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Former Athletic Writer Who Was ‘Whacked’ Torches Company

Also in Traina Thoughts: New ‘SI Media With Jimmy Traina’ podcast; Bryce Harper has bizarre at bat; NFL Immaculate Grid is here; and more.

Jimmy Traina

1. Bob Kravitz has been a sports columnist for nearly 40 years. Most known for his work at the Indianapolis Star, the award-winning Kravitz has also written for the Rocky Mountain News, Sports Illustrated (our paths never crossed) and The Athletic.

Kravitz, as he put it, “got whacked by The Athletic in early June” when the company parted ways with 20 writers.

That line comes from Kravitz’s first column on his new Substack page.

In the piece, the 63-year-old unloads on The Athletic and pulls back the curtain on a former employer in a way we rarely see, thanks to that whole bridge-burning thing.

In addition to saying “not that it was a great job,” Kravitz also reveals that he “never felt wanted there; I felt barely tolerated.”

I don't want to give much more away because you need to read the column for yourself, especially if you’re someone who has been laid off. You will absolutely relate to so much of what Kravitz has to say about what losing a job does to you and the feelings you go through during that period.

I will give you one story about The Athletic Kravitz shared that is just beyond stunning.

I wasn’t happy that they put me on probation just a few months after a quadruple bypass in 2020. (And during the pandemic, no less). I guess my numbers weren’t what they wanted, but hell, I was recovering from a life-changing medical event. You would think that might have some impact on their thinking, but no. I had to produce 395 subscriptions in three months – or else. That’s absurd, unfair and outrageous, especially given my health situation. Well, I survived, producing more than 400 subs by working myself half to death, a great idea after open-heart surgery. But that soured me on the place forever. I felt it in my bones: They don’t give a f--- about me as a human being.

I'm just completely dumbfounded that Kravitz was required to land 395 subscribers in a three-month span. And I'm completely blown away that he was able to pull it off.

2. A brand-new SI Media With Jimmy Traina came out Thursdsay, and it features an interview with the man behind Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio.

Topics covered include the Jets’ over-the-top reluctance to appear on HBO's Hard Knocks this season, whether Bill Belichick is actually on the hot seat in New England this season, whether the NFL will ever allow fans to purchase games for just a single team, the latest controversy with running backs being devalued and not getting mega-contracts and much more.

Following Florio, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week we discuss our night out at a steakhouse, the Miranda Lambert/selfie scandal, whether we should keep reading Apple Reviews on the podcast, my bad back, Sal’s reluctance to get a colonoscopy and more.

You can listen to the podcast below or download it on Apple, Spotify and Google.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on YouTube.

3. I love this story. Draymond Green, who loves to mix it up on Twitter for some reason, ripped Kevin Garnett over a “quote” from Garnett.

The quote, though, was fake and came from the @NBACentel account, which tries to fool people into thinking it’s the legit @NBACentral account.

So good to see Elon get hit with a stray here from K.G.

4. I'm not sure what the strategy was here, but this was some at bat by Bryce Harper on Wednesday night.

5. Immaculate Grid has become a huge hit with baseball fans. If you are not familiar with the game, check out this piece from my colleague Stephanie Apstein. 

Now NFL fans can get in on the Immaculate Grid action, because ImmacualteGrid.com/football is here.

6. NBC has a Big 10 Saturday night package this season, and the network just announced the cast for its studio show. Maria Taylor will host and be joined by cohost Ahmed Fareed and analysts Matt Cassel, Joshua Perry and Michael Robinson on B1G College Countdown.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: Shohei Ohtani got MLB fans excited earlier this week with a bat flip after homering against the Yankees. It was a good bat flip, but nothing compared to this one by Rickey Henderson. Not only did Rickey flip the bat while still in his swing, but he almost went into the visiting team’s dugout during this home run trot. Just awesome.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

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Jimmy Traina
JIMMY TRAINA

Jimmy Traina is a staff writer and podcast host for Sports Illustrated. A 20-year veteran in the industry, he’s been covering the sports media landscape for seven years and writes a daily column, Traina Thoughts. Traina has hosted the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast since 2018, a show known for interviews with some of the most important and powerful people in sports media. He also was the creator and writer of SI’s Hot Clicks feature from 2007 to '13.

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