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The Intimidator’s Lessons
SportsCenter (various editions)
Dale Earnhardt and Ned Yost
Credit: Kansas City Royals
Every time he suits up, Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost wears a tribute on his uniform to a fallen friend: the number “3” of seven-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Dale Earnhardt. ESPN’s Marty Smith reports that with Yost’s Royals in the World Series, he remembers the lessons learned from the late racing star, a close friend and hunting buddy, who had Yost serve as a member of his pit crew during the strike-shortened 1994 MLB season.
“Bobby Cox taught me how to interact with people and how to treat people and how to manage baseball games. Teddy Simmons taught me the game. And Dale Earnhardt taught me how to compete.” – Ned Yost
“Ned said he thought he knew what a competitor was, but what he saw happen with Dale Earnhardt down the stretch as Earnhardt’s about to win his seventh championship taught him about what being a competitor really meant.” – Dr. Jerry Punch, ESPN pit reporter
Wednesday’s release of the of an independent investigation conducted by former federal prosecutor Kenneth Wainstein into past academic irregularities at the University of North Carolina was discussed at length on yesterday’s Outside the Lines.
The discussion was led by OTL’s Bob Ley and included ESPN’s Seth Greenberg, David Ridpath and Mary Willingham, the so-called whistleblower in the years-long story. It was one in a series of ESPN’s continuing coverage of the academic scandal, which has included, among other pieces, the reporting and analysis listed here:
June, 2014 – Reporter Steve Delsohn interviews Rashad McCants.
March, 2014 – Mary Willingham and former football player Deunta Williams.
January, 2014 – Bob Ley speaks with Mary Willingham.
August, 2012 – Academic scandal show NCAA hypocrisy.
Kobe
ESPN The Magazine (currently on newsstands)
ESPN.com
As Kobe embarks on his 19th NBA season in Los Angeles, he is arguably the greatest player in the history of the Lakers’ franchise. He is also, according to some, destroying it from within. Henry Abbott reports.
Echoes of the ’85 K.C. Royals
ESPN.com
Twenty-nine years since K.C.’s last World Series leads to 29 ways these Royals are like those ’85 Royals. Steve Wulf reports.
ESPN Audio’s: Capital Games
ESPN Radio
Capital Games with Andy Katz and ABC News’ Rick Klein — an ESPN Perspectives podcast that examines the crossroads of sports and politics — welcomes Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to discuss sports’ collision with politics, and why it is acceptable for sports stars to stand up and support political figures.
Ben Bradlee
The world of journalism mourned this week’s passing of the Washington Post’s Ben Bradlee. Tributes and memories have flooded in from all corners.
ESPN journalists have diverse connections to Bradlee, but two of the most direct lie with Executive Vice President and Executive Editor John A. Walsh and ESPN Event News Editor Sandy Rosenbush, who both worked for Bradlee at the Post. Here, both offer their thoughts on the passing of Bradlee.
Walsh
“There has never been a more commanding presence in the media business than Ben Bradlee — once he was in the room, you knew who was in charge, and if he came by your desk, you were elated for the rest of the day – maybe the rest of the week,” said Walsh, who worked with Bradlee as Assignment Editor in the Style section of the Post in the late 1970’s. “Ben could use the salty language of a sailor, or the elegant verbiage of a diplomat. He always knew to whom he was speaking, and always spoke to his audience — he always made you feel like he was talking to you. I’ve never seen a guy — such a large person in stature who had so much to do — who did his job with such ease and elegance.”
Rosenbush
“When sports editor George Solomon brought me in to interview at the Washington Post for a job as a copy desk editor, he said to be prepared to meet everyone — who knew that was going to include Ben Bradlee!” said Rosenbush, who worked at the Post from 1980-90. “He took a look at my resume, looked across the desk at me, and said in that great gravely, and loud, voice, ‘G-D, how can we be offering you a job if you aren’t even 25 years old!’ But it went well from there and I still consider the Washington Post home. I grew up there and learned so much by watching and getting a chance to ask questions at times of Ben, Howard Simons, Bob Woodward, Don Graham and George.”