2008 Woodie Awards
Buster Olney, the "hardest working man in journalism"
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Dan Begnoche
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Sports
Originally published: 2/15/08 at 5:08 PM EST
Last update: 2/15/08 at 5:06 PM EST
Forget James Brown. Nothing against the Godfather of Soul, but when it comes to the term "Hardest Working Man," papa's got a brand new bag and his name is Buster Olney.
For those that haven't been reading the stats on the backs of their collectable journalist cards, Olney's are impeccable. A graduate from Vanderbilt University, Olney has done beat writing for four newspapers, covering the Baltimore Orioles for the Baltimore Sun and the Yankees for the New York Times, as well as work with the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Nashville Banner. Since moving to the mecca of the sports media world that is ESPN, Olney is a columnist for ESPN the Magazine, ESPN.com, an analyst for Baseball Tonight and also writes a daily blog on their website.
He also wrote a non-fiction novel, "The Last Night of the Yankees Dynasty," chronicling the Bronx Bombers' success in the late 90's and their loss in the 2001 World Series.
So how does someone with their arms elbow deep in the world of sports journalism find time to breathe, let alone visit small state colleges in upstate New York?
"It became very clear at an early age that I'd work much less than a lot of the kids that I grew up with, and I was not gonna be a farmer," Olney said during a panel discussion on Feb. 1 in Krinovitz Auditorium that also featured Jon Scher, an ESPN senior editor. "I was a total baseball geek. It was something that I made up my mind at age 12 or 13 that I wanted to be a baseball writer."
Olney's job has not gotten any easier since leaving the daily grind of the beat writer. Many would argue it's only gotten more intense.
Waking up between 3:30-4 a.m., Olney gets up and works on his blog for ESPN.com for about four hours. A quick run, a read-through of about 65 newspapers, and then it's time to start making the rounds.
"It's like a trapper checking his traps," Olney said. "You're calling scouts, you're calling general managers, talking to executives, emailing players... and something will break. Something always comes up and there's always a thread to be followed."
Olney's involvement in the ESPN media family has increased in the past year since a camera was placed in his home to help facilitate breaking news stories. On a whim, Olney can be put on the spot to discuss trade talks, contract extensions or why such and such a player broke his pinky toe after last night's game.
"It just goes and goes and goes," he said. "It's a huge adrenalin rush. Everyday it feels that way. There is no off-season, there's no off day. There's always some story that is going on."
Olney has had a busy "off-season."
With the release of the Mitchell report, blockbuster trades such as the New York Mets with Johan Santana and the Seattle Mariners with Eric Bedard, as well as the impending federal court hearings with Roger Clemens, Olney is the Energizer bunny of journalism.
How he does it seemingly with such ease is a question even some of his peers have trouble answering.
"Take every opportunity you can to write," Olney said. "Think in your mind how you would write a story. Without a doubt the backbone of great stories is great anecdotes."
Buster said he learned this fact at an early age from the least likely of sources, his mother
"My mom hated sports," he said. "If I started to quote her all the statistics, it was just make her eyes water. She said to me once, she said 'Buster, you have tremendous potential to be incredibly boring.' You have to find a way to engage your readers. It's the elements of personality."
Rapid fire Q&A
What's your favorite sports team?
Olney: I don't have one right now, but when I was a kid growing up, it was the Dodgers.
Who's your favorite player?
Olney: When I was growing up it was Steve Garvey, I really like watching Carl Crawford now. Just watching that guy hit triples, it's amazing.
Who was your favorite interview candidate?
Olney: Tony Gwynn. Like I said before, he let you in.
Least favorite candidate?
Olney: Cal Ripken. He didn't share.
Favorite sports moment?
Olney: The 2001 World Series and the content surrounding it.
What keeps you doing what you do besides the love of the game?
Olney: The competitiveness. It keeps me going every day, I love the rush of it.
What's your favorite quote?
Olney: It probably would be Roger Clemens one time during spring training, he said, 'This ain't my first rodeo.' With that Texas accent he has, it was great.
What was the worst job you ever had?
Olney:I was a really bad bank teller.
How do you want to be remembered in this business when you retire?
Olney: Just that I worked hard, and that I was fair.
For those that haven't been reading the stats on the backs of their collectable journalist cards, Olney's are impeccable. A graduate from Vanderbilt University, Olney has done beat writing for four newspapers, covering the Baltimore Orioles for the Baltimore Sun and the Yankees for the New York Times, as well as work with the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Nashville Banner. Since moving to the mecca of the sports media world that is ESPN, Olney is a columnist for ESPN the Magazine, ESPN.com, an analyst for Baseball Tonight and also writes a daily blog on their website.
He also wrote a non-fiction novel, "The Last Night of the Yankees Dynasty," chronicling the Bronx Bombers' success in the late 90's and their loss in the 2001 World Series.
So how does someone with their arms elbow deep in the world of sports journalism find time to breathe, let alone visit small state colleges in upstate New York?
"It became very clear at an early age that I'd work much less than a lot of the kids that I grew up with, and I was not gonna be a farmer," Olney said during a panel discussion on Feb. 1 in Krinovitz Auditorium that also featured Jon Scher, an ESPN senior editor. "I was a total baseball geek. It was something that I made up my mind at age 12 or 13 that I wanted to be a baseball writer."
Olney's job has not gotten any easier since leaving the daily grind of the beat writer. Many would argue it's only gotten more intense.
Waking up between 3:30-4 a.m., Olney gets up and works on his blog for ESPN.com for about four hours. A quick run, a read-through of about 65 newspapers, and then it's time to start making the rounds.
"It's like a trapper checking his traps," Olney said. "You're calling scouts, you're calling general managers, talking to executives, emailing players... and something will break. Something always comes up and there's always a thread to be followed."
Olney's involvement in the ESPN media family has increased in the past year since a camera was placed in his home to help facilitate breaking news stories. On a whim, Olney can be put on the spot to discuss trade talks, contract extensions or why such and such a player broke his pinky toe after last night's game.
"It just goes and goes and goes," he said. "It's a huge adrenalin rush. Everyday it feels that way. There is no off-season, there's no off day. There's always some story that is going on."
Olney has had a busy "off-season."
With the release of the Mitchell report, blockbuster trades such as the New York Mets with Johan Santana and the Seattle Mariners with Eric Bedard, as well as the impending federal court hearings with Roger Clemens, Olney is the Energizer bunny of journalism.
How he does it seemingly with such ease is a question even some of his peers have trouble answering.
"Take every opportunity you can to write," Olney said. "Think in your mind how you would write a story. Without a doubt the backbone of great stories is great anecdotes."
Buster said he learned this fact at an early age from the least likely of sources, his mother
"My mom hated sports," he said. "If I started to quote her all the statistics, it was just make her eyes water. She said to me once, she said 'Buster, you have tremendous potential to be incredibly boring.' You have to find a way to engage your readers. It's the elements of personality."
Rapid fire Q&A
What's your favorite sports team?
Olney: I don't have one right now, but when I was a kid growing up, it was the Dodgers.
Who's your favorite player?
Olney: When I was growing up it was Steve Garvey, I really like watching Carl Crawford now. Just watching that guy hit triples, it's amazing.
Who was your favorite interview candidate?
Olney: Tony Gwynn. Like I said before, he let you in.
Least favorite candidate?
Olney: Cal Ripken. He didn't share.
Favorite sports moment?
Olney: The 2001 World Series and the content surrounding it.
What keeps you doing what you do besides the love of the game?
Olney: The competitiveness. It keeps me going every day, I love the rush of it.
What's your favorite quote?
Olney: It probably would be Roger Clemens one time during spring training, he said, 'This ain't my first rodeo.' With that Texas accent he has, it was great.
What was the worst job you ever had?
Olney:I was a really bad bank teller.
How do you want to be remembered in this business when you retire?
Olney: Just that I worked hard, and that I was fair.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
ben
posted 2/20/08 @ 12:16 AM EST
one of the most well written articles on olney that ive seen in years. well done mr begnoche you truly were able to capture the talent and dedication of such a well known and revered sports columnist. (Continued…)
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