Next week will be Rick Cleveland's last at the Clarion-Ledger. The newspaper is calling it a "retirement" but we all know what it is: a so-called "buy-out" as the paper continues its slide into the abyss of mediocrity, letting go of its talent, losing the respect of the community.
"Retiring" the Cleveland brothers reminds me of the dismantling of the Big Red Machine in the late 1970's when new management took over the Reds: Lets get rid of our top players because we can't think of anything else to do. The sports page is the profit generator for a newspaper. Readers won't look at the editorial page or the fancy business coverage but dammit, even the guys who never went past tenth grade will read the sports page. To the last detail. Gannett thinks it can throw its best talent out the door and do just fine. However, newspapers are not like other businesses. Readers identify with the writer. They appreciate the ones who take the time to learn their subject, crank out a witty turn of phrase as easily as we take a breath, and do it all on deadline. They become part of the community as they are covering us. We relate to them and see them as a part of our lives. I grew up reading Lewis Grizzard columns. Reading Grizzard and other such writers were not chores but became rituals.
When writers such as Mr. Grizzard or Mr. Cleveland move on, they leave a void rarely filled. The bean-counters at Gannett do not understand that concept. They know about ledgers, debits, and credits, but they fail to understand what drives profits and that is readership and what drives readership is not just reporting, but the connection that writer makes with the reader. Lewis had it. Orley Hood had it for decades. Marshall Ramsey defined it in Jackson. Rick Cleveland has it.
The stories he wrote about growing up around USM sports. Stories covered twenty years ago he made relevant today. He didn't write about the rivalries, he felt them. He didn't pull punches. If a coach stunk up the joint, he said so. Boosters, coaches, Athletic Directors- none of them were safe from his commentary. There were no sacred cows on the altar of sportswriting for Rick Cleveland. When the Saints sucked, you knew it. Aaron Brooks laughing on the sidelines while making the ten worst plays list- no mercy. When Orgeron made a bone-headed move, well, that was fuel for Rick's literary fire. However Rick always respected the athletes that paid the price. He remembered that kid booed by the knuckleheads in the stands might have parents sitting next to them, suffering through it all. The time, the passion, the dedication they showed on the field, taking risks few of us ever dare to take in life. Rick's sportswriting always gave one the sense there was a little boy in him still in awe of what he watched on the field of play. He brought Brett Favre to life when he was a 19-year old gunslinger. Told us Steve McNair was someone to watch. Defended Archie when Peyton chose Tennessee. Covered the first game between Jackson State and Southern Miss while realizing why it was important and not just another game of college football.
Sportswriting to Rick Cleveland was not just reporting scores, but telling us what the real story was. Sportswriting is not numbers or stats but covering a struggle, life's crucible placed on a stage for all to see. Winners and losers but there were no losers in his stories. They were people who sacrificed and won even when they came up short. Sports "reporting" now is too often left to talk radio. Yeah, the Jungle, the daily screamfests and bashing that floods the airwaves on an hourly basis, catering to the Ritalin generation. The snappy but short headlines on ESPN. Sportswriting is a craft practiced by few. Who will replace the Rick Clevelands when they leave journalism?
Mr. Cleveland moves on to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. There is something fitting about his sitting in the chair once filled by Michael Rubenstein. Rick brought to paper what Michael brought to the screen. One can see Mike looking down with approval over his replacement. He was not just a part of our lives for over thirty years but became a ritual. He will be missed.
27 comments:
The C-L long ago passed mediocrity. It is more like the abyss of irrelevancy.
At least they finally got rid of David Hampton. Too late though, but I'll be celebrating big time.
This is part of a system-wide shift for Gannett. They offered 636 "retirement packages." But, the kicker is that they announced, in advance, that they were going to reduce the workforce. Then they targeted those over age 55 -- their experienced people. The announced plan is to go "digital." You will be buying a digital subscription that will allow you to get a printed paper, if you choose. They have already announced cutting back news coverage, but adding Food and Wine columns and craap like that. The newsrooms are no longer called newsrooms, but "information centers." Seriously, this is no joke. The joke is Gannett doesn't get it. Rick and Bobby Cleveland just got caught in the cross-hairs. I wish them well!
I am convinced the head honchos at Gannett don't even read newspapers, which explains why they don't have a clue why most people read or don't read a paper.
I shit you not, I let my my subscription run out last week. I received a call Monday from a CL sales person and I thought about it and realized I missed reading Rick's articles (and I love Bobby in the Outdoors section) so I rejoined. Now I'm going to cancel again.
"This is MADNESS!", "THIS IS GANNETT!!!"
If Cleveland is as unfriendly to the Hall of Fame customers as he is to the Clarion Ledger customers, they will go broke. He better learn something about customer service.
12:14: Did somebody pee on your post toasties this morning? I have known both Bobby and Rick for years and they are both gentlemen of the highest order. Rick will do an over and above outstanding job at the Hall of Fame, as he has done at the Glaring Liar.
12:48, if you walked into the Home Depot plumbing aisle and asked where the 2x4's were, would you expect the attendant to say "They are at the other end of the store on aisle 2", or would you expect the attendant to say "Go f**k yourself, that ain't my department".
I once had problems with paper delivery and customer service. I never could get it straight. I said something to Rick Cleveland about it and he basically said, "Go f**k yourself, that ain't my department. I don't give a rat's a$$ if you ever get a paper."
I don't Rick said that.......probably was his evil twin.
Gee, Rick is 59 years old and has over 30 years service working at the JDNs and CL, and has a vested retirement. Some of you people don't get working at one place that long. I do because I did. You are ready to go, and I hate to bust some of your bubbles, but Rick was more than ready to leave there. He considers the offer of an early out and his new opportunity to continue working a few more years as God sent. Rick has forgotten more about MS Sports than most of us know. He will be an asset at his new position. I'm very happy for him.
Love Rick Cleveland and will miss reading his articles in the Clario Ledger. I wish him the very best at his new position. They could not find anyone who knows more about MS sports than Rick. Good hire for them and Rick, too.
When you are 59 and you have more than 30 years service a buyout is usually very welcome especially when you have a new position lined up. This is the case with Rick Cleveland. He's a lucky guy. All his stars lined up nicely. Vested retirement, buyout money, and a new great job.
Three posts pumping Cleveland in 4 minutes. Did you think nobody would notice?
It is the end of an era but I'm glad he's gone. His bias against all things Ole Miss has been palpable for years.
Bias against Ole Miss? Cleveland carried a lake's worth of water for Khayat, Jones and Boone to squash those who had dared to say 'enough'.
Having worked at the Crying Liar for 10 years. I can say with some degree of knowledge that when Bill Hunsburger died so did the last vestages of community service for the paper. Not only that but that was the LAST time the employees were treaded well. Sure Bill could rip you a new one but the reason he did is because he cared.
Mediocrity?? The Clarion has been well below mediocrity for years.
I wish Rick well.
I would love to read his view on Petrino's " Fordice Style " predicament.
Coach Biker Stud Petrino will probably get fired, but LSU should continue to win the "Golden Boot " each year. (A trophy that nobody in LA or AR cares about anyway).
Go Coach P ! That 25 year old is cute.
Makes me wanna scream "Go Hawgs, Soooyeeew"
Oh Yeah, the CL is way worse than just mediocrity.
Rick Cleveland has an anti-Ole Miss?! Now that is a satirical post!
The CL (as has many newspapers)has had the "we don't care what you think" attitude toward its customer base. Now they have run those same customers away and they have no jobs.
Sorry, they made their own spot in the unemployment line. They will not get much sympathy.
There's a world of difference between a print journalist/cartoonist and the same person having a job where he has to deal one on one with the public.
Salter is a large turd when it came to his call in show. He couldn't handle it. It's his opinion or the highway. The height of arrogance, which is fitting for a columnest (see his current Bullshit editorials).
Ramsey is a cartoonist, I'm told. He's not a talk show host. Monotone who tries to be a comedian and fails at it.
You just canNOT make a public personna out of a pig's ass, or something like that.
I can't understand why Davenport keeps Ramsey on the air.
Kim Wade dominates that time slot.
I'm sure Marshall is a big hit at local Girl Scout meetings, and he seems like a nice guy, but he's fluff.
Shadow is right:
Sid was a turd on air. Now that he's back at
the A & M College, he's happy. What could be better than eating free cheese, ringing a cow bell & scratching a Bull Dog's balls in Oktibbeha County ?
5:52 I guess Sid likes Starkville because there has never been a white race riot and never a Klan rally there.
Shadow, you just demonstrated why I don't approve half your comments. You must can't make it through a paragraph without insulting someone. Now if you were insulting someone in the style of Voltaire or Twain that would be one thing but I remember your style of insults... when I was 12 years old. Whenever you make a good point without the insults, it gets posted. You dial them in though, and usually you don't get approved.
Kingfish: It is like when a short man cuts others down to make himself look tall.
Can ya say Napoleon Complex with Harry Potter's Horse ? or was it the "Lord of the Ring's Horse" ?
I posted what many were thinking. The only difference is I don't post it as 'anonymous'. It's laughable that the king of defamation has called me insulting.
Sitting here wondering how anyone could maintain integrity writing anything good about UMiss athletics.
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