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I’ve seen about a dozen names of Tribune editorial staffers who are bailing out, and by and large they’ve been terrific journalists. I’ve discussed the work of some in Hot Type, such as medical writer Judy Peres, sports columnist Sam Smith, and markets columnist Bill Barnhart. Then there’s Alan Solomon. The story about him I had to tell back in 1994 was about how the woman then editing sports removed the department’s TV, and how Solomon’s way of protesting was to send her flowers and a note that said “The whole building, the whole country are laughing at you. Put the TV back,” and how she then kicked him off the White Sox beat. He wound up on the night rewrite desk.
I called him wondering why he would give it up. “It’s just time,” Solomon replied. “It’s almost like what Brett Favre said, ‘I could play one more year but I don’t think I want to.’ As wonderful as the job is, I’ve used up all my adjectives. How much more can you say about Branson the fourth time around?”
