The End
It is with great sorrow that I write today to say that this is the last post on the Gatorade blog. In 14 months, I've written 309 posts and got smart feedback from many of you. I still deeply love covering the brand and the growing industry, but because of increased responsibilities, I no longer feel I can devote the time that this deserves. I will continue to leave the blog active for people who want to search the archives. For those of you who are interested in Gatorade, I obviously encourage you to purchase my book. Thanks you all for making the sports drink world a better place and if you'd like to contact me, I'm still at TheGatoradeGuy@aol.com.
Darren
Darren, how about keeping and maintaining a blog linking to your ESPN.com columns and other musings on the sports business scene?
Posted by: johnmoore (from Brand Autopsy) | June 27, 2006 at 01:48 PM
Sorry to read that you will be stopping the blog. I ahve really enjoyed reading your thoughts on Gatorade.
My initial thought on this was whether or not Darren deciding to stop writing the blog was due to this comment from ESPN.com's ombudsman in a late May article:
Darren Rovell's Weblog about Gatorade -- done independent of the Gatorade company and ESPN -- still looks very commercial, and raises questions from viewers about its propriety. Rovell, who covers sports business for ESPN.com and appears on ESPN's networks, also wrote a book on Gatorade that ESPN.com Executive Editor Patrick Stiegman said was "independent of his role with ESPN," as is his work with the Gatorade blog.
Stiegman added that Rovell's work on Gatorade, both on the book and the blog, is "unauthorized (by Gatorade) and offers a balanced view on developments in the sports drink niche. Darren has been both forthright and careful in his handling of this project." Rovell's coverage of sports business has been aggressive, clever and generally admired. His association, in my view, with the Gatorade site, on top of a writing a book on the subject, isn't helping his reputation, or that of ESPN.
The full article can be found here:http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=solomon_george&id=2459811
Posted by: Kirk | June 27, 2006 at 03:27 PM
It's sad to see the blog come to an end. As someone who has worked on Gatorade for about 2 years I just wanted to say thank you.
Posted by: metro | June 27, 2006 at 04:19 PM
Kirk, I assure you, this had nothing to do with the Ombudsman's comments. As I said in my goodbye note, it was more about the investment of time.
Posted by: Darren | June 28, 2006 at 08:44 AM
Darren,
I am really going to miss your blog. I enjoy reading you on ESPN but this is a really cool place. Thanks for taking the time to start it and work on it and reply to our comments. I really enjoyed your book as well. Keep up the good work and give Colin a hard time for me next time you are on with him.
Posted by: David Evertsen | June 28, 2006 at 06:45 PM
Darren,
My wife and I will certainly miss the site and your commentary. It was fun to watch and comment as you patrolled the front lines of the Gatorade front. Good luck, and have fun out there.
Posted by: Greg DeSantis | June 29, 2006 at 03:54 PM
Good luck at CNBC, Darren!
Posted by: Tyson | June 30, 2006 at 04:23 PM
enjoyed the blog and your sports business work @ espn...all the best @ CNBC...hope you will still have a web presence...
Posted by: Vik Dalvi | July 05, 2006 at 08:25 PM
Although I only posted one comment I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed the blog since I found it. I also have enjoyed your work on ESPN, and sorry to say I guess I am not that informed with your move to CNBC. Can you give any details?
Thanks again.
Posted by: Kaly Harward | July 12, 2006 at 11:22 AM
Sure. I've moved on to CNBC after six great years at ESPN.com and ESPN. I'll be on a variety of their programs, but I'll most often appear on their 7pm and 11 pm ET show "On the Money." I hope you'll check it out.
Posted by: Darren | July 14, 2006 at 09:50 PM
See ya dude. Good luck!
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | August 14, 2006 at 10:18 PM
Got any good sales.marketing jobs with gatoraide?
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | September 08, 2006 at 10:11 PM
Dude get that porn stuff of the site! I hate how it's by my name!
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | September 09, 2006 at 07:31 PM
Download free nextel latest new ringtones visit our website http://www.nextelringtonesworld.info.
Posted by: Nextel Phone | September 25, 2006 at 02:50 PM
Just found this blog, too bad I didn't find it last year though.
Posted by: Coach | September 28, 2006 at 09:14 PM
What is wrong with you people and the websites junk all over this site?
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | November 05, 2006 at 08:51 PM
Thanks for cleaning up the site!
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | December 14, 2006 at 09:34 AM
Darren remember the end is just the beginnng of a new exciting career.
Good luck Man,
Todd Charske
Posted by: Todd Charske | December 22, 2006 at 07:00 PM