Derek Jeter yesterday announced that he will "launch a digital media venture" called The Players' Tribune, "promising that the man who made hiding his feelings and opinions into an art form can get his peers to spill theirs," according to Daniel Barbarisi of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. Jeter wrote on the website, "We want to have a way to connect directly with our fans, with no filter." Jeter, who was "famous for his filter, promised 'behind the scenes' content from professional athletes, delivered via first-person writing, podcasts, videos and more from his site." He acknowledged yesterday that he "was intentionally guarded, but said that he and other athletes would feel freer to open up given a place where they could feel comfortable." Barbarisi notes the venture "marks the latest maneuver for a man who has expressed his desire to build a post-career empire." He has launch a "publishing imprint, Jeter Publishing (in partnership with Simon & Schuster), among other business projects" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 10/2). In N.Y., David Waldstein notes the new website "will have editorial oversight," as former ESPN Publishing GM & Editorial Dir of Publishing Gary Hoenig will be the Editorial Dir. The website in part "will be backed financially" by Legendary Entertainment Chair & CEO Thomas Tull, whose production company "was behind '42,' a film about Jackie Robinson." With the new website, Jeter "promised to offer 'behind-the-scenes content,' but whether that includes topics that are hotly debated or provocative is unclear." Jeter "has a strong distaste for coverage of the negative aspects of sports" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/2). Also in N.Y., Robert Morgan reports Hoenig has "already enlisted former Sports Illustrated photo director Maureen Cavanagh as the new site’s creative director and former ESPN The Magazine senior writer Sarah Turcotte as executive editor" (N.Y. POST, 10/2).
I'M YOUR CAPTAIN: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson today was announced as a senior editor of The Players' Tribune, and he has posted to the site a
first-person essay concerning domestic violence (
THE DAILY), USA TODAY's Chad Jennings wrote, "I don't believe Jeter will leave himself set up to fail in one of his first post-retirement ventures. He carries enough weight to get nearly any athlete on board in some capacity" (
USATODAY.com, 10/1). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Kaduk wrote if anyone can "draw other athletes into this venture, it's Jeter." Any number of athletes "would want their brands associated with The Captain's," so it "shouldn't be a problem attracting them." But as Jeter "is soon going to find out, the public won't simply be sated by the typical 'we're going to play hard and take one game at a time' tripe you see from a majority of athletes who take to the Internet in search of an 'unfiltered' landline to fans." Kaduk: "I suppose The Players' Tribune can feature other content that people might want. Things like workout plans, nutrition tips and behind-the-scenes vignettes with athletes, but it will take a high level of execution to make it a success" (
SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/1). In Chicago, Ed Sherman writes people will be watching "to see the exact nature of the content," and if it produces "nothing more than first-person glorified press releases, it likely will have trouble gaining traction with fans who want truth and substance" (
CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/2).
DON'T EXPECT GROUNDBREAKING EXPOSES: ESPN's Michael Wilbon said fans will realize The Players' Tribune is "sort of just groupie-ism, another form of that." Wilbon: "When they want something that's more critical, they'll go to another source. When they want to see pics of the athlete at home with his doggies, they will go to this source." ESPN's Tony Kornheiser said, "You will get athletes sitting in front of a camera, reading off a prompter statements that their agents have written for then. When they consent to be interviewed, they will be interviewed by people who are paid to interview them and they will have the ability to edit whatever they say." Kornheiser: "I don't think it will kill journalism. It'll be popular. I think people will like it" ("PTI," ESPN, 10/1). ESPN’s Mike Golic said, “I get what he’s trying to do, giving the athlete more power and letting the fans share in that as well. This is another step to embrace social media and use it.” ESPN’s Mike Greenberg: “This is another step in the evolution. If the players want a place to give their unfiltered views, that's fine by me. There will always be a place for people who are covering the sports” ("Mike & Mike," ESPN Radio, 10/2).
SAME AS THE OLD BOSS: In N.Y., Filip Bondy writes Jeter "is done merely frustrating reporters," as he has "declared war on his own kingmakers." Jeter wrote yesterday on The Players' Tribune site, "I do think fans deserve more than ‘no comments’ or ‘I don’t knows.' Those simple answers have always stemmed from a genuine concern that any statement, any opinion or detail, might be distorted. We just need to be sure our thoughts will come across the way we intend." Bondy: "No filter, no analysis, no crafted words or humor. Kill the old messenger. Jeter is the new messenger, the middle man, the guy bound to profit on the words of others" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/2). Also in N.Y., Mike Lupica writes, "Maybe the best part of all of this is that Jeter now becomes a part of the media, no longer allowed to say 'you guys' when talking to reporters. It will have to be 'we' going forward. Or 'us.' There may be something in here about eventually becoming the thing you hate, but it’s probably too early to make a call on that one" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/2).
