FG: About a year ago, Stephen Rodrick wrote an article for Slate in which he argued that television had killed the newspaper sports column. He wrote: “Being a columnist at a major daily paper was every sportswriter’s dream job… Now, a sports column is nothing more than a springboard, a gig that starts you on your way to becoming a multimedia star. As with many things in sports media today, television — and more specifically, ESPN — is to blame.” Do you agree?

GS: I don’t. The fact that Wilbon and Kornheiser and Mitch Albom and Mike Lupica — those are four people I’ll talk specifically about — have opportunities to appear on television, all four still write for their respective newspapers. All four still write interesting columns. All four still provide the readers of those newspapers with their views and good writing.

Now, as the former sports editor, would I have preferred 100 percent of Kornheiser and Wilbon strictly for the [use of] Washington Post? The answer is yes. That was unrealistic. I would rather have both of those guys, for instance, work for the Post than not work for the Post.

And there are a number of sports columnists — for reasons, either newspaper policy or their own — who don’t do television. Like George Vecsey, for instance, one of my favorite columnists for the New York Times. He doesn’t appear on television. His colleague, Bill Rhoden does appear on Sports Reporters. I like them both. If I was in the position of writing a daily sports column, I don’t know if I could do that. First of all, I’m not good on television. Second of all, it would take me too much time.

FG: Getting back to ESPN, in the past you’ve criticized the blurring of reporting and commentary on ESPN. Why do you think that’s an important issue?

GS: On Sports Center, for instance, I think ESPN wants the anchors to be interesting and somewhat controversial. Their reporters who are out on the field pretty much stick to reporting and don’t inject their opinions. I’m talking about, say, Rachel Nichols and Andrea Kremer. I don’t see their opinions coming out in their reporting. But the anchors on many of the shows offer commentary, analysis, as well as the news. It sometimes confuses viewers. I think younger viewers —viewers who are younger than me — accept that easier than I do.

FG: Why do you think that is?

GS: I’m old. I literally watched Edward R. Murrow. I don’t remember Edward R. Murrow ever saying “Boo-yah!” in one of his commentaries or in one of his reports. You know, let’s talk about Joe McCarthy … Boo-yah!

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