[ { "name": "Real 1 Player (r2) - Inline", "component": "38482494", "insertPoint": "2/3", "requiredCountToDisplay": "9" } ]
The Akron Beacon Journal is about to lose yet another sports writer. Patrick McManamon will be leaving the ABJ this month to start a gig at AOL Fanhouse, as the aggressive web sports destination continues to add former newspapermen to its ranks. McManamon will continue to cover the Browns, Indians, and Cavs for Fanhouse, as well as some regional stories. He will start writing for AOL sometime around February 15.
McManamon's departure follows that of Brian Windhorst and Terry Pluto, who both left the Beacon Journal in recent years. And, until his spot is filled, it also leaves George Thomas, Sheldon Ocker, and Marla Ridenour as the lone reporters at the ABJ for Cleveland's major sports teams.
Congrats go out to Patrick. He was always gracious and accessible, worked hard to incorporate links and material from the wealth of Cleveland blogs out there into his work to foster the relationship between the mainstream media and bloggers, and was one of the few media members in Cleveland who really got how to write for the internet to supplement what he produced for the paper. If you're wondering how to contact Patrick, head over to this blog post. As soon as I get a comment from Patrick I will update here.
Update from Pat: "It wasn't easy to leave a place that has been so good to me, and a job that was so much fun. But AOL Fanhouse is growing, aggressive and has a national audience. And I can write about the same teams and sports. It just seemed like the right move at the right time."