Deadspin just posted about Rick Reilly being phased out as a writer for ESPN. As much as I have not read him since he switched over to the Mothership, I still feel that comical sports writers are a dying breed. Bill Simmons has picked up his mantle and then some at Grantland, but I will forever remember reading the back page of Sports Illustrated before ever opening the magazine. Some might think this akin to eating dessert before dinner, but I think it actually got me to read more of the actual magazine. It just didn't feel like a chore to read after laughing at his weekly take.
The worst part about this announcement is that he is now going to be relegated to televised human-interest stories before large sporting events. No more writing, which is the only thing he used to be good at. Now his entire shtick is essentially a poor man's David Feherty. Sad day.
UPDATE - Here is Reilly's piece on Greg Norman's collapse at the Masters in 1996. It's perfect.
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