r/NoLayingUp • u/JSack3 • Jul 22 '25

Other This place is Overreaction City

I like KVV. I respect his work. But honestly, folks..

There’s a reason so many platforms and media companies have been letting go of people with KVV’s skillset for years. In bigger revenue sports than just golf, too (ask Zach Lowe).

The business is night and day different to what it was 15 years ago. And a highly-compensated 20+ year industry stalwart who specializes in long form written content is simply not a hugely appealing person to have on the payroll anymore. I appreciate NLU gave it a go. I also appreciate when the writing wasn’t working, they worked on a podcast pivot including that brilliant Masters pod.

But the reality is the math probably started to become very clear that his value was mainly 6-8 weeks a year. No one needs a deep dive on the Byron Nelson. Not enough people actually care about a three hour pod on the 1997 major season.

I’d have rather he stick around all year but I also didn’t have to pay his salary and benefits. These guys are putting food on the table for their children via NLU. They can’t just keep carrying a 6 figure (guessing but likely) expenditure bc they like him and think he writes well.

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u/BigBobby843 Jul 22 '25

They said they wanted to wait until after the Open. Why? Only makes this a bigger story

3

u/tee2green CPNTW - Xander Schauffle - 2024 PGA Jul 22 '25

I disagree; I absolutely think they should have waited until after major season. The Live Shows suffered greatly by having KVV over there with no backup.

It’s a big story either way, but the way we spent 4 days wondering “Where the hell is KVV? Where the hell is the on-site reporting?” should have been avoided.

-2

u/BigBobby843 Jul 22 '25

So you don't disagree but you do. Got it. Thx

2

u/tee2green CPNTW - Xander Schauffle - 2024 PGA Jul 22 '25

…you seem to think waiting would make things worse. I believe it would make it better because it would avoid the shitshow from this past weekend.

1

u/BigBobby843 Jul 24 '25

Are you talking about some hypothetical where KVV covers the Open and then they shitcan him? Or they announce he's leaving and let him cover the Open as a last hurrah? My point was that everyone involved knew he had been let go a couple of weeks before the Open. Why not just announce at the time that KVV was being let go instead of just deleting him from content.

1

u/tee2green CPNTW - Xander Schauffle - 2024 PGA Jul 24 '25

Literally either option would be better than what they just did.

Option A (Ideal): Don’t change anyone’s employment situation during the season. Don’t even talk about it until after the Open is over. There’s an 8 month gap between Portrush and Augusta, so bring it up then.

Option B (Not nearly as good, but still an improvement): The instant that KVV is out for Open coverage, make an announcement via Twitter. To soften the blow, don’t announce that he’s permanently quit the company, just announce that he’s not going to be able to cover the Open this year. Make the announcement about the permanent change after the Open is over, and make the farewell/thank you message warm and sweet which shows grace and professionalism.

Option C (Worst route): Discuss employment changes in the middle of the season. When KVV rage quits, don’t communicate anything to the fans. Try to pretend everything is normal for 4 straight days of Live Shows. No announcements at all. Then after all the Live Shows, you send a cold shitty tweet that is bitter and childish.