As Brent Musburger would say, “You are looking live…”
Welcome to the debut of ShermanReport.com.
I did consider naming this site in the honor of Jack Craig. He was the legendary Boston Globe columnist who launched the first sports media column in the 1970s. I read him in the Sporting News. He made me, and countless others, think, “Wow, you really can make money watching TV.”
Thanks to Craig’s inspiration, I went on to become the sports media columnist for 12 years at the Chicago Tribune. It definitely was a favorite beat during my 27-year run at the Tower.
Sports media truly has been a life-long passion. I learned how to read from the box scores. I also was inspired by my father, Jerry (pictured here with my boys Sam and Matt in a 2005 photo), a great sports fan who never went a day without reading the sports section.
While considering the next move in my post-Tribune career at the end of 2011, I started to think about sports media. Frankly, I was influenced by seeing a Sports Illustrated cover, heralding a 20-page review of the year in sports media. Interesting.
One thing led to another, and here I am on the first day of ShermanReport.com. Sorry, Mr. Craig, but I was convinced to use my own name for branding purposes, as they say.
I’ve always been a student of all things sports media. It’s a fascinating industry that has so many different spinning wheels. It is ever changing, even in the two seconds it took you to read this sentence.
Unlike athletes, you’re doing interviews with personalities who want to talk to you–at least most of the time.
As for how this site will work, I plan on covering all the latest developments and trends in sports media. The site will have regular Q&A interviews with the top personalities in the business and with the key executives who call the shots. I also will have analysis of breaking stories and offer reviews and critiques of sports programming.
In addition, ShermanReport.com will follow what’s being written about sports media. Much like JimRomenesko.com, who runs a highly successful site on journalism, I will highlight and run excerpts from important stories about the industry.
The site also will have regular features, such as a spotlight on the latest sports books and vintage videos and stories.
I think there are several good sports media sites out there. They do a solid job of tracking this complex business.
I’m just looking to add my voice to the discussion. I hope you will join me and contribute a comment or two along the way.
And thanks Jack Craig, from all of us.
Cheers.
Congrats and good luck, Ed!!!
Looking forward to check-in with you, again, on a regular basis!
Looking forward to reading! Love sports media and glad a Chicago guy is stepping up to the challenge of reporting it.
Wish you much success.