Sam Amick leaves The Bee

[KF10]

A fitting goodbye

Plan A, of course, was to craft a parting piece that would serve two purposes: announce that my incredibly-fulfilling time at The Bee that dates back to 1998 will come to an end today and naturally provide the what's-next? portion of the programming by telling you all that I'm heading to Fanhouse to cover the NBA. This is the end of one fantastic challenge and the beginning of a new one, a calculated move into the web-only world of sports media that thankfully won't involve a change in address.

So much for crafting. When it comes to this job, you do it by feel and follow instincts and trust where your head and heart take you every single day. So, yeah, this really is fitting.

This job was never only about the finished product, anyways. When it wasn't about trying to serve the reader as the Kings beat writer, it was about meeting people like Ross who made you better for knowing them. These are people I never would have met had The Bee not entrusted me with this position back in the summer of 2005, meaning I owe enormous and endless thanks to editors Tom Negrete and the departed Rick Rodriguez for providing opportunity and Bill Bradley for always being on board for what became such a memorable experience.

More content in the link:

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/sp ... goodb.html

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First off, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

If you follow the Bee on a consistent basis, Amick was our best beat writer. His analysis, depth and passion about the Kings was unmatched against the other writers over there. We lost a significant writer for the Kings. So, I would assume Viosin would pick up Amick's place. Ugh.....

But the only upside about this, Amick is heading to Fanhouse (a very reputable website), he can spread some Kings influence with Ziller (another great pro-Kings writer) around the blogosphere of the NBA.

So, any thoughts on this you guys?

[wiltchamberlain]

This is depressing as hell. He was by far the best sports writer the paper had, he was the only one that was ever tough enough to challenge consistently the Pravda of the Maloofs (1140). I don't why I would ever read the Bee's sports section again, Kriedler and now Amick both being gone.

I guess that does make Voison their number one writer, I've never hated her as much as some but at the same time I recognize she is sorely lacking.

[cuad]

I feel betrayed.

[RoyalCourtJestr]

Damnit! He wasn't supposed to quit until I could get his job! He ruined my entire life plan!

[Nicky Nix Nook]

ehh the The Bee sucks...Amick just looked better among those buffoons.

[UKF]

It's too bad. I really admired him and got the paper to read his writing and read about the Kings. He was one of the few people that I liked. And if I ever sent him an email, he replied every time. I hope he goes on to bigger and better things. The Bee should no longer be called the Bee, it should be called The Fly.

[KingInExile]

Noticed this earlier today, but didn't have time to start a thread (damn work gets in the way too much). Anyway, big loss for the Bee. Jason Jones seems to be pretty competent and hopefully this means more contributions from him. Unfortunately I fear this means more of the drivel that typically is called an Ailene Voisin article. Looks like I may have to look elsewhere for credible Kings news (unless Jason steps up his presence).

[10B10]

Shame.

The word is that Jones will be taking over as the Kings daily beat writer for the Bee. He seems a little too pro-Laker for me, but I guess we will just have to wait and see. And, yes, this also means more AV. Yuck.

Good opportunity for Amick at Fanhouse, though. Can't really blame him for moving on from the Bee.

[bjax24]

Does the Bee have a policy against having good writers for the Kings or something? All the good ones leave, and voison stays.

[ICMTM]

I stopped looking at the Bee for sports when Kreidler left. Ain't nothing changed but my limp.

[Ballings7]

Gorgerous - that guy is an atrocious reporter and went too far multiple times