Rick Reilly: On John Elway presenting him for Hall of Fame; why he is giving up sportswriting–for now

It started with Rick Reilly winning a sportswriting contest as a kid growing up in Colorado. Consider it an early scouting report.

It will culminate with Reilly being inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame Monday in Salisbury, N.C. He will be presented by no less than John Elway. Apparently, Babe Ruth wasn’t available.

In between, Reilly wrote countless stories and columns that showcased his immense talents. Many of them from ESPN are featured in his new book, Tiger Meet My Sister…And Other Things I Shouldn’t Have Said.

Reilly writes his obituary in the first chapter. It shows his decision to give up sportswriting has been in the works for a while.

It is hard to argue with his plan to spend part of the year living in Italy. I’m sure he has a regular tee time with Costantino Rocca.

However, much like other greats he covered who retired early (Michael Jordan, etc…) only to come back, I think he will eventually feel the pull to start pounding the keyboard again.

Regardless, it is has been a helluva run. On the eve of his induction, I did an email Q/A with Reilly.

John Elway is going to be your presenter?

There’s something wrong with a world in which they can hold a Hall of Fame ceremony where I go in and John Elway doesn’t.

How do you feel about being a Hall of Famer? Are you in any other Hall of Fames?

I don’t think so. I’m so pumped about going into this one because it contains most of my heroes — Damon Runyon, Jim Murray, Red Smith, people like that. I never EVER imagined when I started out that I’d be on any list with those names on it. I never dreamed that big. It’s either an incredible honor or they are completely out of people to induct.

Why the obituary to open the book? It seemed like an obit of your writing career. Did you know when you wrote it you were going to sign off as a regular columnist?

Yes, I knew this would be my last sports collection, sort of the death of my sportswriting career, so why not write an obit for it? Besides, why leave it up to some dandruffed obit writer who’s got a bottle of Smirnoff under the desk and just had a fight with his wife? It was great fun to take stock of what I’ve done so far and what I haven’t. After I was done with it, I decided if I catch a skulled drive in the head right now and check out, it’s been hellaciously fun and rewarding.

Why are you giving up writing a regular column now?

Because I can finally afford to? At least for six months a year. I’m going to keep doing the Monday Night Countdown features and a few SportsCenter features during the NFL season and then, for the other six months, we’re going to live in Italy. I’m ready to read instead of write for awhile, listen instead of talk. Play piano, bathe in Italian wine, and catch up on my thumb twiddling. I’m going to do a whole lot of nothing. And on weekends, I’m not even going to do that.

Rick Telander used to say there’s only seven sports columns in the world. I think I’ve written all seven 11,000 times each. Do you realize I’ve published more than 2 million words? And every one of them has been about sports. I’m like a dog who’s never been out of the yard. I want to try writing film, travel, politics, music and, I don’t know, really strong Haiku. I’ll probably fall flat on my face but at least it will be a new challenge.

I always dreamed of retiring early. I never wanted to be one of these old sportswriters that was still hacking out columns at 90 and then died over their Olivettis. Dave Barry and I are friends and he’s been my role model in this. He quit his column when he was at the very top of the humor writing business and everybody thought he was crazy. And yet, now, he’s happier than ever and has written a hit book series — Peter and the Starcatchers — and done 100 other cool things. I know there’s actual life out there beyond groin pulls.

(Below: ESPN Front Row interview)

You got very personal in the book and even included the column about your father-in-law and the Redskins. Why did you go that route?

Don’t see how I can ask athletes to be transparent for my columns if I can’t ask that of myself.

What were your favorite columns in the book?

The one on my dad, the one on Chy Johnson, the one on the prison football team who were shocked to find that half their opponents’ fans (and cheerleaders) were rooting for THEM, the one where I spent two days trying to make a hole in one and finally succeeded on shot #694.

Looking back, how do you view your move to ESPN? 

I love trying new stuff and ESPN was like going back to college for me. I learned the TV industry, digital writing, found out what it was like to have my own traveling circus (Homecoming), learned (the hard way) to walk the tightrope of live TV, learned how to write for TV and found a younger audience for my columns. I met so many cool, smart people at ESPN. It’s an eye-opening experience to be inside what may be the most successful media company in history.

What other projects do you have in the works elsewhere?

Working on three movies and a book and some really good grocery lists.

Have you talked to John Skipper about opening an ESPN bureau in Italy?

Pardon the Antipasti?

Anything else?

Are you hiring?

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Reilly also did a Q/A with Chris Strauss of USA Today.

 

 

 

NBA TV documentary: 1984 draft, greatest of all-time; Hakeem, Jordan, Barkley, and Bowie (Sorry, Portland)

Promising documentary on tap for tonight.

Here’s the rundown from NBA TV:

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Three decades later, the 1984 NBA Draft class still stands as arguably the finest in league history.  NBA TV Originals’ latest film, “THE84DRAFT” — set to premiere Monday, June 9, at 9 p.m. ET — will reflect on the historic ’84 class, spotlighting the iconic players it produced and their lasting legacy, along with some of the unique stories associated with the other players whose names were called by David Stern, who as the newly-appointed NBA Commissioner was overseeing his first draft.

Hosted by Lakers star point guard Steve Nash, “THE84DRAFT” will examine how the 1984 NBA Draft ushered in four of the ‘50 Greatest Players in NBA History.’ The eight-time NBA All-Star and member of his own historic 1996 draft class will provide his insights into players he both looked up to and faced early in his career, beginning with the class’ first overall selection Hakeem Olajuwon.  Two picks later, Chicago tabbed a high-flying, dynamic guard Michael Jordan, who would later transcend the game and lead the Bulls and the league to new heights.  Two additional legends — Charles Barkley and John Stockton — would also be selected in the first round.

The film will include interviews with several of those closely associated with the draft while offering perspective on the class’ unique footprint on the game today.  It will also tell the stories of the draftees during their first years of their careers when Jordan began to fly, Barkley first showed signs of his larger than life personality and Stockton emerged to become one of the greatest setup men on the NBA stage.

In a draft that also included All-Stars Alvin Robertson, Otis Thorpe and Kevin Willis, the 1984 class also has the compelling stories of 10th overall pick Leon Wood, who would go on to become a respected referee; and 70th selection Rick Carlisle, who took his on-court experience of winning an NBA title with the Boston Celtics as a player to courtside as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks where he led the team to its first championship. In addition, the class featured its fifth Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Schmidt, who never played in the NBA, but became a star on the international stage, competing in five Olympics for Brazil and becoming one of the top scorers in basketball history. Finally, there was Daniel Trant, the last pick in the draft, whose poignant story resonates well beyond the stat sheet and the sports pages.

Michael Jordan, in 1984:

“To be compared to Doctor J…I’d love to have the career he had.  Hopefully, I can make a name for myself.  I think ‘Michael Jordan’ sounds pretty good to me.”

Longtime Utah Jazz Head Coach Frank Layden, on first hearing about his future Hall of Fame point guard:

“Neil McCarthy, the great coach at Weber State, said to me, ‘Make sure you take a look at a kid named John Stockton at Gonzaga.  He’s the best guard I’ve seen in many years’ – and it went in one ear and right out the other.”

Stockton, on his career aspirations as a senior at Gonzaga:

“I heard there was basketball in Europe and I didn’t really know what that meant…didn’t really know how to get there.  I just thought that was the next logical step if I really wanted to continue playing, which I did.  I certainly had no thought I would ever have a chance to even try out for an NBA team let alone be drafted by one.”

Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle, on his first experience as a Celtics player:

“I ended up going to rookie camp and played well enough to get an invite to veteran camp.  I got the opportunity to get out there and play with all-time greats Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and Dennis Johnson.  At that moment, it was like ‘Wow…can this really be happening?’  Bird took me aside and he said, ‘You know, you’re going to make this team.  Just get ready.’”

“THE84DRAFT” is the latest in the long line of NBA TV Originals’ critically acclaimed films and specials that include the Sports Emmy Award-winner The Doctor, the Emmy-nominated The Dream Team, Mr. Russell’s House, Sir Charles at 50, One-on-One with Ahmad Rashad: Michael Jordan, Searching for Redemption: The Kermit Washington Story, and Wilt 100, as well as the network’s popular Open Court series.

 

T.J. Simers to retire: Takes buyout from Orange County Register

This must be retirement/moving on day. First a post on Rick Reilly giving up sportswriting and now this from T.J. Simers.

Sports journalism just got duller in Los Angeles with the news that Simers is going to retire.

As often happens, it wasn’t his choice. The Orange County Register is going to make cutbacks.

Simers writes:

I’m told VSP stands for Voluntary Separation Package, but it really means retirement after 41 years writing down athletes’ clichés, including translating what Tom Lasorda meant to say free of all obscenities.

I could have waited to see if my name falls on a list of employees to be laid off after the VSP program expires, but then I would lose a chunk of severance pay, and I’m going to need it if I ever want to buy a ticket to attend a game, park and eat something.

Or, I could have gambled that I would be allowed to continue writing a column over the objections of emailers.

More:

I started my career using a typewriter, early on sitting next to the great New York Times columnist Red Smith when Bucky Dent hit a home run for the Yankees to beat the Red Sox in a one-game playoff.

I remember Red typing in “Sports of the Times,’’ then his byline and hitting the keys like some grand pianist while I froze. He was writing poetry, while I was just trying to use words I knew how to spell since there was no such thing as spell-check.

Later I would sit beside Jim Murray, no better bookends than Smith & Murray, and read sentences that Murray had written out loud to my wife.

“I could spend six months trying to write a sentence like that and never come close,’’ I would tell her, and thinking back, she never disagreed.

He concludes:

I think I’ll just take the next couple of weeks to write a few last columns, read some more angry email and get excited about whatever it is that will come next.

I hear the Dodgers have an opening for a PR guy.

Chicago news: WBBM betting heavily that Cubs will win again

My latest Chicago Tribune column is on WBBM-AM 780 being true believers that Theo Epstein can get it done with the Cubs.

You also can access the column via my Twitter feed @Sherman_Report.

From the column:

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Next year actually won’t be the first time WBBM-AM 780 will be airing Cubs games. The station also carried the Cubs from 1929-40, along with several other outlets in town.

Talk about good timing. The Cubs were a powerhouse, winning four National League pennants during that span. Even though they lost each World Series, Rod Zimmerman, senior and Market Manager for CBS Radio Chicago, wouldn’t mind a similar run during WBBM’s upcoming association with the Cubs.

“We would like to air (World Series games),” Zimmerman said. “It would be nice to win a World Series too.”

Yes, Zimmerman showed he definitely is drinking the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer Kool-Aid during a press conference Thursday officially announcing the Cubs’ new seven-year contract with WBBM, beginning with the 2015 season. He and CBS are betting big money that the laborious rebuilding project will deliver big results during the length of the deal.

“We believe in the Cubs’ plan in building from the ground-up,” said Zimmerman, who stopped short of giving a detailed report of the Cubs’ top prospects.

This much is certain: WBBM is getting in on the ground floor–or lower—with the Cubs in terms in fan interest. However, the prospect of being the flagship station is enormous even if they only become a wildcard team. And if the Cubs ever should win the last game of the baseball season (gulp!), Zimmerman will feel as if he purchased Apple at $3 per share.

“The Cubs have a huge relationship with this marketplace,” Zimmerman said. “I lived through those years when they went to the playoffs. There’s a tremendous groundswell of support. If they ever get to the World Series, it will be the biggest story in sports.”

Pat Hughes, who along with Ron Coomer will make the move from WGN-AM 720 to WBBM, agrees the fans will return quickly for a good product.

“Even though some fans are dormant, I don’t think they have quit on the Cubs,” Hughes said. “There’s a lot of pent-up energy. They will return in huge numbers when we start winning again.”

Payne Stewart: New documentary examines colorful life that ended too soon

The U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst next week. The course always will be remembered for its first Open: Payne Stewart’s memorable victory in 1999.

A few months later, Stewart would be gone in a plane crash. Golf still is feeling the effects of that tragedy.

Stewart’s colorful life will be recalled in a new documentary, Payne. It airs Sunday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Monday at 10 p.m. ET on the Golf Channel.

The powerful and emotional film starts with his wife Tracey going through a box of Stewart’s items that were recovered from the wreckage. It is an intense scene.

The official release from the Golf Channel:

ORLANDO, Fla., May 5, 2014 – Commemorating the life of one of the game’s legendary figures – Payne Stewart – NBC and Golf Channel will present a one-hour film, Payne, as the U.S. Open returns to Pinehurst on the 15-year anniversary of Stewart’s victory. Delving into his enduring legacy, Payne will showcase Stewart’s journey into becoming not only one of the game’s most-beloved players on the golf course, but also a dedicated family man, entertainer, jokester and golf fashion icon with his signature plus-fours and tam-o’-shanter caps. Payne will premiere Sunday, June 8 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC and Monday, June 9 at 10 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, leading into the week of the 2014 U.S. Open Championship.

“Payne Stewart is one of the most-memorable figures in our sport and we are honored to work with his family and friends to showcase the mark he left on the game,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer of Golf Channel. “We are fortunate to be part of a game that is rich with compelling stories and personalities. And Stewart represented so much more than a golfer in eye-catching clothes, but a man that inspired others to live life to the fullest.”

Payne is produced and directed by 15-time Emmy Award winner Peter Franchella, who was a cameraman for NBC Sports’ coverage of the 1999 U.S. Open and followed the final pairing of Stewart and Phil Mickelson.  Co-producing and editing Payne is two-time Emmy Award winner Matt O’Connor.  Payne is written by 11-time Emmy Award and Peabody Award winner Al Szymanski, whose body of work has earned him Emmy Award wins for Outstanding Documentary and Outstanding Edited Sports Series/Anthology.  Frederick “Fritz” Mitchell, a recipient of seven Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards, also is contributing to the project.

In 1999, Stewart experienced great success with winning the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and being a part of the U.S. team’s dramatic come-from-behind Ryder Cup victory in Brookline, Mass. But all of that came to a tragic end with a plane accident that took his life in October 1999. Payne will feature interviews with Stewart’s family, friends and fellow competitors to capture the spirit Stewart exuded.

Payne will be the second project produced as part of Golf Channel Films. The first project was the critically acclaimed Arnie, a three-night Golf Channel event chronicling the life and legacy of Arnold Palmer. The film was the most-watched original production in network history and reached more than 1.9 million viewers across its premiere week in April. Arnie was produced under the direction of the 36-time Emmy Award winning team of producer Israel DeHerrera, writer Aaron Cohen and associate producer Mason Seay.

Will Jeff Van Gundy coach again? Not if Mike Breen has anything to do with it

My latest piece for Awful Announcing is on Jeff Van Gundy, one of the best TV analysts in sports. But will he stay there?

An excerpt:

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Mike Breen won’t allow it. If Jeff Van Gundy ever is on the verge of jumping back as a NBA coach, his ESPN/ABC partner knows exactly what he will do: Sabotage.

“If I ever hear he’s offered a job, I’m going to call the GM and say, ‘Do you know about his gambling addiction?’ Breen said. “I’m going to tell the GM, ‘He’s got some dark secrets. You really don’t want to hire this guy.’”

Obviously, Breen is joking about Van Gundy’s private side. However, it speaks volumes on how much he and ESPN/ABC value his abilities on the public side.

Van Gundy’s talents will be on full display during ABC’s coverage of the NBA Finals, which begins Thursday. Initially a work-in-progress when he first joined ESPN/ABC in 2007, he now has emerged as one of the best TV sports analysts in the business. And that’s in any sport.

Not only is Van Gundy candid with his unique analysis, but he also has a quirky personality that leads to many unpredictable moments during the broadcast. Breen has learned by experience to be ready for anything.

“He has a broad spectrum,” Breen said. “He’s a big reader of US Magazine. He likes the gossip columns almost as much as the sports columns. When there’s a pause, and he says, ‘You know I want to say something…’ I’m like, ‘OK, what’s coming out of his mouth now.’ His unpredictability is what makes him so much fun.”

Tim Corrigan, the lead producer for the telecasts, agrees. He says being genuine might be Van Gundy’s biggest strength.

“With Jeff, off the air compared to on the air, there’s not a huge swing,” Corrigan said. “I don’t think there ever has been a broadcaster who could have less of an ego. I can’t tell you how easy it is to work with him.”

Are Blackhawks fans also hockey fans? Stanley Cup Final will provide some answers about growth of hockey

Even though the Blackhawks lost, Chicago will be a good case study to gauge the growth of hockey as a TV sport during the Stanley Cup Final.

As I have written previously, Chicago was off the charts in ratings for Blackhawks games. More than 800,000 homes were tuned into their Game 7 loss to Los Angeles Sunday. The town accounted for more than 30 percent of NBCSN’s overall national rating.

The Blackhawks definitely have captured Chicago. But has hockey done the same?

Obviously, the numbers won’t be anywhere near the same, but has Blackhawks fever created more hockey fans who will tune in to watch other teams play in the Stanley Cup Final?

It’s only one game, but Chicago did a 3.8 rating for the opener, placing 12th among major markets. That’s actually a pretty good number, considering Chicago usually ranks much lower for telecasts of out-of-market games in all sports.

So perhaps some of those Blackhawks fans are becoming hockey fans.

Nationally, the game did a 3.8 overnight rating on NBC. It was the second best ever for a Game 1, trailing, as expected, last year’s Chicago-Boston series, which did a 4.8 for the opener.

Prior to Wednesday, I asked NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood about whether Chicago viewers would tune for the Final?

Flood said:

“I think we’re seeing much more out of market viewing for hockey over the last few years. And a lot of it has to do with getting out of the tribal notion that hockey fans are just siloed to their team.

“I think the creation of wins in that rivalry is one of the things that allowed people to realize you can watch hockey if your team’s not playing and there’s some stuff on the ice that you want to see that’s pretty special.

“And Boston consumed the last round at a very high level and they were knocked in round two, so it’s good to see that the hockey fan can watch more than just their home team.”

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I also posed that question to NBC analyst Ed Olczyk, a Chicago native who works local TV for the Blackhawks.

Olczyk said:

“I think that what is taking place there and with the impact that the Blackhawks have had in the youth hockey community and, you know, I’m just not talking about, you know, young hockey players. I’m talking about, you know, there are guys that skated 11:00, 12:00 at night, guys that get up at 5:00 in the morning and play hockey before they go to work.

“I think that you do get a trickledown effect of some diehards that will watch hockey because they are passionate about the game. And I think also, too, as a fan, you see how the team that you just – that just knocked out your team, how they’re going to fair in the Stanley Cup Final and see how they match up against the, you know, the best from the East, as far as the Rangers winning the Eastern Conference.”

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Personally, when I got home last night, I tuned in for the third period and overtime. A few years ago, as in pre-Blackhawks getting good, I might not have done that.

I have become more of a hockey fan, not just a Blackhawks fan. The NHL hopes there are more out there like me.

 

 

 

An uncommon man: Mike Emrick sending letters to people who have impacted his life

Hockey fans know from listening to him that not only is Mike Emrick a terrific play-by-play voice, but he also is an uncommon man with a deep perspective on life.

Yet people who know him best even were struck by what Emrick said during his acceptance speech for winning best play-by-play at the Sports Emmys in May.

“Only Doc,” said an associate.

I talked more to Emrick about it and did a story for USA Today. Here is an excerpt:

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The Stanley Cup playoffs are the busiest time of year for Mike Emrick. Yet he added something to his routine this spring that has nothing to do with hockey.

NBC’s lead NHL play-by-play man is writing a letter every day to a person who had an impact on his life. The recipients of the daily notes range from longtime producers and analysts to long-ago high school classmates, neighbors and people from his early jobs in the business.

“There’s so much that people did for you along the way that they probably thought was nothing at all,” Emrick said. “I wanted to tell them what it meant to me. It seemed like something that needed to be done.”

Emrick plans to continue his letter writing during the Stanley Cup Final. However, the death of his father-in-law will force him to miss Game 1 of the New York Rangers-Los Angeles Kings series on Wednesday night. He will return for Saturday’s Game 2 on NBC.

Emrick, 67, stresses the thank-you notes aren’t a veiled signal that he is in declining health. In fact, he starts most letters by saying, “For no particular reason …”

“I don’t want people getting the wrong idea,” Emrick said.

Emrick said the inspiration came in part from his brother, Dan. His parents were both school teachers, and in the later years of their lives, Dan arranged for their former students to send them letters that Emrick says “showed they made a difference.”

“As you get older, you realize you see people leave, and you didn’t get a chance to talk to them before they left,” Emrick said.