The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan yesterday said he is "saying goodbye" to his full-time columnist position following the London Games. Ryan, appearing on ESPN's "The B.S. Report," said, "There will be a part-time need. There will be an afterlife, but it won’t be a full-time afterlife." Ryan: "I really and truly believe that my time has come and gone, that the dynamics of the business -- of what it means to be involved in the sports business with all of the tweeting and the blogging, an audience with a different taste -- it’s not me anymore.” He added, “I can very happily say I have had a great run. I think it’s time for someone else to have their run.” Ryan appears on several ESPN shows, including serving as a regular panelist on "Around The Horn" and a frequent guest host of "PTI." He said, “If they want me on TV, that’s great. We haven’t even explored that.” Ryan noted the Olympics this summer is a "perfect way for me to go out" ("The B.S. Report," ESPN.com, 2/14). Northeastern Univ. journalism professor Dan Kennedy wrote on his Twitter account, "Bob Ryan's retirement will be a huge loss for the @BostonGlobe. He's earned his legendary status." WEEI.com's Ryan Hadfield wrote, "He leaves, still, the best columnist in the market...by far." WBZ-CBS' Dan Roche wrote, "No one...I repeat...no one has or will bring as much passion to his craft/life as Bob Ryan." The Orange County Register's Mark Whicker wrote, "Hope Globe readers savor the last few months of Bob Ryan, a friend and role model (though he'll still be on 15 TV shows). True enthusiast."
