Michael Wilbon's Health Break & Sports Media Legacy

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Gametime Decisions

Wilbon’s Health Break Prompts a Look at His Influence and the Decline of Newspaper Columnists

Wilbon’s decision to step away for health reasons sparked a discussion about his career and influence on sports media. He has said he is not retiring and simply needs to get healthy, but the possibility of his departure prompted reflection on what he and Tony Kornheiser created with their two-person show.

Their fast-paced format featured concise debates on different topics and became appointment viewing for many fans. The show helped revolutionize the sports talk format long before platforms such as TikTok and Instagram emerged. Wilbon was described as one of the best journalists in the industry.

The conversation then turned to Wilbon’s comments about the traditional distinction between reporters and columnists. Reporters once focused on gathering information from coaches, players and ownership while removing their own opinions from the story. Columnists generally earned their positions after working as reporters and developing the experience needed to offer informed opinions.

Those roles have become increasingly blurred. Many people now share opinions online, while national correspondents often combine reporting with analysis and commentary. The Schefters and Shams of the world were cited as examples of figures who may appear to be a mixture of reporters and columnists. Jeff Passon was also mentioned as someone willing to write either a column or an article.

The decline of newspapers has also reduced the number of traditional columnists. Budget cuts have made it difficult to support highly paid writers producing one or two stories per week. In South Florida, Dave Hyde was let go after writing for the South Florida Sun Sentinel for almost 40 years, while Greg Cody was let go after 50 years at the Miami Herald. Both had served as columnists for the area’s primary newspapers.

Although some local papers still employ columnists, many are moving away from the role. The broader newspaper industry has been in steep decline for a long time, leaving a sports media landscape in which the line between reporting and opinion is no longer as clear as it once was.