Sports writer Bill Rabinowitz joins me to unpack his new book Buckeye Brotherhood, the people-first stories from Ohio State's national championship season, and what it really takes to build a career in sports media today. We cover interviewing 50+ players and coaches, the leadership arc of Ryan Day, and why great reporting starts with listening. If you love Ohio State or you want to sharpen your sports-writing game, this one will hit.
In this episode:
- The human stories behind the Buckeyes' championship run
- How to break into sports media in 2025 and build audience on your own terms
- Listening to understand vs listening to reply
- Preparing under pressure and telling hard stories the right way
- Why Ohio State football unites an entire state
- Five takeaways
- People first, plays second. The best football stories are human stories.
- Listening is your edge. It unlocks trust and better reporting.
- Preparation reduces nerves and clarifies decisions.
- You can build a writing career if you are excellent and consistent.
- Resilience and identity fueled Ohio State's run, not just scheme.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:00 Bill's path in journalism
06:45 Breaking in today
08:40 The power of listening
12:35 Why Ohio State unites Ohio
13:30 Making Buckeye Brotherhood
18:55 Telling Ryan Day's story
21:05 Unsung players, big moments
27:30 Substack and paying for real journalism
41:00 Wrap and resources
Resources
Book: Buckeye Brotherhood (search on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Triumph Books)
Bill's Substack: billrabinowitz.substack.com
About The Gametime Guru
Nine years running, I interview sports figures from around the world to deliver a panoramic view on sports. Former athletes, die-hards, and casual fans all walk away with something useful.
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