Richard Deitsch of SI.com did a Q/A with Jim Brady, ESPN’s new public editor. He also asked media critics about what they would like to see from Brady.

Here is my contribution:

First and foremost, I would like to see the new ESPN public editor write with greater frequency and even on a regular schedule. Previously, I always felt wanting more from the ombudsman. It was frustrating that the critiques seemed to appear like some random package dropped off by the mailman. There is plenty to write about at ESPN, and a regular schedule could force Brady to take a deeper dive into the issues that went untouched by his predecessors. In the near term, I would like read what Brady has to say about the demise of Grantland. It seems like a good starting point for a first column. Ultimately, I will be interested in Brady’s views on ESPN’s journalism in light of the network’s TV right deals with the various leagues. The scrutiny is more intense than ever and that will include Brady’s perspectives on this issue.

Matt Yoder from Awful Announcing noted the transition with the selection of Brady.

The most interesting thing about Brady’s hire by ESPN is the shift to someone with such digital expertise. It’s a distinct turn away from previous ombudsmen with more traditional print or television experience for the role like Robert Lipsyte. The new title of “public editor” makes me think we’ll see a pivot as well. I’d expect Brady to focus on some of the big-picture issues facing ESPN like their increased focus on digital and their place in an ever-changing media world instead of getting knee-deep in what Curt Schilling is tweeting or which NBA player Stephen A. Smith is issuing ominous threats to this week.  Given the sweeping changes that will probably take place over the next decade, it’s a forward-thinking move.

There are few people in the business I respect more than Golf Digest’s Jaime Diaz. He did an interesting review on Steve Williams’ new book on Tiger Woods, which has been panned as a betrayal by many critics. The caddie shouldn’t reveal secrets about his old boss.

Some of it is deserved, as Diaz writes:

No question the book has flaws, chief among them Williams’ use of the word “slave” in the sentence “I felt uneasy about bending down to pick up his discarded club — it was like I was his slave.” Poorly chosen considering the historical weight of the term and a gross overstatement in terms of Williams’ duties, the word has understandably become a negative flashpoint in reviews, and hurts any Williams claim to higher ground.

Diaz, though, comes at the book from a different perspective, likely because he was the co-author of Hank Haney’s book, which was a deep inside look into working with Tiger.

For the most part, Steve Williams’ memoir, Out of the Rough (written with journalist Mike Donaldson) has been panned.

As Tiger Woods’ caddie for 13 of his 14 major championships, Williams by writing his book has become — variously and inclusively to many — a betrayer, a disgruntled former employee out for revenge, a sell-out for money, a self-aggrandizer with an overinflated view of his own importance, a breaker of the unwritten code of confidentiality.

It’s an easy narrative, one that for many places the book beneath contempt and not to be read.

That assessment is simplistic, unfair and wrongheaded. I read the book and was immediately surprised at the amount of interesting detail. I devoured large chunks, only occasionally losing focus.

Then again, I am a golf nerd who has close to 1,000 golf books in his home office. (I know, I know). I’ve read at least parts of all of them. Invariably, even in the bad ones, I find something that satisfies some curiosity and in some way adds to my knowledge and perspective.

By that personal criterion, Williams’ book is exceptional — original, comprehensive, enlightening, honest.

Later, Diaz writes:

The memoir is a contribution to the history of Tiger Woods, which for all the words that have been expended on him is still lacking in first-hand material. In his observations of the golfer, Williams both confirms and reveals.

For all the focus on how Williams presumably goes out of his way to skewer Woods, I found his chronicling of his entire experience with Tiger to present a reasonably balanced portrait.

In many ways, the book is a tribute to Tiger’s greatness: his relentless drive to improve, his focus and cool in the face of immense pressure, the intensity that disarmed his opponents. It’s a vivid and, considering Woods’ struggles over the last several years, welcome reminder of how truly great he was.

This just in from ESPN:

*****

Jim Brady, an award-winning editor and news executive with more than 20 years of experience in digital news, has been named ESPN’s public editor, making him the sixth in line to hold the position formerly known as ombudsman. He will assume his new duties Nov. 15 and will serve an 18-month term.

Brady will offer independent examination, critique and analysis of ESPN’s programming and news coverage on television, digital, print, audio and other media. The role will include written pieces on ESPN.com, podcasts and use of social media, with additional timely responses as issues arise.

“In these transcendent times for media, ESPN is serving more fans across more platforms and more devices in more global locations than ever before,” said Patrick Stiegman, vice president and editorial director for ESPN Digital & Print Media and chairman of ESPN’s Editorial Board. “We are proud of our commitment to the ombudsman role over the past decade, and believe those who have occupied that chair have mutually benefitted fans and ESPN.

“We are updating the title to ‘public editor’ to better reflect the goal of transparency and advocacy for fans, especially in this increasingly multimedia world,” Stiegman said. “And given the multitude of touch points we have with our audience, it’s imperative that the public editor have the breadth of experience and journalistic credibility to serve as an advocate and explainer for fans across all media.”

Brady is the CEO of Spirited Media, which operates the mobile news platform Billy Penn in Philadelphia. His career includes work in both digital and print media. Brady helped launch and then later served as both sports editor and then executive editor of WashingingPost.com, leading the site to multiple honors including a national Emmy, four Edward R. Murrow Awards and a Peabody. Prior to that he was sports editor of Digital Ink, the first new media undertaking of the Washington Post.

Brady has also served as editor-in-chief of Digital First Media, where he oversaw 75 daily newspapers, 292 non-daily publications and 341 online sites, and in multiple executive positions at AOL, including group programming director, news & sports; executive director, editorial operations; and vice president, production & operations. He oversaw AOL’s coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the 2000 presidential election.

“After a thorough review of the role and potential candidates, it is clear that Jim’s deep knowledge of the industry, impressive editorial record and passion for sports — and the fact his own career has traversed the evolution of media — make him an appropriate choice,” said Stiegman.

“This role is not about playing critic, per se, but instead helping demystify ESPN for fans, explaining our culture and standards, and commenting on journalism, coverage and programming decisions. Jim’s experience across multiple platforms and major media companies are ideally suited for both the public editor role and our desire for accountability, transparency and improvement related to all aspects of ESPN coverage.”

Brady has been a board member of the Online News Association since 2005 and a past president. In addition, he is on the boards of the American Society of News Editors and the National Press Foundation, on the National Advisory Board of the Poynter Institute and on the advisory boards of GlobalPost, Kaiser Health News, The American University School of Communication and the Fiscal Times.

He graduated from The American University in Washington, D.C., in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Print Journalism. The New York native lives in Northern Virginia.

“To me, ESPN has always been one of the most fascinating media companies on the planet,” said Brady. “Whether it’s managing extremely complicated relationships with professional leagues, trying to stay ahead of its ever-growing list of competitors or adapting its business in an ever-changing media landscape, ESPN faces fascinating challenges. This made serving as public editor too good an opportunity to pass up. I look forward to getting started.”

Previous ESPN ombudsmen included George Solomon (2005-07), Le Anne Schreiber (2007-2008), Don Ohlmeyer (2009-2010), The Poynter Institute (2011-2012) and Robert Lipsyte (2013-2014).

Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports media:

Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press was incredulous that Jim Caldwell knocked the local media for being overly negative this week. This is from a coach whose team is 1-7.

Caldwell tried deflecting blame away from his coaching staff and front office. Pointing the culpability at reporters who — at last glance — have yet to throw an interception, miss a block, blow a tackle, miss on a second-round draft pick or fail to develop an elite-level quarterback.

Caldwell’s stand was comical because Detroit’s one of the friendlier sports media towns in this country. If anything, too many in the local media over the many years and losses have unnecessarily bent over backwards telling the organization and their fan base what they want to hear rather than what they needed to know.

One writer discusses his experience working for Grantland. He says most of writers never met Bill Simmons in person.

Grantland closing is not the death of sports journalism.

Fox wants to bring back Pete Rose for 2016. Hopefully, his schedule will allow him to do the entire World Series.

Did ARod rehab his image with his work for Fox Sports during the World Series?

David Feherty discusses why he left CBS.

A podcast with my hero, Scott Hanson, host of NFL Redzone.

Q/A with Jim Nantz on his busy schedule.

Catching up with John Madden.

Pro Football Talk is celebrating its 14th birthday. Mike Florio nearly pulled plug in 2002.

Joe Nocera is moving to sports at the New York Times.

Povich Center to honor Tim Kurkijan and Pam Ward.

ESPN’s Sandy Rodenbush and Leon Carter were honored at Missouri.

Remembering Robert Markus, my former Chicago Tribune colleague.

Clay Travis of Outkick The Coverage started off a column by giving his take on the demise of Grantland. It didn’t make money.

But then he veered in another direction, giving his treatise on what writers need to do to position themselves in the media landscape in 2015 and beyond. He makes some interesting points. Well worth reading if you find yourself in no-man’s land these days.

Travis writes:

Be creative and take risks.   

I feel for the Grantland writers because they are in pretty much the exact same place I was just short of five years ago when FanHouse, the best place I ever worked online, shuttered and tossed a hundred great writers into the jobless wilderness.

That’s how Outkick came to exist, because i didn’t want to rely on anyone else to run the business that allowed me to write.

I had two young kids at home, a wife who was about to quit her job, and a thriving, but still new radio show in town. At that moment in time, when FanHouse shut down my sole income was a $45,000 a year job on a radio show with an expiring contract.

Ultimately this was what I decided: Writing online doesn’t cost anything so if you start a site and it fails, so what? You can’t be afraid to fail. What’s the worst thing that happens? I have to find a new job. 

So I bootstrapped this site from nothing, went out and sold the advertising myself to dozens of advertisers, wrote every article, I did everything all by myself for several years. Like anyone starting a small business, I was terrified. I’d wake up late at night and stare at the ceiling thinking, “What have I done?”

After Outkick’s first day I went to bed and thought, “Holy hell, I have to do this again tomorrow and then the next day as far into the future as I can see?”

And I’ve done it. 

It’s my way to create a business. 

He concluded with a rather optimistic view of the industry:

If you want to write, write.  

Because here’s the deal, small businesses actually have an advantage over large businesses right now on the Internet. If you can build a site and get $100k in advertising dollars in a year, you’ll be thrilled. The large companies don’t have time to worry about that. We built a good business at Outkick off a rounding error for ESPN or Fox. Grantland didn’t work because it cost too much and made too little. But what if Grantland had started small and grown. It has worked for a ton of content businesses online. There are plenty of sports sites that could work. Make your mark, own your future instead of relying on someone else. 

Above all else, don’t mythologize what you do: writers sell their words for money. In order to sell your words for the most money possible, you have to find a large market for them. 

It’s always been that way. 

It will always be that way. 

Shakespeare wrote for the masses. So did Charles Dickens. They were the hot take masters of their eras. 

And the positive is, there’s never been a larger market for words in American history than right now.

Go forth and prosper.  

I HATE all things TMZ. I am repulsed by everything they do. Even their so-called scoops in the Donald Sterling and Ray Rice stories were nothing more than money grabs by someone looking to turn over videos for a quick buck.

So no, I won’t be watching TMZ’s new show on Fox Sports 1.

From Matt Yoder at Awful Announcing:

ESPN announced on Friday it was shutting down Grantland.  The widely-respected home of some of the best sports and pop culture writing on the web was given the axe by Bristol.

Within the blink of an eye, TMZ proudly announced that TMZ Sports would be coming to FS1.  TMZ Sports will air every weeknight on FS1 at midnight (12:30 AM after Garbage Time on Wednesdays) bringing the gossip site into the mainstream sports world.

What does it say about our universe that the home to Wesley Morris, Charlie Pierce, Jonah Keri, Bill Barnwell, Molly Lambert, David Shoemaker, Bill Simmons, Rembert Browne, Brian Phillips, and so many other talented writers has to be given its last rites while the site that produces articles such as “KC ROYALS POPPIN BOTTLES & GOGGLES AFTER WORLD SERIES WIN” and “HOUSTON TEXANS CHEERLEADERS HALLOWEEN TURN UP SEXY COSTUME DANCE PARTY” gets its own national television platform.  I’m not even sure that last headline is from the English language, it’s just a bunch of random words combined for SEO purposes in the hopes that college freshman around America will find it on Google.

Who wants to read 1,000 words of compelling storytelling when you can read 100 words about Gary Player’s sex life, right?

As part of the lead-up to the opening of the Jewish Baseball Museum in the summer of 2016, we are bringing in Ira Berkow to speak at Milt’s.  Ira surely is the only person living who knew Hank Greenberg (wrote his biography), Moe Berg (mysterious catcher that spied for the OSS during WWII), Jimmie Reese (spent 78 years in baseball 1916-1994) and the great Sandy Koufax.  If you are a fan of baseball this is an evening, you will not want to miss.

Robert Lipsyte, the former ESPN ombudsman, weighed in on the demise of Grantland for The Nation. He heaped praise on the site while pretty much dumping on everything else ESPN does.

Last Friday, ESPN announced it was chopping this proud pinkie off its ham hand, only a few months after declaring its commitment to Grantland despite having just fired Simmons. Without its beneficiary and editor-in-chief, ESPN had no need for an entertaining and prestigious niche that made little or no money. Imagine ifPlayboy magazine, in its ’60s “class-and-ass” period, had kept the air-brushed nudes but dumped the Updike, Gordimer, and Baldwin short stories.

Later, Lipstye writes:

Grantland’s unconstricted willingness to tackle topics that afflicted ESPN’s business partners—especially the NFL and the NBA—was a beacon in a sludge field. Fine writers like Bryan Curtis, Holly Anderson, Wesley Morris, Rembert Browne, and Molly Lambert were able to make connections between sports and pop culture that were rarely made elsewhere. Their writings turned college students on to journalism. One shining legacy of Grantland was proving that its audience would read 10,000-word stories on their screens; the so-called long form has been taken up all over the Internet.

Dan Patrick is among the best interviewers in the business, but this session with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was particularly strong.

At the top, Abdul-Jabbar admits that he could have done a better job dealing with the media during his playing days.

Later, he discusses who was the better player, him or Michael Jordan? All in all, a good listen.