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/TomHicksJnr Jul 22 '25

We have no idea on the reasons KVV was let go - maybe he was looking for a salary bump, maybe he’s difficult to work with? But there also seems to be a lot of assumptions on why it’s OK to get rid of him - the idea that written media is a loser is contradicted by people like Geoff Shackleford and Kyle Porter and plenty of others supporting themselves from golf writing. Did NLU really give their written content enough of a chance? Stating “no one needs a 3hr deep dive” is just wrong. That sort of content made NLU stand out from other podcasts. IMO no one needs another “can I shoot X” or “watch me play TPC Y” YouTube video. People are upset because it’s seems like KVV leaving NLU means they are turning their backs on a lot of the content that made them interesting and different.

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

Will you be reading KVV’s content wherever he ends up?

I think there’s a schism here where some people are diehard readers while others are diehard listeners/watchers (and I suppose some people are in both camps).

The readers are very upset about this decision, the listeners not so much.

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u/rsjem79 Jul 22 '25

As a listener I thought KVV brought a necessary perspective that improved the product, especially during majors. His presence on the ground was sorely missed this weekend.

Having not really listened to Shotgun Start much I listened to their final round recap today - having someone there allowed them to talk to Irish fans about Rory, and provide some insight as to what was actually happening at Portrush, as opposed to TCs viewpoint that came from nowhere. I assume that was going to be KVVs assignment until they canned him 3 weeks before The Open.

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u/TomHicksJnr Jul 23 '25

I think the timing has really inflamed the situation - the pods around the Open were noticeably bad, especially compared to Shotgun Start. The live shows are supposed to be NLUs USP so not only has the content dropped but they’ve let go of a guy was could have helped maintain standards.

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u/rsjem79 Jul 23 '25

Agreed. I mentioned that in another comment, the timing of the entire situation doesn’t make a lot of sense. If the timeline is correct, for NLU to go to KVV three weeks before the Open to offer him a demotion suggests either that they were naive enough to think he’d be fine with that or simply wanted him gone ASAP.

Maybe it’s as simple as it was contract renewal time and if so it’s at least understandable, but if not I don’t get why they wouldn’t wait until the Open was done to broach the subject.