Columbia, SC?

[beefncheddar]

The State (Columbia, SC) is only just now reaching the voluntary buyout phase, but there will be immediate layoffs at the voluntary buyout deadline if the number (12) is not met.

The State will announce its buyouts/layoffs next Friday.

Any word from up that way? Best of luck to the folks in Columbia.

 

[FreddiePatek]

Two from sports ... not official yet, though ... will be by later today.

 

[Moderator1]

11 accepted buyouts, no layoffs. Indeed two from sports, veteran people, still confirming names.

 

[PalmettoStatesport]

Absolute shame. I know a lot of the guys over there and it is a shame. Holding my breath to see what the confirmed names are.

 

[Moderator1]

From The Pipeline:

Definitely Bob Spear and Jim McLaurin from The State

 

[Barsuk]

From The Pipeline:

Definitely Bob Spear and Jim McLaurin from The State

Whoa. Those are big names.

 

[BigRed]

From The Pipeline:

Definitely Bob Spear and Jim McLaurin from The State

Whoa. Those are big names.

I don't know McLaurin very well, but the news about Spear isn't a surprise. He was getting very close to retirement age and, from what I understand, had plenty in investments/stock/401K to get him through.
Still, it's never good news when a newspaper loses an experienced voice like his.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Good Bob Spear story, and I believe I've shared it on here before.

My first gig out of college, and I was covering USC for a smaller paper. At the end of the year, the team I covered played Clemson, easily the biggest game for the state that year.

My SE, bless his heart, had the ability to show up late for anything. He was gifted like that. With about one hour until kickoff, the other beat writer from my paper gets word that our SE has stopped at Hardee's for breakfast. Traffic is already a standstill, and with a noon (or so) kickoff, we all pretty much know there's no way in hell he makes it on time for the start of the game.

I start a pool -- $1 to enter, give the me the time my SE will show up at the game, closest to the correct time wins the pot. I get about 15 or 20 entries right away, and while I had never really talked to Bob Spear before, I went up to him to see if he wanted in.

"What the latest time you got on there so far?" he asks.

Essentially, it works out to be about the time of the middle of the first quarter.

"I don't give him that much credit," Spear said. He proceeds to add 5 minutes to what was then the latest pick, hands me $2 and then tells me he wants another pick even later than that.

SE actually shows up having missed only a couple minutes of game time, so Spear doesn't win.

But while I never confirmed who actually said it, when the SE did walk in, a voice from Spear's direction on press row says "First time he (the SE) has ever been early to anything."

Godspeed Mr. Spear.

 

[Moderator1]

So someone called your SE and said, "Your asshole is doing a pool on your arrival. Show up at xx:xx and I'll split it with you."

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

So someone called your SE and said, "Your asshole is doing a pool on your arrival. Show up at xx:xx and I'll split it with you."

And the dirty SOB who won that pool, Charlie Bennett, probably did.

 

[FreddiePatek]

Whoa, if Charlie Bennett won, then there was a fix.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Whoa, if Charlie Bennett won, then there was a fix.

The only problem with that is that you're giving both Bennett and my old SE credit for both being able to work their cells at the same time.

I'm kidding you two. But only sort of.

 

[FreddiePatek]

Whoa, if Charlie Bennett won, then there was a fix.

The only problem with that is that you're giving both Bennett and my old SE credit for both being able to work their cells at the same time.

I'm kidding you two. But only sort of.

I didn't think about that ... very good point.

 

[BigRed]

Whoa, if Charlie Bennett won, then there was a fix.

The only problem with that is that you're giving both Bennett and my old SE credit for both being able to work their cells at the same time.

I'm kidding you two. But only sort of.

Did you do a pool the day he decided to cover Clemson and Georgia home games the same day?
That would've been a real money-maker.

 

[AgatePage]

Bob Spear is a great golf partner and an even better writer. Best wishes on a nice, relaxing future. You deserve it.

 

[babb]

As proud as I am that Mr. Spear can retire comfortably and safely from this business, today is a sad day if you've ever worked alongside him. He worked in Columbia since 1964, when he spent furloughs writing gamers during his days in the Marine Corps. He is a South Carolina journalism legend, and I'm young enough that I've never known any different.

He has a sharp wit, a strong writing style and a unique voice that won't be duplicated. The Old Pro talks like he writes, and there are a lot of us whippersnappers who have been educated and amused by spending time with him in the office, in a press box, or in a car as he dropped a few of us "drunk ol' daaawgs" off at a bar.

I hope retirement treats you well, Mr. Spear. You absolutely deserve some time away from deadlines and inch counts. What a great time it was working with you.

 

[SCEditor]

Back when I was a young college punk, I used to freelance quite a bit for The State. The highlight of my day would be when Ernie Trubiano would ask me to join him for lunch. I'd sit in The State's cafeteria eating lunch with Trubiano, Bob Cole and Bob Spear. I wouldn't say a word; I just listened. The stories those three could tell always kept me entertained.

I had the pleasure of sitting next to or near Jim McLaurin at a few NASCAR races. He was always willing to answer a question posed by a lowly small-town sports editor.

McLaurin and Spear are fantastic reporters and fantastic writers, but they're even better people. Best of luck to both.

 

[longgone]

Godspeed to both. Both are great newspaper people who know the ins and outs of the business. Better yet, they're great people. It's a loss for the industry.

 

[SCEditor]

From Bob Spear:
http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/450892.html

From Jim McLaurin
http://www.thestate.com/sports/story/450896.html

Good luck to both of these guys. The State newspaper, and South Carolina's sports journalism landscape, won't ever be the same.

 

[MU_was_not_so_hard]

Saw an update via Facebook -- the State is down to 6 full-time writers.
Eek.