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18 years ago today I was home from college for the summer, bored and increasingly baseball obsessed, and looking for a way to practice writing for an audience after being rejected by the college newspaper.
I impulsively started a blog, brilliantly titled "Aaron's Baseball Blog."
I impulsively started a blog, brilliantly titled "Aaron's Baseball Blog."
My plan was to post enough stuff on the blog that I could eventually show a college newspaper editor some examples of my writing.
That very much did not work. I got rejected again, and again. Nine times in total. Because of that, I never stopped blogging and just ... kept going.
That very much did not work. I got rejected again, and again. Nine times in total. Because of that, I never stopped blogging and just ... kept going.
One day @greggrosenthal from Rotoworld emailed, asking if I was interested in writing player profiles for their fantasy baseball draft guide.
After that, he hired me part-time at Rotoworld. I got up at 5 am each day to write MLB and NFL player news blurbs before going to class.
After that, he hired me part-time at Rotoworld. I got up at 5 am each day to write MLB and NFL player news blurbs before going to class.
I was working more and more at Rotoworld, and caring less and less about school. @rickcordella asked if I'd want to work there full time.
I said I had to convince my mom. I enlisted the help of my aunt, a lifelong academic, and over dinner we talked my mom into it. Begrudgingly.
I said I had to convince my mom. I enlisted the help of my aunt, a lifelong academic, and over dinner we talked my mom into it. Begrudgingly.
I dropped out of college to work full time for Rotoworld, later becoming MLB editor. It was the best decision I've ever made.
NBC bought Rotoworld, and I moved to NBC Sports to start HardballTalk with @craigcalcaterra.
Around that time I also started a podcast with @TwinsGeek.
NBC bought Rotoworld, and I moved to NBC Sports to start HardballTalk with @craigcalcaterra.
Around that time I also started a podcast with @TwinsGeek.
One weekend, @DWolfsonKSTP invited me on KFAN, the station I grew up loving. I'd never done radio.
@PAOnTheMic invited me on his show and we clicked right away. He made me feel like I belonged.
KFAN program director @ChadRAbbott offered to put "Gleeman and The Geek" on the air.
@PAOnTheMic invited me on his show and we clicked right away. He made me feel like I belonged.
KFAN program director @ChadRAbbott offered to put "Gleeman and The Geek" on the air.
I got fired after a decade at NBC/RW. I was crushed.
Baseball Prospectus hired me as editor-in-chief, the exact job I dreamed of when I started blogging 18 years ago today.
After four great years there, @ZPathletic offered me a job covering the Twins for The Athletic. Hell yes.
Baseball Prospectus hired me as editor-in-chief, the exact job I dreamed of when I started blogging 18 years ago today.
After four great years there, @ZPathletic offered me a job covering the Twins for The Athletic. Hell yes.
Tonight, I'm at Target Field working as a Twins beat writer, the destination I was hoping to reach before the college newspaper rejections blocked the path.
Tomorrow, I'll be on the country's #1 rated sports radio station co-hosting my own show. I never even dreamed of that one.
Tomorrow, I'll be on the country's #1 rated sports radio station co-hosting my own show. I never even dreamed of that one.
All of that was the (too) long version.
The shorter version: Make your own path and use the chip on your shoulder to fuel you on it.
Thanks for reading.
The shorter version: Make your own path and use the chip on your shoulder to fuel you on it.
Thanks for reading.
