“Woj”, absolute star of the NBA scoop, decided to everyone's surprise to announce his withdrawal from the media world, thus leaving his role as star of ESPN on September 18. Discreet since in his new role as general manager of the basketball program at the University of St. Bonaventure, his former college, the former journalist has lifted the veil a little on this departure, as resounding as some of his announcements could be.
In a long article by Sports IllustratedAdrian Wojnarowski explains his mental exhaustion in this role as the main source of the basketball microcosm. The one that a very large part of the orange ball contacted to provide or pass on information. And which forced him, explains the author of the article, Chris Mannix, to sleep in an airport so as not to miss the announcement of the trade of James Harden from the Sixers to the Clippers last season, for fear of missing a connection on the plane. Or the missed moments with family, of which his phone had established itself as “ the fifth member » explains his wife, Amy Wojnarowski. “ What I was doing was no longer fulfilling » summary “Woj”. “ I just couldn't take it anymore. »
Suffering from prostate cancer since March
The former author of “Woj bomb” adds that news previously unknown to the general public encouraged him to make his decision. Adrian Wojnarowski is suffering from prostate cancer, diagnosed last March.
If the prognosis for remission is good at present, the 55-year-old man no longer wanted “ spending another day of my life waiting for the results of someone else's MRI or calling an agent at 1 a.m. about a sprained ankle. »
He was all the more marked by this ordeal following the death of Chris Mortensen, a former renowned NFL insider at ESPN, following throat cancer. Adrian Wojnarowski explains that the death of his former colleague and the absence of some of his work partners at the funeral made him put the importance of his job into perspective.
“ It reminded me that this isn’t everything. In the end, only your family and close friends will be left. And then, no one cares. No one will remember your “breaking news”, it’s just hot air. »
Refusal to change role at ESPN
Thriving in his new role with the Bonnies, the nickname of the St. Bonaventure teams, Adrian Wojnarowski has swapped phone calls about signing “free agents” for those to potential partners to establish a budget for his college. Even if it meant sacrificing 99% of his salary compared to what he received at ESPN. “ The only reason I stayed there was the money. » he assures. “ That's not a good enough reason. »
He therefore refused to stay within the company, even with a different role, whether writing articles without the pressure of daily life, or taking time off and only coming back for the major events of the season.
“ Our audience deserved someone who is completely immersed in the NBA every day and I wouldn't have been it » he specifies. “ In my mind, I no longer had any value to them. »
