KMac leaving the ProJo

[Rhody74]

Is there a transfer portal for sportswriters ?

[rhodyfan3000]

I outlived KMac at the Projo! This is a big milestone

[Bos8]

Not good. Obviously he covered PC, but he had a solid reputation in the business and was well respected. This also means they will probably be shifting resources, and could mean someone they have something along the lines of Bill Koch covering multiple teams. People complaining about a lack of coverage before will certainly not like to see that

[Rhody74]

Koch May move over to the PC beat. Eric Rueb is full time now. Maybe he’ll do some college? I can’t imagine the cash-strapped Journal hiring a full time replacement at this time.

[Rhody15]

I wonder if it's a retirement, force out, or a lay off?

Very surprised with this one.

[hrstrat57]

30 years is a solid run, well played!

[Bos8]

I wonder if it's a retirement, force out, or a lay off?

Very surprised with this one.

The way that is was worded, makes me think it was a lay off. "Welcome opportunity to explore"
I know that where I am, the local paper sport section laid two thirds of the sports section, and now has the remaining writers covering three people's beat.

[Rhody72]

At the sports department at the ProJo, reporters are working limited hours and covering non-sports stories because of the pandemic. There few sports to cover now and prospects for the future are not good. KMac must have a better opportunity to leave in this environment.

[Rhodyhooopz]

I have known Kevin since we were both 11 years old. Played CYO basketball against each other and became pretty good friends in our freshman and Sophomore years of HS. I really hope this was his decision. Really good person and a terrific College basketball guy even if we didn't always agree on his coverage of URI matters.

[rambone 78]

Economy related imo. Not his choice.

[SGreenwell]

It's pretty bleak industry-wide at this point - I wouldn't trust anyone who attempts to speak confidently about where journalism will be in X years, and that was before the pandemic basically wiped out advertising revenue for the past couple of months. KMac was always a good dude, the few times I interacted with him, and I imagine he'll get scooped up by some non-journalism entity the next time there's an opening (PR firm, college communications, etc.).

[theblueram]

Just wondering if the projo will still have a vote in the AP Top 25.

[ATPTourFan]

Rueb says Kevin was “let go”.

[Rhody74]

It's pretty bleak industry-wide at this point - I wouldn't trust anyone who attempts to speak confidently about where journalism will be in X years, and that was before the pandemic basically wiped out advertising revenue for the past couple of months. KMac was always a good dude, the few times I interacted with him, and I imagine he'll get scooped up by some non-journalism entity the next time there's an opening (PR firm, college communications, etc.).

Or maybe some online entity like The Athletic or similar. Trouble is there’s not much to write about when no one’s playing.

[Rhody15]

I’ve always enjoyed reading his work, and consider him to be the best sportswriter there, Koch a close second. (Koch easily the best of the two on twitter with his updates.)

Sucks it wasn’t his choice, wish him well.

[Native]

Welcome to the third decade of the 21st century.

[reef]

Not surprising with this pandemic going on lots of layoffs and unemployment in a lot of industries

[steviep123]

[Running Ram]

wow projo laying off an icon...
Bummer how it seems to be affecting his former co-workers.
Good luck going forward KMac.

[PCFriars]

This isn’t good for anyone. Kevin did quality work, whether you agreed with him or not.

[rambone 78]

The really sad thing is, once things start to open up, a lot of people who were laid off will not be brought back.

The new normal won't be anything like the old normal.

What's going to happen, when a bar or restaurant can open, but only at 30% or so capacity?

A lot of their workers aren't coming back. And the business itself won't make any money because their sales will be way down.

That means many businesses won't be coming back, or if they do, won't last.

The government can't bail everybody out forever.

This is a disaster on all fronts.

The longer it takes to find a vaccine that is close to 100% effective, the worse it will get.

[rambone 78]

The states that are trying to open up now, imo are making a big mistake, and will only lengthen the recovery time and worsen the entire situation.

Not enough testing can be done yet.

Ironically, RI is among the best in the country right now, in their handling of the crisis.

But if they open too soon....probably will have to shut things down, again.

[theblueram]

The really sad thing is, once things start to open up, a lot of people who were laid off will not be brought back.

The new normal won't be anything like the old normal.

What's going to happen, when a bar or restaurant can open, but only at 30% or so capacity?

A lot of their workers aren't coming back. And the business itself won't make any money because their sales will be way down.

That means many businesses won't be coming back, or if they do, won't last.

The government can't bail everybody out forever.

This is a disaster on all fronts.

The longer it takes to find a vaccine that is close to 100% effective, the worse it will get.

A vaccine? You do realize coronavirus has been around for a long time, right? I mean, look at a can of Lysol, it says it kills coronavirus. Many common colds are coronavirus. Don't hold your breath for a vaccine. I expect none will ever come.

[rambone 78]

Many serious viruses have been controlled by vaccines.

I have no doubt they will find one, but the question is, how effective will it be?

And how long will it last?

If it's the same as the current flu shots, it only works for a year or so, and even then the virus mutates in the meantime and people still get the flu.

Last time I got a flu shot, I got the flu, bad.

Anything that will lower the death toll is the key.

Again, people still die from the regular flu, but at a far lower rate than this novel virus.

And wouldn't you know it, Connecticut almost leads the country in death rate, while RI has among the lowest.

At least living in eastern CT, things aren't that bad compared to the western part of the state.

[section(105)]

......will miss reading his college hoops columns......polio, anyone here remember the vaccine gun and long lnes at schools in RI and on a sugar cube.......1950’s.......

[theblueram]

Bone, the last time I got a flu shot I got sick as well. Maybe 20 years ago. Never had a flu shot since and never had the flu since.

[RamStock]

Economy related imo. Not his choice.

It was 100% driven by the Providence Journal and their troubling economical situation. Hope he bounces back with something that he enjoys. Always a very good sports reporter in RI

[Smokinjimit]

Not a fan of his but I hate to see anyone lose their job. I wish him the best of luck with his next endeavor.

[rambone 78]

Bone, the last time I got a flu shot I got sick as well. Maybe 20 years ago. Never had a flu shot since and never had the flu since.

Exactly the same as me.

If a vaccine is not found, then I guess the older among us will have to live in constant fear of dying from this.

Life will never be the same if so.

For those younger than 45, who have less than a 1% chance of dying from this, good for you. Do whatever you want.

Seniors will just have to take their chances.

[UCH21377]

How does KMac get let go while the younger guys stay? Probably doesn't matter; not sure Projo can survive this downturn. It is already a shell of it's former self.

[theblueram]

......will miss reading his college hoops columns......polio, anyone here remember the vaccine gun and line lines at schools in RI and on a sugar cube.......1950’s.......

I'm a bit younger than that but I do remember the Anthrax, Plague, Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Twinrix, and Adenovirus vaccines I got in the Army.

[rhodyfan3000]

I am not unsympathetic to your plight, Bone. You need to do what is best for you, of course.

I don't suspect I would get a covid19 vaccine, and I also suspect that it's 50/50 at best that they ever develop one. They have been unsuccessful trying to develop RNA viral vaccines in the past for viruses with similar traits to this one, to the point where they just gave up after so many years.

I'm starting to question the necessity of the flu shot as well. This entire crisis has brought to the surface some interesting conversations at work that would normally be strictly personal, and I am just now realizing that about 40-50% of my coworkers don't bother with the flu shot and just sign a waiver each year, whereas I have gotten one religiously for like the past 15 years.

[rambone 78]

Don't want to sound morbid, but this virus is doing a good job of reducing the old and sick population, especially in nursing homes.

They can't separate themselves having to live in one building. One gets sick, and most of them get sick, especially if a caregiver gets infected.

I live alone, so I guess that's an advantage....but my brother and his wife plus my mom all live together, and they are all very susceptible with compromised immune systems.

[rhodyfan3000]

Well, I don't think masks and social distancing are going away any time soon. The whole Walmart at 7am, Dave's Marketplace at 7am for seniors, 8am for everyone else, and Target at 8am is probably going to be one the lasting establishments attributed to this crisis. That will be the new normal, I think.

Masks out in public, even while dining, especially in a place like the theater. Possibly even the beach, age dependent perhaps.

[rhodyfan3000]

Gotta get my 4 year old used to start wearing a mask. That will be fun. They are just starting to make them for children en mass. We have just been avoiding bringing him anywhere, like the markets, etc, but sooner or later they will all be out and about.

At least social distancing has brought forth a newfound respect among the majority of people in the markets. Before this, people would sneeze and cough all over you at will, now they don't either because that have a new awareness of being polite, OR they are just afraid of being labeled a social pariah, but either way... it's nice.

[rambone 78]

The current number of new infections doesn't inspire confidence that things will revert to anywhere near normal for months to come.

The "curves" that show infections and deaths going to zero by early June, are pipedreams imo.

Especially in the states hardest hit, like CT, NY, and NJ.

Just hope that we can do some of the things we like to do, by summer at least...even with masks and distancing.

Hard to eat with a mask on, though lol.

[RamStock]

How does KMac get let go while the younger guys stay? Probably doesn't matter; not sure Projo can survive this downturn. It is already a shell of it's former self.

Simple. He makes the most money

[McRam]

The states that are trying to open up now, imo are making a big mistake, and will only lengthen the recovery time and worsen the entire situation.

Not enough testing can be done yet.

Ironically, RI is among the best in the country right now, in their handling of the crisis.

But if they open too soon....probably will have to shut things down, again.

_____________________________

Curious, how do you measure RI is among the best in the country.."

[PeteRI]

Bone, the last time I got a flu shot I got sick as well. Maybe 20 years ago. Never had a flu shot since and never had the flu since.

Yup, me too. One and done flu shot about 25 years ago.

[rambone 78]

The states that are trying to open up now, imo are making a big mistake, and will only lengthen the recovery time and worsen the entire situation.

Not enough testing can be done yet.

Ironically, RI is among the best in the country right now, in their handling of the crisis.

But if they open too soon....probably will have to shut things down, again.

_____________________________

Curious, how do you measure RI is among the best in the country.."

RI: 8400 cases, 250 deaths...approx.3%

CT: 27000 cases, 2200 deaths....approx.8% Almost half the deaths have been in nursing homes.

Of course there are more cases than that everywhere due to lack of testing.

[rhodysurf]

How does KMac get let go while the younger guys stay? Probably doesn't matter; not sure Projo can survive this downturn. It is already a shell of it's former self.

He is paid significantly more probably. The more you make the bigger your risk.

[Mongo]

RIP Projo....

[reef]

I haven’t gotten the flu shot for last 3 years and haven’t gotten sick once it has worked for me as I tended to get sick before

[rambone 78]

Since I haven't got the flu [knock on wood] for 22 years since I last got the shot and then sick right after that, I wonder if I gained permanent immunity from it.

It's not supposed to do that, but have to wonder.....

[rambone 78]

I now can begin to see why a lot of people are protesting about lockdowns.....

Under age 50, the death rate from covid is miniscule.

They are willing to take the chance they'll get it, since the vast majority will either have no or few symptoms.

But for us older folk, not so lucky. We are going to have to social distance, etc. for quite a while.

Going out and mingling with younger people just won't work for us.....until most are tested......

[RhodyKyle]

I now can begin to see why a lot of people are protesting about lockdowns.....

Under age 50, the death rate from covid is miniscule.

They are willing to take the chance they'll get it, since the vast majority will either have no or few symptoms.

But for us older folk, not so lucky. We are going to have to social distance, etc. for quite a while.

Going out and mingling with younger people just won't work for us.....until most are tested......

They're still learning about this thing. I truly don't understand the people who say this was a massive overreaction and are demanding states reopen and go back to the way life used to be.

It just came out in the last week or so that it causes strokes in completely healthy people in their 30s and 40s. My wife and I enjoyed nights out going to dinner and really are jonesing to go out to dinner again, but I'm more than happy to make that sacrifice if it means I don't suffer a stroke.

[LoveThoseRams]

RIP Projo....

Now Ed Eichorn...editorial staff gone. It will be a shell of what it was. Newspapers are dying across the country.

[theblueram]

I now can begin to see why a lot of people are protesting about lockdowns.....

Under age 50, the death rate from covid is miniscule.

They are willing to take the chance they'll get it, since the vast majority will either have no or few symptoms.

But for us older folk, not so lucky. We are going to have to social distance, etc. for quite a while.

Going out and mingling with younger people just won't work for us.....until most are tested......

They're still learning about this thing. I truly don't understand the people who say this was a massive overreaction and are demanding states reopen and go back to the way life used to be.

It just came out in the last week or so that it causes strokes in completely healthy people in their 30s and 40s. My wife and I enjoyed nights out going to dinner and really are jonesing to go out to dinner again, but I'm more than happy to make that sacrifice if it means I don't suffer a stroke.

The numbers will come in eventually and we shall see if it was an over reaction. The govt spent billions of dollars building field hospitals that were never used. They sent medical ships to states that were never used. The gov of NY wanted 30,000 ventilators last month. He didn't get them, but he's giving away the one's they have cause they don't need them.

[steviep123]

The people that will say after the fact "it was an over-reaction" won't realize that closing things down to flatten the curve and not overwhelm the hospitals is what made it SEEM like an over reaction.

[SGreenwell]

The people that will say after the fact "it was an over-reaction" won't realize that closing things down to flatten the curve and not overwhelm the hospitals is what made it SEEM like an over reaction.

Same people who complain about storm prep.