One of the reasons we decided to skip out on the whole sportswriting/beat reporting business, back when we had the opportunity, was the perfectly legitimate fear that we would become burned out on sports. Sports is a diversion, something that should be used as an brief alternative to regular daily life rather than a replacement. We feared those roles might switch, if we were forced to watch sports, rather than doing so by choice.
We can't look inside the mind of Jason Whitlock, but it appears the man is starting to wear himself out with this whole sports business. He's apparently taking a mental break.
I'm desperately trying to go cold turkey on everything: sports, cell phones, television, laptop, newspapers, Gates short ends, car and Rev. Wright. It's quite possibly the most difficult thing I've ever attempted.
It all started a couple of weeks ago when I began reading the book Into the Wild, a well-reported chronicle of a 24-year-old kid who chucked everything — money, family and belongings — and walked into the Alaskan wilderness hoping to test and discover himself all at the same time. He died within a matter of months, and author Jon Krakauer retraced his last days on earth. I'm positive my excursion will have a happier ending. JoPo won't be documenting my last days in the Florida wild by interviewing fast-food servers up and down the Florida coast.
For the record, if anyone were to ever write a biography of Jason Whitlock — or anyone, really — we'd want it to be Joe Posnanski. We wish you well, Mr. Whitlock; find what you're looking for, and then come back. And see if you can bring Jeff George with you.
Into The Mild With Plenty Of Nothing [Kansas City Star]