Adrian Wojnarowski left his ESPN NBA insider job earlier this year to take a gig as the new general manager for the men’s basketball team at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure. In the process, Woj took a pay cut from the $6.5 million per year to $75K. Why would he do it? Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix, a close friend of Woj, got the inside scoop in one of the best pieces of sportswriting you will read this year.
Great feature writing often comes down to how many details you can uncover, and Mannix got a bunch of wild ones. The biggest was the revelation that Woj was diagnosed with prostate cancer in March. Around the same time, former ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen passed away from throat cancer. As Woj traveled to his funeral in Arkansas, he was struck by the number of Mort’s former colleagues who didn’t make it. It led to this grim bit of wisdom that is too good not to highlight.
Many ESPNers made the trip to Arkansas. What Woj was struck by was how many did not. “It made me remember that the job isn’t everything,” Woj says. “In the end it’s just going to be your family and close friends. And it’s also, like, nobody gives a s—. Nobody remembers [breaking stories] in the end. It’s just vapor.”
This is right up there with Mike Tyson’s nihilist quotes to a child reporter ahead of his Jake Paul fight when it comes to framing the meaning of life.
Woj is 55 years old, and has made so much more money than any sportswriter can reasonably dream of. What he wanted at this point of his life was to get some time back for himself, for his family, and for his alma mater. For as stressful as Woj’s newsbreaking job was, the idea of helping a middling A-10 program compete in the NIL era sure doesn’t sound like a walk in the park. For Woj, there’s still love in his work, and that makes all the difference.
Woj sent out this tweet after the story went viral:
Appreciate all the kind words and concern but I’m going to be fine. My goal in sharing a prostate cancer diagnosis is to encourage screening and testing among men. Early diagnosis will make all the difference for me —- and many others too. https://t.co/7xiGfC5RNw
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 5, 2024
The Bonnies are off to an 8-1 start this season under head coach Mark Schmidt, who has been installed since 2007. With Woj now serving as his right hand man, St. Bonaventure men’s basketball just became a lot more interesting.
Whether the Bonnies eventually find March Madness glory or not, Woj’s heart is in the right place. He knows what really matters, even if it might be a little bit depressing to consider.
