Markazi will introduce readers to established pastimes and nascent industries that revolve around the central theme of sports, delving into these growing areas of interest. He’ll also write regular columns which will anchor an updated Page 2 in the Los Angeles Times Sports section.
2019 is only two weeks old, but this is the second time the Times has hired away an influential voice from ESPN, as they announced last week that LZ Granderson would be joining as a sports and culture columnist.
Some career news… https://t.co/bYrpw8sPqm
— LZ Granderson (@LZGranderson) January 8, 2019
As with Markazi, the role seems tailored to Granderson’s strengths and interests:
“Los Angeles and Orange County is home to 11 pro sports teams and L.A. is preparing to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics,” said Times Executive Editor Norman Pearlstine. “The Times is ramping up efforts to cover the greatest sports city in America and we look forward to having LZ help readers navigate the vast influence that sports, teams and athletes have on culture.”
In the newly-created position, Granderson will write on topics ranging from the latest home game to athletes turned activists. He’ll share his perspective on how sports connect with politics, culture, race, fashion and music, and look at how teams and athletes are reflected in media and pop culture.
“LZ understands sports’ unique position in our society and its importance to our readers,” Rodriguez said. “We’re ecstatic that he’s joining The Times’ Sports staff to offer insightful, thought-provoking columns as part of our coverage.”
It’s interesting to see writers like Markazi and Granderson go from ESPN to the newspaper world, as for a long time, newspapers were seen as more restricting than a place like ESPN. In both cases, ESPN’s loss is a gain for the Times, and hopefully both Markazi and Granderson enjoy what looks like a great situation for them going forward.
[LA Times]
Source: “Los Angeles” – Google News