Jason Whitlock, the outspoken sports journalist known for his bold commentary and unfiltered takes, discussed his legacy this week on The Sage Steele Show, making clear how he wants to be remembered.
“I guess if I want the world to remember, I want the credit that—and this is just a worldly ego thing—but I believe I’m the best sports writer. Maybe ever,” Whitlock said.
Whitlock career spans traditional outlets both in print, radio and television with his current independent media platforms. He reflected on what he believes distinguishes him from his peers. Whitlock specifically pointed to his willingness to tackle controversial social and racial issues. Topics many sports journalists avoid as part of what makes his work unique.
“Most sports writers never take on the super serious issues and explore… make that part of their brand,” Whitlock explained. “There’s issues from Colin Kaepernick to racial issues. I feel like I’ve taken a lot of bold stances. If I were to refine it and remove myself from it and be more Christian, I want to be remembered as, like, ‘Oh man, Whitlock was the boldest sports writer ever’ because of his biblical worldview. Because of his faith in God, and the way his grandmother discipled him. That just made him an elite sports journalist.”
Throughout his conversation, Whitlock did not shy away from claiming personal influence over the current generation of sports writers. He suggested that many are attempting to emulate his style but falling short.
“If you actually look at this era of sports writers, and I apologize for this sounding narcissistic and arrogant. I look out and see all these people trying to mimic what I did, and they’re doing bad versions of it,” he said.
Whitlock has written about sports for several local newspapers including The Herald Times and The Charlotte Observer. During his 16 years as a sports columnist for the Kansas City Star, he was awarded the National Journalism Award by the Scripps Howard Foundation in 2008. He then took his writings to ESPN and AOL Sports, then serving as editor in chief of The Undefeated till 2015.
Currently, Whitlock is the host of his daily Fearless with Jason Whitlock program on BlazeTV.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
😂🤪🤣
One of the worst! A complete clown.
Jason Whitlock appears to be preoccupied with Stephen Smith. He works hard to damage Smith’s reputation at every chance he gets. The fact of the matter is that he is jealous of Smith’s success and resorts to pettiness to prove it. Jason should do his thing and stop focusing on Stephen.