Changes at the Sporting News?

I can vouch for everything Ballscribe says. I worked there at the same time, and though I loved working there, it just wasn't cutting-edge enough for me.

The mantra actually was "See a different game," which we paid some hot-shot marketing company to deliver. I was hoping that once we went color and glossy we could take on Sports Illustrated, but the number of ads didn't leap for a long while, and the content never could compete.

It all starts with great writers telling great stories. SI had their stars, and ESPN the Mag then came in with a bunch more.

Great people, though. Many of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure of working with, top to bottom.

 

I could see it as a PEOPLE kind of sports magazine, human interest and all.

 

There were a lot of great people who worked there and were systematically shitcanned by John Rawlings over a certain period of time. I'm not sure what the overhaul accomplished, because the product didn't get better.

 

I think TSN lost its niche once Dick Young passed on. That was about the time it started going away from what worked for it, trying to widen its scope in an industry where narrowing it seems to work better. I went to college with Mike Nahrstedt; hope he comes/came out OK.

 

Everyone is focusing on making it a baseball-only paper in a world where BA seems to have that covered.

Doesn't TSN actually do more with the NFL? Last I saw, they still had real NFL correspondents while their baseball team notes were from mlb.com.

 

Dick Young? Oh, please............Stan Isle was the face of The Sporting News...............

Fast forward to Mike Nahrstedt -- one of the best guys at TSN, as trustworthy and genuine as they come............

 

Agreed on Mike N. Quiet, kind, extremely competent, truly nice human being.
I had almost forgotten about him, because I didn't work with him often.

 

if that is so why is rawlings still running it?

 

They definitely need to do something different, to stand out.
I get 4 magazines - SI, Sporting News, ESPN the Mag, and Rolling Stone.
I'm perpetually behind in my magazine-reading, but I like to read every one, to make sure i don't miss out on an interesting story.
Last night, I looked at my stack. I had six Rolling Stones, seven ESPN the Mags, one Sports Illustrated - and 28 Sporting News.
And I don't think I've missed anything, given recent past experiences.
I've been a subscriber since 1993, but I think it's about time to end that charade unless things change, and change quickly.

 

If you canceled Rolling Stone, then Sporting News, I guarantee you won't miss out on any interesting stories.

 

my dentist's office cancelled its sporting news.

 

i assume my long-time bud, dan pompei, is still their nfl guy, right? i have to assume 'cause it's been ages since i've seen a "sporting news." sad but true. "tsn" hasn't been relevant or cutting age in years. once, it ruled the world for sports geeks such as myself.