George Vecsey to stop writing his column and semi-retire from NYT

Regardless of how you feel about his work, he's a very kind man.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/sports/with-one-more-from-the-heart-a-columnist-steps-away-george-vecsey.html?src=tp&smid=fb-share

 

A classy farewell. I noticed Schreiber and Laura Vescey in the comments section, too.

I'm curious about something. Vescey talks about following in the footsteps of Dave Anderson and Red Smith to write the "Sports of the Times" column. I guess I've never paid attention to this, but is only one Times columnist at a time assigned ownership (for lack of a better word) of the "Sports of the Times" column? I sort of assumed that every column in the Times sports section fell under the "Sports of the Times" banner, but perhaps I'm wrong. Is what Harvey Araton or William C. Rhoden writes not "Sports of the Times"?

 

Harvey and Rhoden both wrote for that space as did a select few others. Not every column in the Times was 'Sports of the Times.'

 

"Sports of the Times" (New York Times)
"In the Wake of the News" (Chicago Tribune)

Archaic crap from days when newspapers mattered. And even then, I can't understand what the distinction was to have Vecsey writing under the SOTT label and Rhoden, Araton or whomever writing columns without it.

Did readers ever give a rat's ass about those headings?

Seems like a whole lot of "Assistant Regional Manager" vs. "Assistant to the Regional Manager" title B.S.

 

Guy's a pro.

Hate to lose another.

 

The man was as affable as could be to a know-nothing bridge-and-tunnel schlemiel on his first national gig, and for that I am grateful.

 

George was (is) a pro's pro. A team player. A great talent. More open-minded and curious than some people half his age.

 

A very kind man, approachable and friendly.

 

When he mentioned Selena Roberts, it made me realize how rarely I ever see her byline in SI.

What the heck do they have her doing over there?

Talk about under-utilized!

 

I think she might be on book leave.

 

I'm a fan. I think he's underrated. Not a shouting type of columnist, more of a storyteller.
But in the face of injustice, he can bring it with the best of them.

An easy-to-read style, elegant in its way.
His wisdom and decency come off the page.

Covered soccer as if he knew it would catch on over here -- as usual, he was right.
Congratulations on a great career.

 

I've read Roberts is on book leave, as well.

The "Sports of the Times" is basically a way of saying "This Is A Big Deal Column," often with a broad approach, as opposed to, say, the "On [Sport]" columns that are sports specific. But there's not a lot of consistency. Rhoden, Vecsey and, when he makes an appearance, Anderson consistently write (until now) with the "Sports of the Times" sig. I don't think Araton has had a "Sports of the Times" sig on his columns for a few years now. Mostly "On [Sport]" or just straight feature stories.