Friday, April 1st, 2011 at 11:15 am  |  95 responses

Links: Changes…

Fri-Day! Yes!

by Lang Whitaker | @langwhitaker

(I realized yesterday that this post was going to be going up on the site on April 1, better known as April Fool’s Day. But this isn’t an April Fool’s Day joke. So i almost held it until next week, but figured I wanted to go ahead and get this out there.)

For the last eleven years of my life — roughly 4,015 days — through rain (like today), sleet and snow, I’ve moved myself out of bed every weekday morning and made my way down to Manhattan’s Flatiron District, to enter the SLAM Dome. I moved from Atlanta to New York City  to work for SLAM in the fall of 2000. The first issue I worked on was SLAM #46, the issue with T-Mac on the cover in his Orlando uniform. I worked at the SLAM Dome through getting married, through losing family members, through gaining family members, through 9/11, through the New York City blackout. There were snowstorms and rainstorms and heatwaves and subway outages.

Last summer, I started thinking about how I was surpassing a decade of obsessively covering the NBA full-time for SLAM. The thought was staggering. Almost one-third of my life has been spent sitting here at this desk in the SLAM Dome, where I am sitting right now, trying to tell stories as best as I could, and also doing whatever I could to help other people’s words sing, too.

The more I tried to think about not leaving, the more I thought about what it would be like to not be here every day. And I constantly have ideas and thoughts and dreams and other things I’d love to pursue, but I haven’t been able to.

So, getting to the point: As of this Friday, I will no longer be a full-time editor here at SLAM.

What does that mean? Well, we’re not really sure just yet. I’ll get a fancy new title like Editor at Large. I’m still going to write a lot in every issue of SLAM, will still write on the site. The Links will probably go from the homepage to the drop-down menu, but the biggest change is that I won’t be working out of the SLAM office any longer. And now I’ve got the free time I’ve been dreaming about to chase down other dreams.

What are those dreams? Well, that’s a great question. Right now, besides SLAM, I’ve already got a few pots on the stove. I’m still rep for SLAM on bigger stages, doing things like NBA TV and the podcast on NBA.com (50th episode is available here). My memoir is out and, kinda amazingly, has been getting some great reviews. (BTW, if you’re around NYC, I’m doing a reading on Monday night, April 4, at 7:00 PM at The Half King.) I’m writing essays about random lifestyle things in each issue of Antenna magazine, and I’m working on a food website for guys (it launched this week and my first column is up here).

That’s what I’m up to now. And I love all of that. We nailed all this down on Tuesday, and I left the office on Tuesday night and felt excited. For the first time in a really long time, it feels like I’ve got an open road ahead of me. The only excuse I have for not making my hopes and dreams come true will be that either I screwed it up or that I wasn’t good enough.

Am I good enough? I think so, and I hope so. Mostly, I’m looking forward to finding out.

It feels weird to write this, because it feels like I’m writing a goodbye letter. But this isn’t goodbye, it’s just…I’ll be seeing less of you, at least around here on SLAMonline. Most people who read SLAM might not be able to tell any difference. I’m already working on a couple of things for issues of SLAM down the road, including something for issue 150 that should be tremendous if we can pull it together.

Anyway, let me know if the site gets crappy and I’ll post Ryne’s cell phone number in the comments section so you guys can complain directly to him. But I don’t anticipate having to do that. SLAM is in great hands. I’m still in the huddle, I’m just not one of the guys in middle.

I have no idea what’s next, but I hope to see you there. And I’ll definitely see you here.

–lang

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  • http://www.xxlmag.com Adam Fleischer

    Looking forward to keeping up with what challenges you take on next, Lang. Will miss your witty quips (and jabs) in person, but glad to know I’ll still be able to catch ‘em in writing. And remember, I’m a size 13, too. Haha! –Fleischman

  • http://slamonline.com Sam Rubenstein

    TRAITOR!!! I think you’re taking this learning from Bobby Cox thing too far.
    Best of luck.

  • http://ballislife.com Stephon

    Best of luck to u Lang!

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    : )
    _____
    I wish you all the best Lang with your endeavours. Are you thinking of adding to your family, kids and all the rest of it???
    When I think of you in the ‘slam huddle’ I see you as the ‘Dennis Rodman’, sort of on the outer edge of the huddle (Ben is in the middle doing his Randy Brown “WHAT TIME IS IT..” impressions) head turned to one side listening, channeling, ready to get on the court and inhale every lose ball off the glass. Rodman, could play 45 mins of a game, snag 17 rebounds, hit 2 clutch FTs and get the other teams coach ejected and STILL have been thinking about that evenings activity whilst on a 5 game road trip… yet he was giving 100% effort for the team and his ball family around him. You are the Worm lang. And I mean that with all the sense of honour I can muster.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Aaron

    ahaha i still have that issue in mint condition

  • Jake

    4/1/11…. The day the linkstigators died.:( sniff sniff.

  • http://www.slamonline.com James the Balla

    Hey Lang, thanks again for letting me drop some letters in the post. Good luck on everything and hopefully chat soon. I still have one last letter and some cool pictures for you in about 10 days. Be safe on your adventures!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nick Tha Quick

    Best of luck to you Lang. Like Mike in his prime, there comes a time when you have to chase other dreams and even when they may not mean the same to you as basketball, you still have to give yourself that opportunity and walk down that path. All the best in all you do.

    The current SLAM community is far different from what it used to be way back when you posted links at exactly 4pm? and I used to schedule my college classes to end right before 3pm so I could hit The Links fresh as a cinnamon roll off the oven. How else would we know who Ben Handlogten was or even care? Who would have made us all believe Jesse Dunn was real? Or the whole thing with Mitch’s wife. The one thing that doesn’t change on this site, in light of all the arguments, slurs, idiocy, trolling, homerism(?), fanaticism, hubris etc that goes on daily is the global respect and admiration for the work Lang has put into SLAM. Much appreciated!

  • http://www.yamahyouth.com Germs

    Good luck Lang! You will be followed wherever you go. Appreciate your work and have to agree with Ben that you are one of the builders of SLAM. Thanks man! Vaya con Dios!

  • S dot.

    Best of luck Lang! I actually remember when there was not a whole lot to slamonline.com and all that was really on there was The Links and I would check on the website everyday just to read The Links. I loved and still love reading The Links. Seeing how far the website and the magazine has come with you around has been a joy. You are kinda like a grandmaster to me or something like that as your writing is at a level that I hope to reach. This is a little tough but you know what…it’s ok. Its sorta like you just lost a friend because the both of you decided to go do something really cool for yourselves, but unfortunately it cannot involve both ya. But then later on when you meet up, you see how well both of you have done for yourselves and its all good. You are going forward and doing some amazing things and I can not wait to see what else you got in store for all of us. Thank you for the many years here at slamonline.com and The Links, thank you for being funny as hell and thank you for writing good stuff because I have plagiarized you a few times (that last part never happened).

  • http://www.fiba.com Darksaber

    So umm, is Starbury (the dog) also moving on to newer and better things?

  • Dieter

    “am i good enough?” dang lang; you MADE slam – the best basketball magazine in the world! i’ve gotta say: this is a bit much for a saturday morning….. it’s the end of an era. i thoroughly enjoyed the links throughout the years, lang; thanks for everything.

  • http://kb24.com Bigi

    Thank you Mr. Whitaker for The Links, been a proud reader for a long time. And good luck to everything ahead. Peace.

  • Jesse Dunns Ghost

    ummm jesse dunn is real, im right here…big ups to you lang…you told the world my story and I thank ya for that…i used to schedule my 15min breaks at work for 4pm so I could get the Links (grey version) before everyone else..we gonna miss ya sir..

  • dunkbar

    congrats on your decision! i can relate so much, i think … quit my job on thursday, now trying to start my own business form not much but a good idea and a ton of heart poured into it. you know what they say: the world belongs to the brave! go for it – i wish you all the best in pushing forward. nevertheless, i will still be looking forward to every piece you write on the site or in the mag.

  • http://slamonline.com Matt Lawyue

    Honored to have worked with you for a year, if only because you introduced me to one of the greatest sandwiches in the history of sandwiches.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucZRore0-EE IAMORANGE4EVER

    This is what it sounds like, when the Doves cry.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    All the best on your future endeavours, Lang. Have been reading SLAM since I was 14 and hadn’t the slightest idea what most American slang was, and have been on Slamonline since the good old grey background black text days (except for Charlie Ward or Chris Childs whose quotes were in red like Jesus?). It’s been a great journey. Good luck and thanks for everything.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nick Tha Quick

    Lol @ Jesse Dunn. We all thought you’d sign with the Warriors and average 50 a season under Don Nelson. Maybe not so much…

  • JTaylor21

    You fancy huh?
    Also someone tell me that’s the real Henry Abott up there.

  • http://dude Chukaz

    This is f*cking weird. I got into this website when i was 13 n now i’m almost 21 n the only constant in my life over those 7-8 years was lang running this links thing. its the end of an era

  • Adam Lagan

    Congratulations Lang, and good luck with all your projects. From a dedicated and admiring reader.

  • http://slamonline.com AlbertBarr

    Enjoy all of your future successes Lang!

  • Phildo

    Thank you Lang – always scary for me to re-live these memories with you. I`ve been down with the mag (and then Slamonline) from day one. Realizing how many years I got my bball-fix through the net (and how old I got while doing it) makes me think…
    I also have a lot of moments with you where you responded immediately through the site which got me a feeling of a personal friendship and knowing you even though it was only “virtual”. This really exploited the power of the net and what it does to help globalization to me.
    Hopefully your future moves will not make it too easy to let my “following” of Slam slide as there might not be as much content which was a regular and constant must read for me (no offense to the other current writers of Slam – it just always felt a bit different with stuff from Mr. Whitaker as he has been there from day one and at that time there was nobody else). I still want to get your touch on living in NYC and close to the NBA environment in order to broaden my horizon.
    All the best! I wish you some great new perspectives which fulfill you along that road.

  • K.a.

    Wishing u luck lang. Been down with the links since inception n after scoop, you were slams voice to me. Holla!

  • jk light

    I bought the first issue of Slam with Grandma’s tomahawk om the cover for then about 10 Euro and was a fan ever since. I don’t want to know how much time I spend on this website in the last ten years and always looked forward to read new stuff from Lang. I wish you all the best too.

  • Hursty

    Thankyou Lang, appreciate your hard work.
    I’ll still be reading your stuff.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/officerbarbrady what

    I have also been reading your ish since you were posting daily at 3PM with the gray background. Always an entertaining read, and as a Hawks fan, it was good to see at least one person in the basketball media who showed the Hawks some love from time to time. Good luck with everything you’re doing.

  • arthur

    The first issue of SLAM that I ever read was the Rasheed Wallace cover story that Lang wrote, and I was sold from there. All the best in the future.

  • http://www.swhytedesign.com Staff

    The development of slam on line is everything great about publishing online, its a legacy to be proud of Lang, well done

  • Torrance

    If Lang was the guy in the middle of the huddle, I see myself as one of the guys in the upper level of the stands, cheering on him when he wrote another kick-ass article, envying him for his outrageous adventures, laughing out loud at his silly jokes, booing him when he was praising his own magazine to the skies (kidding!)…
    Lang, what you did with this site and the magazine is one thing, but I think it is even more important how The Links influenced and united b-ballheads all around the world, on various topics. This truly feels like a world wide family, even though I never spoke to anyone on this site in person, or even commented that much. But through all those years, you were an excellent guide into basketball AND American culture for a Belgian baller. You already archieved big things, mr. Whitaker. And I’m pretty confident that you’ll continue to do so.

  • dsleepy

    Lang, your writing is THE reason I became a fan of SLAM. best of luck to you, sir.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Saw this a little late but thanks for everything Lang. And good luck on all your other endeavors

  • The Wize

    Good luck mate, you’ve done a great job here. peace

  • Tommy Patron

    Best of luck, Lang. It can be very sweet, this getting a little older thing…..

  • Michael

    Lang – been a follower of the links since slamonline was in its very early days – i think i might steer clear of the website for a while now the final piece has gone – a lack of russ game notes doesnt help either. You were always the heart and soul of this site – good luck for all future endeavours.

  • http://slamonline.com Brad Long

    Wow…I’m a little stunned right now. I remember when HoopsTV.com was the spot and The Links pretty much changed that. Lang, you will always be one of my favorite basketball personalities. Good luck going forward. Like the cover said a couple issues back, “Watch The Throne.”.

  • http://www.docksquadsports.com Vik

    you will be missed, but good luck with everything…

  • joshbraby (jb21)

    I don’t get on here as much as I’d like anymore (f you real world) but from (2000-2005) during school I clicked refresh too many times hoping the links would be updated as early as possible so I could read before basketball practice at 5. Good luck Lang! And thanks.

  • matt the jazz fan

    Been down with SLAM from issue #1, which inredibly was already on sale in the Netherlands (even in Delft not just A’dam)! And with slamonline.com! Congrats and all the best, Lang.
    All I can say is I trust the site will do better than Utah after Jerry Sloan “retired”.

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  • Damir

    I’ve been a loyal Slam fan here in Bosnia for years, and I usually never write any comments..but this is a very sad day for me ..I wish you all the love of this world man..be safe

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  • 4thQtrHero

    Damn Lang. You started on issue #46, I come in about #48 (Steph in coney island). I’ve gotten through Russ leaving (helped by those few months of an independent 3forall), then Sam left but you!!!`A lot of memories. The 911 post stands in my memory because I’m so far away from NYC you don’t really understand what it was like but reading your words helped me understand. All the crazy stuff, like Ben+Hand+Log+Ten becoming the links guy just because of the name, SLAMBowls, your problems with the cable company, running into steve nash on a train, musclewatch, all the cool nicknames players got….I could go on and on. We need a best of the Links column. Break it down into catergories. Best of stories that happened to you, Best of pop culture stories and best of linked stories (I’m hoping for the Patrick Ewing and Mutumbo go with Yao Ming to his restaurant story for that last one). Good luck with all your future endeavours.

  • http://lolcraze.com immitoDep

    Hey guys,

    Figured I’d share this hilarious tale. Esentially, A hugly unlucky dude got taken into custody after he farted near a cop in some southern state in the USA.

    Continue reading the rest on LOLCraze

    Some unlucky fellow is arrested after farting on a cop

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