He could be maddening, humorous,thought-provoking, extremely irritating, serious, informative, outrageous, passionate, sometimes loony, stuck in a time warp, ahead of his time...whatever suited his moods..but the one thing he never could be as a talented writer was to be boring.

Sam was a perennial all-star in a local field inhabited by mostly "D" league J-school wannabes.
Sam you have to much to offer than to fade off into an Arizona sunset...Join Matt's blog.

You can add your insights and your insults to those like myself, who share your love of the game without the knowledge that only an insider could offer. I know your war stories would make this blog even more special than it already is. Most of us would soak it in, like a bunch of raw recruits, learning from a decorated combat veteran.  It can be even more rewarding  than the local tavern...You don't have to go home with a hangover and the drinks are on us. You can even sit around in your underwear while you pontificate to the masses.

As Jackie Gleason used to tell Alice while in one of his rare good moods...."Sam, You're the greatest".

As if my denial doesn't already indicate, I can't accept The Sam Smith is somehow tangled in this mess of cuts. I always found him to be a thorough reporter when he covered the Bulls, one who had a unique perspective not just on the Bulls but on NBA basketball as well (those trade proposals? Come on, great stuff). Huge mistake; he's too good to be let go/bought out like that.

Besides, how is Jay Mariotti gonna write columns about the Bulls now without being able to turn to Smith's columns for reference?

I wasn't always the biggest Sam Smith fan (like everyone else on this board it seems), but he was always interesting and his Sam answers fans questions thing was really insightful this year.

I've been reading him for years, ever since the Jordan Rules came out when I was in 6th grade or so.

That's disappointing.