News Kent Babb leaving for Washington Post

ShowtimeSBMVP · 08-29-2012, 10:46 AM

John Landsberg ‏@BottomLineCom

KC Star's Kent Babb leaving for Wash. Post. http://ow.ly/djXUb

ShowtimeSBMVP · 08-29-2012, 10:46 AM

BLC EXCLUSIVE: BABB LEAVING KC STAR FOR WASHINGTON POST
JohnLandsberg
August 29th, 2012
150_Kent_Babb

Kent Babb, who was just named to the prestigious sports columnist position at the Kansas City Star in June, will be leaving the McClatchy-owned newspaper to be a sports enterprise (longer-form features) writer with the Washington Post, reliable sources have told Bottom Line Communications exclusively.

He will start at the Post October 1.

Three months ago, Babb was named to join Sam Mellinger as the Star’s second sports columnist. For years the Star’s one-two sports columnist punch was Jason Whitlock and Joe Posnanski. However, Posnanski departed the paper in 2009, and a year later, Whitlock left after 16 years.

The Post is generally regarded as one of the leading American newspapers with a daily circulation of about 500,000 subscribers and about 850,000 on Sunday. (The Star’s circulation is about 260,000 daily/360,00 Sunday.)

“I have wanted to work for the Washington Post since I was a teenager, and this chance really came out of nowhere,” Babb told Bottom Line. “There’s a mystique there that, as a journalist, is difficult to ignore.

“But, really, it boils down to this: It’s what I want to do, where I want to do it, and I have found that it’s rare in this business to get a shot at that combination. Plus, my wife has family in DC and northern Virginia, so this makes some sense on professional and personal levels.”

Still, leaving the Star after five years was not an easy decision for Babb, but the Post should be a more stable environment. In just the past few years the Star’s sports staff has gone from 19 sportswriters to just eight after he leaves. In fact, Babb was the last full-time sports hire from outside the paper.

“It is, of course, incredibly difficult to leave Kansas City and The Star, where I have been granted numerous opportunities to tell big stories, with the faith, backing and guidance of some of the best editors in journalism,” he says. “They took a chance on me as an NFL beat writer (with no NFL experience) and a columnist (with no column experience), and for that I’m very grateful.

“I’m not nearly good enough at telling them often enough how much I appreciate their trust. Through my nearly five years there, I’m lucky to count most every coworker as a friend, and that’s not easy to leave behind.”

Babb stresses he is not leaving a sinking ship, and he has nothing but positive things to say about the Star.

“Despite cutbacks and strains common in this business, The Star still has a commitment to in-depth, meaningful journalism that some other papers have, in a panic, left behind,” he says. “There are challenges here, but the passion and talent in that sports department and newsroom are incredible.”

Babb graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2004 and his career has been in high gear since then, including winning numerous journo awards. He joined the Star in December 2007 after three years with the State Newspaper in South Carolina and was the Kansas City Chiefs’ beat writer before being named sports columnist three months ago.

A few of the honors Babb has garnered include: five Associated Press awards, three Hearst Foundation awards and eight South Carolina Press awards.

In58men · 08-29-2012, 10:46 AM

Q

Suck a bag of dicks

**loochy** · 08-29-2012, 10:47 AM

Chiefs and Os Fan Posting for Q

...although his thread IS more informative and has more posts than yours, inmem

htismaqe · 08-29-2012, 10:48 AM

Didn't Ivan Carter leave the Star for the Post?

**Reaper16** · 08-29-2012, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Didn't Ivan Carter leave the Star for the Post?

Yup.

**the Talking Can** · 08-29-2012, 10:58 AM

i'll miss babb's obsession with Bowe's 'having flexed once'...

**gblowfish** · 08-29-2012, 11:01 AM

Bring on the next contestant....

COchief · 08-29-2012, 11:01 AM

This is becoming very annoying for the fans. All of our good writers get stolen away or leave.

/Still misses Ivan Carter, and occasionally Whitlock...at least he was an interesting read and would generate a lot of football discussion.

Skyy God · 08-29-2012, 11:04 AM

Teicher's still here!

/puts gun to head

**BigMeatballDave** · 08-29-2012, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Filter bypass mods?

****ing crybaby

Fish · 08-29-2012, 11:09 AM

Now where will we get 1000 word articles stating the obvious?

In58men · 08-29-2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

****ing crybaby

Calling names mods?

08-29-2012, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inmem58

Filter bypass mods?

Yes, absolutely. Interesting that it appears only in your post though. You really want me to follow through with mod action or do you think you can handle it from here?

Ace Gunner · 08-29-2012, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

****ing crybaby

08-29-2012, 10:46 AM
ShowtimeSBMVP Chiefs Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $3496009	Kent Babb leaving for Washington Post John Landsberg ‏@BottomLineCom KC Star's Kent Babb leaving for Wash. Post. http://ow.ly/djXUb
Posts: 23,755

08-29-2012, 10:46 AM	#2
ShowtimeSBMVP Chiefs Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $3496009	BLC EXCLUSIVE: BABB LEAVING KC STAR FOR WASHINGTON POST JohnLandsberg August 29th, 2012 150_Kent_Babb Kent Babb, who was just named to the prestigious sports columnist position at the Kansas City Star in June, will be leaving the McClatchy-owned newspaper to be a sports enterprise (longer-form features) writer with the Washington Post, reliable sources have told Bottom Line Communications exclusively. He will start at the Post October 1. Three months ago, Babb was named to join Sam Mellinger as the Star’s second sports columnist. For years the Star’s one-two sports columnist punch was Jason Whitlock and Joe Posnanski. However, Posnanski departed the paper in 2009, and a year later, Whitlock left after 16 years. The Post is generally regarded as one of the leading American newspapers with a daily circulation of about 500,000 subscribers and about 850,000 on Sunday. (The Star’s circulation is about 260,000 daily/360,00 Sunday.) “I have wanted to work for the Washington Post since I was a teenager, and this chance really came out of nowhere,” Babb told Bottom Line. “There’s a mystique there that, as a journalist, is difficult to ignore. “But, really, it boils down to this: It’s what I want to do, where I want to do it, and I have found that it’s rare in this business to get a shot at that combination. Plus, my wife has family in DC and northern Virginia, so this makes some sense on professional and personal levels.” Still, leaving the Star after five years was not an easy decision for Babb, but the Post should be a more stable environment. In just the past few years the Star’s sports staff has gone from 19 sportswriters to just eight after he leaves. In fact, Babb was the last full-time sports hire from outside the paper. “It is, of course, incredibly difficult to leave Kansas City and The Star, where I have been granted numerous opportunities to tell big stories, with the faith, backing and guidance of some of the best editors in journalism,” he says. “They took a chance on me as an NFL beat writer (with no NFL experience) and a columnist (with no column experience), and for that I’m very grateful. “I’m not nearly good enough at telling them often enough how much I appreciate their trust. Through my nearly five years there, I’m lucky to count most every coworker as a friend, and that’s not easy to leave behind.” Babb stresses he is not leaving a sinking ship, and he has nothing but positive things to say about the Star. “Despite cutbacks and strains common in this business, The Star still has a commitment to in-depth, meaningful journalism that some other papers have, in a panic, left behind,” he says. “There are challenges here, but the passion and talent in that sports department and newsroom are incredible.” Babb graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2004 and his career has been in high gear since then, including winning numerous journo awards. He joined the Star in December 2007 after three years with the State Newspaper in South Carolina and was the Kansas City Chiefs’ beat writer before being named sports columnist three months ago. A few of the honors Babb has garnered include: five Associated Press awards, three Hearst Foundation awards and eight South Carolina Press awards.
Posts: 23,755

08-29-2012, 10:46 AM	#3
In58men Baba Ganoush Join Date: Jan 2012 Casino cash: $2038026	Q Suck a bag of dicks
Posts: 29,347

08-29-2012, 10:47 AM	#4
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $1890752	Chiefs and Os Fan Posting for Q ...although his thread IS more informative and has more posts than yours, inmem __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
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08-29-2012, 10:48 AM	#5
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	Didn't Ivan Carter leave the Star for the Post?
Posts: 100,022

08-29-2012, 10:58 AM	#7
the Talking Can Supporter Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: street Casino cash: $10022208	i'll miss babb's obsession with Bowe's 'having flexed once'... __________________ Clark Hunt: "Thank god for the Dominican pool boy"
Posts: 51,585

08-29-2012, 11:01 AM	#8
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $17606178 VARSITY	Bring on the next contestant....
Posts: 40,843

08-29-2012, 11:01 AM	#9
COchief Blame it on the Henne Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Donk-town Casino cash: $6773231	This is becoming very annoying for the fans. All of our good writers get stolen away or leave. /Still misses Ivan Carter, and occasionally Whitlock...at least he was an interesting read and would generate a lot of football discussion.
Posts: 2,973

08-29-2012, 11:04 AM	#10
Skyy God 11-5, baby Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Livin the dream Casino cash: $2191557	Teicher's still here! /puts gun to head
Posts: 22,416

08-29-2012, 11:09 AM	#12
Fish Ain't no relax! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2028919	Now where will we get 1000 word articles stating the obvious? __________________
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