The former Sports Illustrated columnist is the latest to defect to ESPN The Magazine. In his Market Watch media column, Jon Friedman express concern that Reilly will fall victim to the ESPN mindset and become a “yeller.”
My worry is that ESPN will gradually turn Reilly into One of Them, the preeners who loom so conspicuously at ESPN. Sure, ESPN employs many terrific, analytical journalists, too, but it has staked a good deal of its reputation on the yellers….
Despite his aw-shucks posture, I’m concerned that ESPN will nudge its newest star to pump up the volume when he writes his columns and delivers commentary on TV. What makes Reilly so special among sportswriters is his sense of proportion. He has mastered the great storytelling gift of writing about superstars as if they were his next-door neighbors and about ordinary folks as if they were celebrities.
So far, So good. Reilly’s first column was a touching piece about his often tempestuous relationship with his alcoholic father and the “bond” of golf (which doesn’t seem to be currently available on-line).
Stay tuned.
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