Adam Schefter was shocked when he first heard his friend Adrian Wojnarowski was considering retiring as an NBA reporter for ESPN.
When Wojnarowski announced his decision on Wednesday, however, he was not.
That’s because Schefter is part of a small circle in sports media that knows what the job of being an insider entails.
“For me, you don’t do these jobs. You live these jobs. And Woj had finished living that job. He wanted to live his life,” said Schefter, who has been part of NFL Insider for 21 years, first on NFL Network and since 2009 on ESPN.
Wojnarowski, whose breaking stories on social media had their own nickname, dropped the mother of all Wojbombs when he announced his departure from ESPN for the newly created position of general manager of the St. Louis men’s basketball program. Bonaventure.
At a press conference scheduled for Wednesday at the New York campus, he will discuss the decision to return to his alma mater.
“He’s been in the prime of his career for a long time, we all trusted him,” said Pierre LeBrun, NHL anchor for TSN Canada and senior writer for The Athletic. “I mean, he was an insider with a lot of money in our industry. And, to be able to pack up now and start something completely different is amazing.”
Wojnarowski’s decision to be one of the first important people to go out on his own and try something new is also surprising because some thought it might happen soon.
“It’s hard work. You’re connected to your cell phone,” said Bob Thompson, a retired president of Fox Sports Networks who runs his own consulting group. You won’t be able to rest for fear that someone will send you before you do. And, it’s bound to grind you down.”
Schefter talked to Wojnarowski about the possibility of doing one more NBA season or finishing the remainder of his five-year contract before leaving. But in the end, that’s not what he wanted.
“Knowing him, he’s an incredibly proud, incredibly principled person,” Schefter said. “We’re all in this place where weekends and holidays don’t exist. That’s how it is for many artists, not just this one. But in this age of social media where news is rushed to record speed, it takes its toll on everyone.
“All of us realize the price you pay and the sacrifice it requires. But you rarely see someone say, ‘I’m done with this.’ And that’s what he did now. This was not a vacation, a sabbatical, or a rest. He was the one who said, ‘I’m done with the news.’
When Schefter and Wojnarowski began their careers in journalism, the pinnacle they aspired to was to become a columnist for a sports newspaper. The decline of newspapers, the rise of social media, and the investment of electronic media companies have now made being an insider a highly desirable position.
The role and reputation of the insider changed with the rise of social media. Along the way, the quality of information was replaced by who was the first to tweet the best news.
Recognizing its importance, sports divisions have made significant investments in trying to find top talent. Wojnarowski signed an extension with ESPN through 2022, where he averaged $7 million a year.
“If you’re an insider, the company you work for is very dependent on you. Information spreads instantly. When you have something you’re allowed to share that no one else has every once in a while and you can find platforms, that’s why you make $7-$10 million a year,” said Patrick Crakes, a media consultant. and former Fox Sports executive.
NFL on Fox insider, Jay Glazer, pointed out what effect the job could have. Glazer, who has covered the NFL for 32 years, the last 21 at Fox, recounted instances of being at his child’s football game or being at a restaurant and having a Bluetooth device in his ear as so that he does not miss the call.
“If I don’t have something that nobody else has, I’m going to push myself a lot because I have a responsibility to the guys (on “Fox NFL Sunday”), like my brothers,” he said. That pressure has never eased like that. It’s not visible, you have to work those phones more than anyone else.
Glazer and Ken Rosenthal — an MLB insider on Fox and his main columnist for The Athletic — tried to counter that. Both still generate content but focus on the quality of the information and try to ensure that it lasts longer than a few minutes.
“That momentum gave many of us more exposure and improved careers. Woj was an extreme example of that. But to be the first in the business in one minute, minutes “Two, five minutes is not why I got into the business. It’s not journalism,” Rosenthal said of some kind, but they were not confirmed after a few minutes. … Not having to worry too much about each trade is helpful. I am lucky to work in a place that does not take importance of such ‘mistakes’, I understand that they are of little use.”
Glazer talked about a conversation with his bosses at Fox 10 years ago where they told him to focus on the big things.
“Work has no boundaries. So I think the thing is, for me, I’ve set limits,” he said. “Foxe wasn’t the only one who had it, they encouraged it. Because they cared more about my mental health than anything else. I’m still going to read my house, and people respect me so much it cannot be stolen.”
Whoever replaces Wojnarowski at ESPN will have the pressure to replace a legend. Glazer — who wrote to Wojnarowski after his announcement, saying, “It’s been an honor to watch you put yourself on the Insiders’ Mount Rushmore” — has similar advice for all startups.
Don’t find anything wrong; there is a lot of content for everyone.
“Hold yourself up. I think people want speed now more than accuracy. And that affects him,” he said.
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