If you've been on Twitter at all today, they you probably already know the news: long-time ESPN columnist Rob Neyer has joined SB Nation as the site's new National Baseball Editor.
↵In his first column, published Tuesday morning, "he obliterates the line between 'us' and 'them' and lists a few of the First Principles that will guide his work."
↵↵↵Where the good writing comes from, though, is irrelevant. All that matters is the writing.
↵You're paid to write? I know lots of professional writers who either never learned to write well, or have forgotten. You work for a famous website or newspaper? The big boys don't have a monopoly on good writing, let alone facts.
↵There are a lot of things to love about SB Nation, which is why I'm here. But among them is that they -- excuse me, we -- don't see us as us and you as them. We've got bloggers who most professional writers probably consider them ... but we know better. We know that some of our writers are every bit as talented and knowledgeable as anyone you'll find working for newspapers or the Big Boy websites. We also know that today's readers are tomorrow's writers, and that often the only difference is opportunity (one fantastic thing about the Web is that opportunity is everywhere).
↵Nobody's got a monopoly on good writing, or the facts. If you can come up with one or the other or (ideally) both, you're in the club. That's one of the First Principles.
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It's really a great day for all of SB Nation. Welcome aboard, Rob!