The Athletic keeps growing .......

It is clear to me that the primary purpose of the ESPN website is to promote the Smith and Kornhesier/Wilbon television shows. I think that all the layoffs of good reporters (John Clayton, et. al) and the focus on a few prominent television personalities such as Schefter and Woj (who are great reporters) demonstrate that ESPN does not think the show that solid beat reporting is particularly profitable.

That is not to say there are not excellent reporters at ESPN. But their number has dwindled.

 

And none of them cover college sports

 

Fredrick is confused. Why would the suits want to purchase a magazine that no longer makes money? This seems like it rings hollow. Something doesn’t smell right. Maybe the suits forgot to dry clean their suits.

 

Did you forget to switch between your accounts?

 

I'm really starting to think Frederick and Sports Barf are the same person lol

 

OK, I’ll bite. Why is it so clear the primary reason ESPN.com exists is to promote two TV shows?

 

I forgot to add the morning show. But if you go through the front page of their website they will almost always prominently display clips of Smith. Kornheiser /Wilbon and someone mention the morning show. Are the hot takes of their show hosts the most important sports stories of the day?

At the same time they have never replaced Reilly and Simmons as general interest columnists and reduced their reporting staff.

 

It seems like The Athletic has devoted countless people in each market and nationally for what feels like hundreds of All-Decade stories -- all-decade teams for each franchise, top game of the decade, top moments, etc. That is a heavy, heavy load and requires a lot of coordination. Interesting idea, but it also feels like something a newspaper editor came up with. Thoughts?

 

Here's a brutal lead by a lightly experienced beat writer on the Carolina Hurricanes. It's like she didn't even try to write a lead; she just transcribed.

NEW YORK — “I’m going to just start because I know the questions are coming here and talking about the incident with Bill,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said as he addressed the media at Madison Square Garden after Wednesday’s morning skate. “It for sure happened, the two issues in question.”

Brind’Amour was referencing an allegation from former Hurricanes defenseman Michal Jordan that former Hurricanes coach and current Flames coach Bill Peters kicked Jordan and punched an unnamed player in the head during a game.

 

Not to mention, where's the editor?

 

I don't believe The Athletic has midlevel or copy editors. I've repeatedly seen stories that needed assistance. I enjoy the variety and longer stories, but some are like the writer just vomited everything from the notebook and elsewhere into the story. At some point on some of them I just give up.