Frank DeFord

[cranberry]

Ask him about the time he was writing late into a Sunday night (I think Monday was the SI deadline) following a World Series game and took his typewriter into his hotel bathroom so as not to keep other guests awake. FYI: His daughter, Alex, died of CF in 1980.

 

[playthrough]

The bathroom was quieter than his actual hotel room? Or was he staying in barracks?

 

[Ace]

I've talked to several people who worked at The National who said the primary reason it failed is because Deford spent way too much money hiring people and traveling and doing all that before they had any subscriber base. They all love the guy, but basically said he had zero business sense.

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

Damn, that Manifest Destiny. Damn it!!!!

Sez you and the Native Americans.

 

[fishwrapper]

Here's the question: Why the hell would he let John Feinstein fly back from the French Open to take care of his sick cat, then fly him back to cover the finals? On the Concord.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

I think it's a great idea to use Bradley's run in the famed CBI as a launching point for the story. ... I'm just kidding, that makes no sense.

CBI TOURNAMENT: FEEL THE EXCITMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I've talked to several people who worked at The National who said the primary reason it failed is because Deford spent way too much money hiring people and traveling and doing all that before they had any subscriber base. They all love the guy, but basically said he had zero business sense.

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

You are correct. But the people I know who worked there said they probably could have lasted longer if they weren't spending so much money. That's just their opinion and they were there...

 

[cranberry]

The bathroom was quieter than his actual hotel room? Or was he staying in barracks?

As I recall (our conversation was more than 20 years ago), he thought the clackety-clack of his manual typewriter might keep people awake, so he went into the bathroom and closed the door. Maybe he turned on the shower to drown out the noise? I have a clip of the story in a box at home somewhere.

 

[BTExpress]

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

The time zones didn't seem to stop USA Today. But had USA Today been paying their entire staff $90,000+ from day one, it likely would have died before it could turn a profit.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

The time zones didn't seem to stop USA Today. But had USA Today been paying their entire staff $90,000+ from day one, it likely would have died before it could turn a profit.

Most of the guys I know who worked at The National had their salaries tripled from what they were getting at major papers to go there.

USA Today also had all of the Gannett printing plants to help with distribution.

Double Down is 100 percent right about the distribution, but it wasn't the only reason the place folded.

 

[fishwrapper]

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

The time zones didn't seem to stop USA Today. But had USA Today been paying their entire staff $90,000+ from day one, it likely would have died before it could turn a profit.

You're missing one big factor. Infrastructure. USA Today had the facilities for printing and distribution. The National had handshakes, hopes and prayers.

 

[fishwrapper]

Milmo wanted to see if he could do it. He did.
In the end, he and his investors made a bundle.

 

[Double Down]

We've discussed much of this before, and Mizzou's point about Deford blowing the budget is fair. FW's example of Feinstein flying home from France to take care of his cat, if true -- and coming from him, I'll assume it is -- is madness. If people who worked there felt he was lighting money on fire to warm the offices, I have no reason to doubt their opinion that it played a role in its demise.

But fish nails it. Infrastructure. How do you print a daily paper in one part of the country, and distribute it in downtown L.A., Dallas, Miami and New York? And who wants to buy it in LA if it never has any of the Dodgers, Angels, Lakers and Kings scores because it closed too early?

The National was a beautiful thing, and one we should all remember fondly. But essentially ESPN.com, especially since they've started doing E-Ticket takeout stuff, is essentially the modern equivalent of The National. Does it have Peter Richmond and Charlie Pierce writing takeouts? No. But it's probably about as close as you can get in a daily format.

 

[fishwrapper]

When you meet Frank, just say five words: "Feinstein" "cat" "Concord" "French Open."
Let me know his reaction.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

When you meet Frank, just say five words: "Feinstein" "cat" "Concord" "French Open."
Let me know his reaction.

Considering the stories I've heard about Feinstein, I completely believe it.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

The time zones didn't seem to stop USA Today. But had USA Today been paying their entire staff $90,000+ from day one, it likely would have died before it could turn a profit.

You're missing one big factor. Infrastructure. USA Today had the facilities for printing and distribution. The National had handshakes, hopes and prayers.

USA Today also pillaged the other Gannett properties -- USAT employee salaries were still covered by the staffer's original Gannett paper for a long time, so that USAT's losses wouldn't look so catastrophic -- so thoroughly that a lot of them never recovered. This was a device not available to the National.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Fenian,

How dare you imply that Gannett might do something unethical... :D

 

[mustangj17]

I second the bobby knight article

 

[novelist_wannabe]

I sat next to Deford at women's basketball at the 96 olympics and I count that as among the biggest thrill I had during that cursed event, right up there with seeing Michael Johnson run ahead of a flashbulb wave. The comments that he is exceedingly nice are spot on.

as for the 'do, I always thought it made him look like the editor from The Daily Planet ...

 

[Ben_Hecht]

The Paulie Walnuts parallel remains irresistible.

 

[fishwrapper]

It failed because the distribution system was flawed. And that the U.S. spans four time zones. Not because Deford spent too much on hiring and travel.

The time zones didn't seem to stop USA Today. But had USA Today been paying their entire staff $90,000+ from day one, it likely would have died before it could turn a profit.

You're missing one big factor. Infrastructure. USA Today had the facilities for printing and distribution. The National had handshakes, hopes and prayers.

USA Today also pillaged the other Gannett properties -- USAT employee salaries were still covered by the staffer's original Gannett paper for a long time, so that USAT's losses wouldn't look so catastrophic -- so thoroughly that a lot of them never recovered. This was a device not available to the National.

Yes. Infrastructure. Used at their will.