Passing the baton
The latest 76ers news from Philly.com.
Passing the baton
This will be one of the more difficult blog posts to write because I have nothing but great things to say about my three-plus seasons on the 76ers beat.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, will be my last day at the Inquirer and my last day covering the Sixers. As of tomorrow, this blog -- Deep Sixer -- will belong to John Mitchell, who will be taking over the beat for the Inquirer. John will also take over the Twitter handle of @DeepSixer3. Because I'm leaving for a new job at ESPN (one not involving much NBA coverage), I'll be keeping my Twitter account, but changing the username. (That's still undecided, but if you follow me now, you'll follow me when I change the username!)
I just wanted to thank everyone for all of their correspondence -- both complimentary, constructive, and critical -- throughout the last three years. Although there were many difficult times, there were just as many great moments.
My first blog post, I believe, included a rather elementary mistake (I see that now) regarding the Sixers' roster going into the 2008-09 season. I took some heat for the error, but those same readers were willing to stick with the coverage as the Sixers started training camp at Penn State.
I think what I learned throughout the last three years is that Philly is looking for only one thing: passion and effort. I made a lot of mistakes, some more noticeable than others, but I can say that nearly all Sixers' fans were willing to forgive those errors if it came accompanied with additional effort: a long blog post after a crucial win or loss -- one at least attempting to explain some of the things that had happened on the court that night.
Thanks to all the e-mailers and posters who took the time to add to the discussion, especially here on Deep Sixer. I was grateful the dialogue rarely devolved; it was always my goal to talk basketball and X's and O's.
So, again, thanks to everyone for following the coverage. I don't want to write too long because, well, this part has absolutely nothing to do with basketball. And that was never what this blog was about.
Thank you for a wonderful three years,
--Kate
Each week, Kate will check in from the road and answer fan questions about the Sixers. Click here to ask Kate a question or e-mail her at kfagan@phillynews.com.
Seeing the 'Farewell Kate Fagan' reminded me of when you hear the dreaded "We have to talk" from your current & soon to be ex-girlfriend. You want to say "Let's not" but you know what's coming anyhow. You are going to be missed, especially your blunt honest candor about the Sixers as well as yourself. Whenever you hear people complaining about Philly fans, remind them that the only thing we want is "passion and effort", which you always brought. When we do find a player who plays with passion & effort plus learns from their mistakes, they have a special place in our hearts forever.
First Joe Frazier, now Kate Fagan. :-(
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— squmata1- Kate, I'll miss your posts. I wish the 6ers would fire Rod Thorn and hire you.— Vituperator
- Best of Luck going forward Kate. The Inquirer just lost a very good beat writer. Hope to see you soon on ESPN! Happy Holidays!!— younged
- Kate- outstanding job on the 6er beat. Good luck at ESPN. They will be lucky to have you.— flashgordon
- Best of luck. Always enjoyed your work!— CaptainCrunch
- Best of luck Kate! I always enjoyed you articles on the Sixers because you always had the facts straight. Philadelphia lost is Espn gain!!!— bill poore
Comment removed.- You really gave excellent, in-depth coverage and analysis of the Sixers, day in and day out during each season. I really appreciated your work. You will be missed. Good luck in your new venture.— Chainsaw
- Everybody's high on consolation
Everybody's trying to tell me what's right for me
My daddy tried to bore me with a sermon
but it's plain to see that they can't comfort me
Sorry Charlie for the imposition
I think I've got it, got the strength to carry on
I need a drink and a quick decision
Now it's up to me, ooh what will be
Chorus:
She's Gone Oh I, Oh I'd
better learn how to face it
She's Gone Oh I, Oh I'd
pay the devil to replace her
She's Gone - what went wrong
Up in the morning look in the mirror
I'm worn as her tooth brush hanging in the stand
my face ain't looking any younger
now I can see love's taken her toll on me
She's Gone
Think I'll spend eternity in the city
let the carbon and monoxide choke my thoughts away
and pretty bodies help dissolve the memories
but they can never be what she was to me
She's Gone— zwarte piet - As a lifelong Sixers fan (I'm 55), I would have never imagined that the first article I would always look for on my team was written by a woman from out of town. Great job, best of luck, you will certainly be missed.— dave13
- I have to say this news is extremely disheartening. Kate was not only the best Sixers beat writer, she was the best sports reporter in Philly. One of the very, very few that covered her team with real substance, something that is severly lacking in today's sports reporting world. And she knew what the hell she was talking about too, something I'm sorry to say not all reporters can boast. For once, and unfortunately for only a short while, sports coverage was about the nuances of the game and WHY the team performed in a certain way, and not about rumors and banal player quotes. When Kate wrote, I understood why the Sixers played a certain way, what to expect from the players, what their strengths and shortcomings were, and what the coaches were thinking when they ran (or didn't run) certain plays. She will be sorely missed.— Bill Lame Beer
- it was easy to tell from the beginning with your rare combo of good looks, legitimate writing skill, and very good understanding of the game that you would get picked up by espn or something similar. glad it came together for you! have fun!— murdock101
- it was easy to tell from the beginning with your rare combo of good looks, legitimate writing skill, and very good understanding of the game that you would get picked up by espn or something similar. glad it came together for you! have fun!— murdock101
- You're very good at your job here Kate, sorry to see you go.— Elbarad
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
