Rushin out at SI

Reliable word from inside TimeInc. is that Steve Rushin's column this week is his last piece for SI.

What are they thinking?

 

Will this end well? Neigh Nay.

 

I know a lot of people like his stuff, but I'm not really a fan. Though it's always sad to see someone lose their gig in this job climate.

 

say what you will about his columns--the guy is one of the best feature writers out there. how do you let a guy like that get away?

 

I thought he was mainly focusing on his column these days.

 

Stupid question, but are they letting him go or is he quitting? From your post, I'm guessing he got peaced out, but I just wanted to clarify.

 

Not a stupid question at all. It's not 100 percent clear, even to SIers.

 

He's in a slightly different place in the job climate than your copy editor at a 30,000 circ. daily though. It's not like he'll be without opportunities if indeed he was let go, and it's not like SI isn't going to fill that spot with someone else. If he left on his own, then obviously it's moot because then he didn't "lose" his job.

I know it's against SportsJournalists.com to like any writer who is considered popular by the idiot readers, but I actually like(d) Rushin a lot. And say what you will about his style it's gotta be damn tough to always weave and tie things in the way he does and constantly be playing with the language.

 

I grew up reading Rushin ... he's always had a very distinct way with words.

 

I will and have said what I will about his columns. They have mined Peter King territory with his shameless drivel about Rebecca Lobo, and the one a few weeks ago telling Tiger Woods what being a dad will be like. He's not a newspaper man who has a couple throwaways here and there as far as topics. He has one column a week, and he has often wasted it on this personal "Look at ME! I'm in LOVE!" stuff.

But as a features guy . . . he is great. SI shouldn't let a guy like that go. And yes, even his columns whose topics I disdain are good reads.

But then, I'm someone who thinks Karl Taro Greenfeld's stuff for SI is so much worshipful hooey, so what do I know?

 

I'm not a huge fan of his work, either, but what he does, he does very well.

He shouldn't have any trouble landing on his feet, thankfully.

Good luck, Steve.