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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Sports Illustrated fires Grant Wahl after writer griped about coronavirus-related pay cut
2020-04-11
How will he survive? Cut back on haircuts?
[NY Post] Sports Illustrated has fired one of its highest-paid writers after he complained about coronavirus-related pay cuts that were revealed by the magazine's publisher last month.

Grant Wahl, one of the preeminent soccer journalists in the country, was making more than $350,000 a year but was getting hit with a 30-percent pay cut as part of cost cuts last month that included the firing of 31 people at Maven, the magazine's publisher since last fall, according to sources. The blood-letting resulted in about 6 percent of the staff at SI being let go.
That's not a man's hand, that's a banded Kingfisher's claw.
Prior to his axing on Friday afternoon, Wahl had been blasting management for the cuts in a series of Instagram posts in recent days. Management struck back, branding him an ingrate in a memo that was circulated to staffers.

"We've decided to direct what would have been this person's salary into additional severance pay and health benefits for those laid off who need it most," Jim Heckman, CEO of Maven, said in the memo obtained by The Post.

"To complain about a personal pay cut when 31 others had lost their jobs is incomprehensible in light of the sacrifices others made to help limit layoffs and maintain liveable salaries for our staff," said the memo. "Such a me-first attitude is not part of the tradition and culture Maven is committed to maintaining."

Although the memo did not reveal the writer's name, a source close to the situation said it referred to Wahl. The memo said the fired staffer was paid "over $350,000 last year to infrequently write stories that generated little meaningful viewership or revenue."

Wahl himself revealed on social media he was fired on Friday morning with no severance. It followed a series of Instagram posts in recent weeks that were picked up on Twitter that blasted management for the cuts.

"Who would take advantage of a pandemic to permanently reduce someone's salary beyond that pandemic," Wahl wrote. "Maven and James Heckman would."
Posted by:Frank G

#11  " What, no one will hire me !? "
Posted by: Thaith Elmeresing6163   2020-04-11 18:56  

#10  On the bright side, now he has something he can complain about.
Posted by: gorb   2020-04-11 13:47  

#9  Some people should not be permitted to shave their pates
Posted by: Lex   2020-04-11 11:37  

#8  You sure he's not a conehead?
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2020-04-11 11:18  

#7  cut back on haircuts?

... or use a pumice stone?
Posted by: Lex   2020-04-11 11:16  

#6  Indeed. New Joysey is looking for a few good COBOL programmers!
Posted by: Clem   2020-04-11 11:09  

#5  Learn to COBOL.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2020-04-11 11:05  

#4  Good move by SI.
Posted by: Clem   2020-04-11 09:50  

#3  Again,whenever someone tells you some Good Thingâ„¢ is underfunded, remind them of assclowns like that guy there...
Posted by: M. Murcek   2020-04-11 08:25  

#2  ...Amazing how many people are Embracing The Cluebat(TM) these days...

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2020-04-11 08:14  

#1  "Nice Rolex."
Posted by: Besoeker   2020-04-11 04:14  

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