Leitch’s Tribute to Roger Ebert

Will Leitch, founding editor of Gawker‘s sports blog, Deadspin, contributing editor at New York magazine, and author of the bitingly funny book-length sports manifesto God Save the Fan, has shed the trademark irreverence that famously drew the ire of Buzz Bissinger on Costas Now long enough to write a stirring and memorable tribute to legendary film critic Roger Ebert.

In his modestly titled essay, ”My Roger Ebert Story,” Leitch describes his lifelong admiration for Ebert, a fellow native of Illinois, alum of the University of Illinois, and editor at the school’s paper, The Daily Illini, and how their lives intersected several times during Leitch’s late teens years and early 20s. Surprisingly – or maybe not, for those who know him - Ebert kept up a lively correspondence with Leitch, encouraged his passion and talent, and went out of his way to help kickstart Leitch’s career as a writer.

The pinnacle of the story, and the low point in their relationship, comes when Leitch recalls penning an opinion piece called “I Am Sick Of Roger Ebert’s Fat F—-ing Face,” which he claims now was an immature attempt to establish himself, unfortunately by positioning himself in stark (read: disrespectful) opposition to the old guard.  One doubts that Leitch has ever harbored more regret than he does for writing that piece – and wonders whether this essay isn’t an overdue public atonement for it.

In spite of its passing reference to “humping Ebert’s leg,” Leitch’s tribute proves that he is a writer capable of far more than the scathing blog posts about sports figures and corporate media, which launched his career as a nationally recognized commentator. Though he’ll never grow up to be Roger Ebert the way he dreamt he might as a child, if he stays on course he just might become as valued and valuable a critic.