Adam Rubin

[metirish]

I'm sure it's been mentioned but Rubin is leaving the Daily News and rumor is that he will turn up at something called ESPNnewyork.com covering the Mets.

I remember when he took over the beat from IIRC T.J. Quinn , he was invited here for a Q&A regarding his book and was a good sport in taking out questions.

I'd say all in all he was a good beat reporter but the shenanigans that occurred last season will leave a stain.

I have noticed that Anthony McCarron was writing from PSL under Rubin;s name several times the last few weeks, maybe he will be the new beat guy?

[stevejrogers]

I'd say all in all he was a good beat reporter but the shenanigans that occurred last season will leave a stain.
[/quote:2tnt705h]

How did any of that reflect badly on Rubin?

[ashie62]

Sounds like a good subject for a podcast Steve

[metirish]

I'd say all in all he was a good beat reporter but the shenanigans that occurred last season will leave a stain.
[/quote:2ks25skr]

How did any of that reflect badly on Rubin?[/quote:2ks25skr]



I didn't say that it did, it was a mess for all involved and unfortunately for Rubin he was the news for a week or more.

[Ceetar]

I'd say all in all he was a good beat reporter but the shenanigans that occurred last season will leave a stain.
[/quote:54471956]

How did any of that reflect badly on Rubin?[/quote:54471956]

Any implication that you're talking about jobs while currently employed is not usually taken well. Rubin leaving the Daily News for bigger things is just another hint that maybe he was indeed putting out feelers. I certainly don't think Omar outright lied.

And saying I was doing it for a story is a catch-all excuse for writers.

[batmagadanleadoff]

... Rubin is leaving the Daily News and rumor is that he will turn up at something called ESPNnewyork.com covering the Mets.[/quote:2s93ofrj]

It's between that ESPN gig and the Mets VP of Player Development postition.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rubin never said he was doing it for a story; he was doing what anyone in print publishing should have been doing last year -- looking out for himself. In retrospect he probably should have made this request to a team he wasn't covering just in case the general manager is an idiot capable of misinterpreting the request, a vindictive guy who'd use it against you, or both.

[Ceetar]

Did he word it like that? I thought he emphasized that it was a theoretical exercise, something he was 'curious' about. He did counter with "If Omar came to me about how to get into journalism, I would've talked to him about it." Like it was no big deal.

Of course, the Daily News couldn't afford to lose him anyway. So they weren't going to do anything about him looking for other jobs, but most employers tend to frown upon that.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Did he word it like that? I thought he emphasized that it was a theoretical exercise, something he was 'curious' about. He did counter with "If Omar came to me about how to get into journalism, I would've talked to him about it." Like it was no big deal.

Of course, the Daily News couldn't afford to lose him anyway. So they weren't going to do anything about him looking for other jobs, but most employers tend to frown upon that.[/quote:1vtomvxn]

But the Mets aren't Rubin's employer. Why would it be Omar's business to get all bothered about Rubin looking for another job? And if it was the Mets that Rubin was feeling about another job, well then how's a guy supposed to look for another job without feeling or asking? Are you saying that Rubin should've quit the Daily News before looking for another job?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

That Omar purposefully used it against him in a press event illustrates the ethical murky waters into which Rubin waded, even innocently.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Omar didn't get all bothered.

The team --- correctly --- when investigating the facts around a whole lot of hyperbole flying around about Tony Bernezard, looked into whether the reporter had a conflict of interest, and whether that may have been a part of the issues. They found out there was nothing there.

Then Omar --- foolishly --- when asked about the team's investigations, mentioned this was one of the things they looked into. He made clear that there wasn't anything there*, but it was too late. He immediately began backpedaling --- and is backpedaling still.

*He may well have wished there was. He probably was bitter over having just axed a colleague, but he knew he was wrong the moment he opened his mout'.

[Ceetar]

That Omar purposefully used it against him in a press event illustrates the ethical murky waters into which Rubin waded, even innocently.[/quote:3mntqdjy]

I don't have a problem with what Rubin did, but it's nto exactly 'clean' either. And this is even different than looking for a job on the side, because theoretically Rubin was getting paid while asking Omar about jobs.

Now, Omar certainly wasn't clean in this either, but to me it reflects a stubbornness and vengeful nature of Minaya to strike back at someone that forces his hand or exposes a problem with his employees or makes him fire a friend or however you want to interpret that situation. I don't really mind that "I'm not going to let you screw me and get away with it attitude". I wonder how it applies to some of his negotiations with other teams.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Omar didn't get all bothered.

The team --- correctly --- when investigating the facts around a whole lot of hyperbole flying around about Tony Bernezard, looked into whether the reporter had a conflict of interest, and whether that may have been a part of the issues. They found out there was nothing there.

Then Omar --- foolishly --- when asked about the team's investigations, mentioned this was one of the things they looked into. He made clear that there wasn't anything there*, but it was too late. He immediately began backpedaling --- and is backpedaling still.

*He may well have wished there was. He probably was bitter over having just axed a colleague, but he knew he was wrong the moment he opened his mout'.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Not really. Being upset about having to axe a colleague is not the same as being "all bothered" about Rubin having made inquiries in the first place.

By all accounts, the Mets were more or less helpful in giving him references.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Not really. Being upset about having to axe a colleague is not the same as being "all bothered" about Rubin having made inquiries in the first place.

By all accounts, the Mets were more or less helpful in giving him references.[/quote:3fvef01c]

But I never addressed Rubin's feelings over firing Bernazard. And neither did the post I was specifically addressing.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yeah, but that's what I was addressing, that you expressed consistency with that wasn't actully there. Please don't jerk me around. I've got to get on the road and, anyway, I've got Steve J. Rogers for that.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Yeah, but that's what I was addressing, that you expressed consistency with that wasn't actully there. Please don't jerk me around. I've got to get on the road and, anyway, I've got Steve J. Rogers for that.[/quote:1si87eth]

But you criticized my response post on the basis of something no one expressly addressed in the exchange. So please don't jerk me around. I've got Edgy for that.

[stevejrogers]

I've got to get on the road and, anyway, I've got Steve J. Rogers for that.

Awww, now I feel bad for using the crappy weather for not trudging over to Two Boots tonight.

Okay, I'll see what I can do in order to make it and annoy you tonight! =

[patchyfogg]

I can neither confirm nor deny that Adam is going anywhere.

But, I can tell you that he'll be on my 100% commercial-free, no one makes a dime from it, Sports Talk radio show talking ALL METS from [u:263xn483]9PM to 11PM TONIGHT on Long Island's 90.3FM[/u:263xn483].

We will also be [u:263xn483]LIVE ON THE INTERNET (video and audio) at http://www.justin.tv/sportstalk[/u:263xn483]

Please listen in, please tell some Mets fan friends and please call in with questions.

As always, thanks.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Looking at the replay now. Rubin sez he's "unemployed" and in NY in March for the first time in seven years; this morning I noticed the "Surfing the Mets" blog is now identified as being written "by Daily News staff" but I guess the interesting thing will be who replaces Rubin on a permanent basis, especially since I get the Snooze every day.

The Post also got a new Mets beat man, Mike "The Puma" Puma; and Snoozeday no longer matters since I can't read it online and they don't get to the city anymore. Great job, Dolans!

[Gwreck]

Snoozeday no longer matters since I can't read it online and they don't get to the city anymore. Great job, Dolans![/quote:1og43wmc]

No kidding. Shame, too because with Rubin gone, David Lennon is probably the best of the Mets beat writers.

[Benjamin Grimm]

The Post also got a new Mets beat man, Mike "The Puma" Puma...[/quote:12wpxzb6]

I bet there's a great story about how he got that nickname.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Snoozeday no longer matters since I can't read it online and they don't get to the city anymore. Great job, Dolans![/quote:jd4c19xl]

No kidding. Shame, too because with Rubin gone, David Lennon is probably the best of the Mets beat writers.[/quote:jd4c19xl]

Perhaps the Snooze hires Lennon away. Or Steve J. Rogers maybe.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It would be a very odd career move if Lennon opted to take a job working for SteveJRogers.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I was thinking just today, "Is David Lennon really the best beat guy they have left?"

Because I think that merely because he's not an attention-seeking gasbag, not because of anything he actually is. Does Noble count as a beat writer any longer? Does Gregory Corso?

[Gwreck]

Noble is indeed still a beat writer. I prefer Lennon over Noble generally in terms of depth of analysis, and -- before the Newsday online stupidity -- breadth of interesting info provided to fans (ie. above and beyond the usual game stories).

[G-Fafif]

Frank Deford kicks major ass with his piece on sportswriting in this week's SI here, of note in this thread for the following aside:

Institutionally there was real camaraderie among sportswriters, because more than other journalists we traveled together and then wrote en masse, in the press box. I was hardly surprised that last July, when Mets general manager Omar Minaya attacked New York Daily News beat writer Adam Rubin, all Rubin's competitors came passionately to his defense. Sportswriters are rivals, but close ones, like chefs who eat in each other's restaurants.

Anyway, wonderful retrospective on The Way It Was, without sappiness or denying that these are the good old days, too.

On the subject of beat writers, I've enjoyed David Waldstein's work this spring in the Times. Ken Belson, however, is a bit sloppy and a little too cute

[patchyfogg]

I've placed the audio of the interview (in MP3 format) at http://sportstalk903.libsyn.com

You can also watch the whole video of this show at http://www.justin.tv/sportstalk (It's divided into 9 segments of 15 minutes each. Segment 6 is where he apologizes for not having the chance to say goodbye via the Blog.)

Some Highlights:

In this interview, Adam talks about how this Mets team is the closest team he has covered in his 8 years on the beat, his very nice Spring Training dinner with Omar Minaya, how things are looking up for the farm system and that his new contract is actually longer than Omar's.

In a serious moment, Adam also takes the time to thank the Daily News for all the great years that he had there, and because he was not allowed to say goodbye on his blog, gets the chance to say goodbye via our show. But, like I said, Adam's not going anywhere. We'll get to read his Mets coverage for many years to come. You know where, I just can't say it.

[bmfc1]

Odd that they wouldn't let him say goodbye but they still use his picture on the Daily News twitter feed for Mets news.

[Valadius]

The Snooze has named Andy Martino as Rubin's successor as Mets beat writer.

Andy Martino returns to the Daily News after one year as Phillies beat writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He began his journalism career as an intern here, covering nearly every sport and spending significant time reporting on the 2008 Mets. Before that, he spent three years teaching high school English in Brooklyn. A Rochester native, he is a graduate of Purchase College, SUNY and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.