Over the summer I had the opportunity to interview former Sports Illustrated writer, nine-time New York Times bestseller, and the man who wrote “Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s” which was later adapted to HBO via the show “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”.
How long have you been a reporter and where have you worked?
I graduated from The University of Delaware in 1994 and started my first job that summer at The Tennessean, the daily newspaper in Nashville. I was there for about 2 /12 years, then I was hired by Sports Illustrated. I covered the MLB for the magazine, but then I got tired of nonstop sports and left for a job in New York City writing features for Newsday in early 2003. That job was good for a year, then it started to suck. So I left to focus on writing books. I’ve written 10 and am working on an 11th on Tupac. I’ve also had side gigs as a columnist for ESPN, Yahoo, SI (Sports Illustrated, CNN, and The Athletic.
How would you describe your rise to Sports Illustrated?
I got there and started as a fact-checker, but I kept pitching story idea after story idea and they started letting me write. It was a matter of busting my rear and working hard. Then I finally got asked to start covering the Majors, which was dope.
Is there an experience in your career that has changed how you live your life?
Not a singular experience, but more a grander observation. I’m a guy from a tiny, secluded, right-wing town in the middle of nowhere New York. I grew up with 99% White people and 98% Christians. Being a journalist has exposed me to the world—different beliefs, life approaches, and life experiences. It’s invaluable. Not being sheltered has been enormously key.
How did traveling for your job affect your life?
In my 20’s, it kicked ass. Different cities every week, sweet hotels, big budget. Fun fun, fun. I’ve been to 48 states, largely because of Sports Illustrated. But… after a while you start missing your bed, your girlfriend/wife, and your kids. So book writing is better for me at the age of 52. You travel, but not a ton.
What are some of the strangest things you’ve seen in your career?
I’ve seen it all. Truly. Steroid cheats. Athletes going to jail. I’ve had a baseball player deliberately fart in my face. I mean, you name it.
You’ve been a sports consumer for a while, you’ve seen the game change. Do you think some of these changes have been for the best (Pitch Clock, Hip Drop banned, etc)
So I love going to baseball games because of the casualness and laid-back approach. Hence, I’m not a fan of the pitch clock, but I do understand and get why it exists. The change I’m the biggest fan of is the NFL making certain hits illegal. I’ve seen too many retired football players who can barely walk/remember their names. Safety has been ignored for far too long.
I know John Rocker has you blocked on X (formerly Twitter), do any other athletes dislike you and who are others on the other side of that?
Hmm… through the years I’ve certainly had people who didn’t like my approach/reporting. Will Clark, a former MLB star. Deion Sanders and Emmitt Smith seemed annoyed. Roger Clemens, Lenny Dykstra. It happens. However, Shaquille O’Neal has been the nicest to me.
Do you think today’s sports media is worse?
I think the writing is just as good, but social media has taken away nuance and reporting. Everything is immediacy. The idea of a Teenager taking the time to read a 5,000-word LeBron profile seems dead.
Do you think social media has done more harm than good in the world of sports media?
Far more harm. Nuance, depth has been hurt badly. Why report a 5,000-word article when you can have Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless barking?
What do you think is the best way to spread your reporting?
Tik Tok
