Sports Journalist Realignment Out Of Control, Driven By Greed

W.C. Heinz wrote for the New York Sun from 1937 until it ceased to exist in 1950.

Jim Murray personified sportswriting for the L.A. Times between 1961 and 1998.

Shirley Povich wrote for the Washington Post his entire professional career.

Frank Deford has spent almost his entire career writing for Sports Illustrated.

I fear we may see never their kind again.

Today, we live in a world driven by greed and me-first and what-have-you-done-for-me-lately. And never is more evident than in the world of sports journalism.

How many sportswriters have jumped ship for a "better" offer in recent months? I've lost count. And that's criminal.

There was a time when men were men and sportswriters worked at the media company they started with until either of them dropped dead. You did it because that's what you were supposed to do. You did it because that's loyalty.

Somebody offers more money? It's just money. Someone offers you a better spot or more access? Who needs that? Someone gives you a promotion? That's just self-serving.

Things should always be done like they were in the 50's because the 50's were the greatest period in the history of the world because of honor and loyalty and America and Jesus.

And by God, we've lost our way.

There was a time when I could expect to go to ESPN.com and see silly columns written by Pat Forde with pictures of girls young enough to be his daughter strewn throughout. Now I have to go sifting through Yahoo! Sports for that.

Used to be you could turn on ESPN Radio to hate-listen to Doug Gottlieb or turn on ESPN to hate-watch him. Now it's unclear where I can do my hate-listening and hate-watching.

There was a comfort in knowing Erin Andrews was getting a lot of attention for doing a useless job on ESPN for college football. Now she'll be doing that useless job for the NFL? Will that uselessness even translate???

I live in a world where Brett McMurphy breaks stories and ESPN refers to him as "sources." Now you're telling me that ESPN is going to directly reference McMurphy when he breaks now? Up is down and day is night.

Kentucky Wildcats fans and Georgetown Hoyas fans took comfort in knowing that when the New York Times printed a Pete Thamel story, it was laced with misinformation, Syracuse alumni bias and liberal nonsense. Now that Thamel is going to work for Sports Illustrated, it doesn't make sense. Did Rush Limbaugh tell me Sports Illustrated is a liberal rag? Is it now? Will they stop writing about Syracuse now? Probably!

The world is ruined and it's all because these sports journalists threw away years of honor and code and loyalty just so they can accomplish personal goals, take care of their families and do what's best for them.

SHAME. ON. THEM.

Thank God for people like Chris Berman and Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps, who come out week after week, doing the same schtick every single time and never changing or improving or doing anything other than settling into a caricature of their former selves. Because that's what doing the right thing looks like.

Things should remain the same always and you should always be loyal to your employer, regardless of any fact. Everyone knows this. But no, we live in a world of "taking care of yourself" now. It's disgusting and immoral.

Where's the concern for your former employer? You know, the one that could fire you without cause at any moment? What about their feelings? Sure, there will come a time when your loyalty and years of service will be cast aside for financial reasons, but, what does that have to do with anything?

Have fun cashing your bigger paychecks while doing your job in an environment that feels right and safe for you and your families. Jerks.