A few weeks ago ESPN brought back its beloved Sunday morning primetime show with a new episode of Sports Journalists. Jeremy Schaap, a veteran and host during the first race, who watched his father drive the boat from 1988 to 2016, led the discussion between Joe Buck, Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan and Mike Tirico.
New version of Sports Journalists will appear regularly with different panels and courses in the future. Future editions will feature a mix of new characters and regulars from the original show. In addition to appearing on YouTube, interview segments will also appear SportsCenter, NFL Live and other ESPN television programs.
Schaap spoke to Sports Illustrated about climbing the regular ladder and how to move forward as Sports Journalists it enters a new era.
AND: Did you ever think it would come back?
JS: Well, I certainly hoped so. Now that it’s back I’m thinking about how many times I’ve said we should bring it back or it should come back. I’m not sure. But of course it’s a sentiment I’ve expressed over and over again. And it was about a year and a half ago when I was told it was coming back. It’s great that we got here. I obviously enjoyed it. It’s interesting because when it ended seven years ago, that was difficult because that show meant a lot to me. And to the people on the show. It obviously has to do with my father, John Saunders, and a lot of other people I was close to. It was our show, kind of an hour Yes: 60 which replaced it so there are all those mixed feelings. Getting it back is great. I’m happy with it and the way we’re going to think about it—or old—however you want to put it.
AND: How do you approach reimagination?
JS: With this different approach, there is a lot more time to chat. It’s a completely different deal. If you’re watching it now and you used to watch the old show, it’s a different animal. You can have three times as much time. This is not a bing-bang, a quick comment here, a quick comment there. In the old days of Sports JournalistsI think the average comment from a professional was probably in the 20 second range. There were very few that were longer than that. Here we let them speak for a few minutes. We encourage them to speak for a few minutes. To chat with others, to engage in conversation.
AND: The first show gave a national platform to many publishers who were not accessible to viewers. In 2024 everyone is their own publishing house so it’s easy to find. Why do you think it is still important for them to use it Sports Journalists platform? Is it as simple as seeing them interact with others who are the field?
JS: I wonder why Sports Journalists it worked for a long time. Of course it was the individual excellence of the panelists expressing themselves and their opinions but I think what made it one of the classics of sports television was the interaction. A lot of it is about the temperature in the room and how everyone beats each other before the red light comes on.
AND: It was interesting that when the first show ended many people pointed to it as a sign of the decline of journalism at ESPN. Obviously that’s not true but what you’ve noticed in that way in your time in terms of how they deal with the media. As a reminder it sounds like you’ve been able to continue a career you should be proud of.
JS: I’ve been at ESPN for 31 years and I can say that our commitment to journalism is as strong as ever. We continue to do a lot of hard work, a lot of work in all areas where sports and society meet. It’s easy to dismiss it and say it’s just a few minutes here or there but it’s not. We spend hours watching TV. The depth of our journalistic commitment is hidden in the narrative by other things people want to talk about. Of course in my view, we are doing as much serious work on serious matters as anyone outside the country.
AND: And what people miss is that apart from that first part of the report, there is no discussion. You can only build a display section if someone else has done the reporting work before. It is the basis of all games.
JS: I am very proud of the work of Outside the Lines the group continues to perform and perform for the past 34 years. I have been working Outside the Lines 31 years. I think we are doing a great job. Yes: 60we do long, hourly shows. I think it’s compelling. I think it’s important. It’s a different world we live in now. It’s easier to focus on humanity than some of the things we do but we’re still getting work done. I work with great producers, great journalists, great executives—people who care about these things. Check out the resources that are dedicated to it and the depth with which we approach it. I couldn’t be prouder.
AND: The last one here. Have you ever thought about all the people who watched that show and decided that one day they would be on it? And did that experience pass down a few generations? How does that get to you?
JS: It is a responsibility. It’s something I take seriously. I know it’s something the producers of the show take seriously. The program has had a great impact on people and I have heard many people tell me this is why I wanted to go into business. I saw the show and it got me excited about being a sports reporter, being a columnist, being the voice of sports television. We are very conscious of the responsibility we have to respect the legacy of the show. One thing that struck me over the past few weeks when people were talking about the return of the show was what it meant to them. And what they are talking about it better be fun because this was a Sunday morning when I was a kid. This was my Sunday morning in college. For me personally being in the control room when I was young, hoping to get into this business, watching my father do it. Watching those guys do it and seeing how they made their breakup pictures, seeing how they entered these conversations. Having the commitment to do it the right way, in a responsible way, was something I dreamed of being a part of. Then I had to be a part of it. The show is a part of my life and I think it’s a part of most people’s lives.
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