How is this guy employed?

[kegray1]

I have to say that I have seen and heard a ton of announcers and reporters are down right awful, but none of them can top Rick Reilly.

He blows every big name athlete and makes fun of everyone who doesn't come up big.

He rips all the golfers on ESPN for the play out there on Sunday.
Reilly could not break 110 if he played with a gun to his head the entire round.

He is just about the only guy where I will change the channel instead of wait him out.
ESPN needs some new quality hires. Most thing they are comedians. I blame Berman for starting that.

 

[joz]

Riley shoulda never made the move to espn from SI. Does anyone even read his articles in ESPN the Magazine, or actually read the magazine? He's so out of his comfort zone doing these bad voice overs on tv.:0002 :0002

 

[dawgball]

Was he on the Open telecast? I didn't notice.

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

I think he is full of shit, but he doesn't bother me. I know he is trying to get your attention with stupid shit, so I try to ignore him.

 

[bleedingpurple]

Riley shoulda never made the move to espn from SI. Does anyone even read his articles in ESPN the Magazine, or actually read the magazine? He's so out of his comfort zone doing these bad voice overs on tv.:0002 :0002

ESPN the magazine is a fucking joke. Nothing special or intresting about it.

 

[Cie]

His articles on the last page of SI were always a good read.

 

[dawgball]

His articles on the last page of SI were always a good read.

Yep. And his Who's Your Caddy book is classic!

 

[Blackman]

His articles on the last page of SI were always a good read.

He and Kornheiser are in the same exact boat. Brilliant writers...terrible on television. I would imagine it's a completely different skill set, but I guess the execs at ESPN see a crossover that is not there.

Give Reilly a week to write a topic column and he's excellent...give him a few seconds to come up with something to say on a telecast...he's got no chance.

 

[safrank99]

Riley shoulda never made the move to espn from SI. Does anyone even read his articles in ESPN the Magazine, or actually read the magazine? He's so out of his comfort zone doing these bad voice overs on tv.:0002 :0002

I can tell you a few reasons why he left but I agree I always enjoyed his SI stuff:

5 years $17 million. Double SI salary

Wanted to be on screen and I have seen him a few times as a host of Sportscenter, he created the Homecoming series which has been pretty cool

Also he's not writing for the magazine anymore just like Simmons his features are only going to be on ESPN.com

I think he did it because he wanted to take a chance. His kids are grown up and Colorado can be a boring place to be. ESPN ponied up and now you are going to see him do a lot of stuff during the ABC/ESPN telecasts and that unfortunately means not a lot of happy people.

I personally don't like the guy but I always enjoyed the backpage stuff for SI. Money talks apparently and he has a huge readership but I'm not sure how many of them followed him.

 

[Trampled Underfoot]

He and Kornheiser are in the same exact boat. Brilliant writers...terrible on television. I would imagine it's a completely different skill set, but I guess the execs at ESPN see a crossover that is not there.

Give Reilly a week to write a topic column and he's excellent...give him a few seconds to come up with something to say on a telecast...he's got no chance.

Kornheiser is big on Uranus.

 

[hawkeye]

saFrank99--Colorado can be a boring place to live and you live in Indiana??

 

[kegray1]

Was he on the Open telecast? I didn't notice.

Reilly did the ESPN side of things and did a lame piece on Sunday night about how piss poor the golf was on Sunday. I do agree that he is a good writer, but on tv he comes off as something totally different.

 

[safrank99]

saFrank99--Colorado can be a boring place to live and you live in Indiana??

I live 35 minutes from Chicago and there are about 50 amazing golf courses within 45 minutes from me in any direction. Make the money in Illinois and live for cheap in Indiana All the smart rich people do it here.

 

[hawkeye]

Got it-- but believe me Colorado is no boring place to live.. As a kid we lived in East Chicago, Ind. for a while. My dad worked for Inland Steel--are they still around? Loved the pizza when we went to Calument City?

 

[safrank99]

Got it-- but believe me Colorado is no boring place to live.. As a kid we lived in East Chicago, Ind. for a while. My dad worked for Inland Steel--are they still around? Loved the pizza when we went to Calument City?

I guess what I say was out of context or I should have been more specific. Riley worked from home in Colorado which isn't exactly the sports epicenter so he makes the move to Bristol and immediately there is just a shit ton more going on sportswise. That's all I was saying. Nothing against Colorado at all.

My grandfather worked in the mills for 40+ years but I do believe Inland Steel is gone as most of the steel companies left the area to go across seas or were killed from competitors.

I'm a bit further south but Calumet City isn't that far from Chicago and Calumet City has some great dining including a few amazing pizza and authentic Mexican places.

I feel bad that SI lost a big guy but I think the way sports is moving SI is slowly dying. I don't think they ever adapted to the new age sports landscape and that is what Riley I think wanted even though every time I listen to him I think he's an arrogant jerk but when I read him I love him. I don't get it but I guess that is how I feel about Mariotti here as well. Once these guys get a few cameras on them I think it goes crazy in there head that they have to be on camera all the time. Personally if I had to choose between The Life of Reilly and The Sports Guys World I would take Bill Simmons 100% of the time. Rarely is on TV, has an awesome podcast, writes about whatever he wants, and still makes pretty mad bank plus he is new age and has like 2 million followers on twitter.