The word “measured” doesn’t often apply to Philadelphia sports. From the passion of the city’s inflammatory fans, to the pressure its media infamously places on its athletes, nothing about Philadelphia sports screams “carefully considered, and deliberately restrained.” Nonetheless, “measured” was the first word sportswriter Mike Sielski used to describe his work on Thursday, visiting Ursinus as a part of a Sports Hub Event.
Sielski, who has worked for eleven years as a columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, is a co-host on Philly’s leading sports radio station 94.1 WIP since 2022. It’s enough time to experience the ups and downs of the Philadelphia sporting world, from the Eagles’ Super Bowl victories to the 76ers’ devastating “process” years. Throughout, he has prided himself on his ability to provide “measured” coverage. “I don’t look to stir anger [through my columns]; there’s enough of that in the world,” Sielski said. “I look to provide the reader with what I really think, with insightful analysis.”
The veteran writer shared his career experiences with students, giving them an inside look at what it means to be a sportswriter in one of the country’s largest sports markets.
Appealing To The Fan
Philadelphia fans are notorious throughout the sporting world for their hijinks. But despite the fan base’s propensity to become hostile towards Santa Claus, Sielski pointed to the fans as a rather knowledgeable group. “They’re a very smart group of fans, who know their team inside-out,” Sielski said. “We had an entire Olympics going on, and they’re focused on the Eagles’ next draft. That speaks to the passion of this town for local sports.”
Knowing the city-wide passion for Philadelphia sports, Sielski emphasized that he looks to write to a wide range of fans. He writes articles with differing levels of analysis to appeal to different levels of fandom in the city. “Sometimes, I’ll write a deep dive into something Eagles-related,” Sielski said, “and sometimes I want to write something for the more casual fan, something my grandmother would understand. It’s important to know your audience.”
Telling “Human” Stories
The Philadelphia sports world is no stranger to rumors and controversy. The region’s passionate fans are constantly looking for the reason behind their teams’ lack of success, and the media is often there to add fuel to the fire. Sielski, however, described a desire to tell more “human” stories, rather than continuing to propagate click-worthy narratives. “I’m a storyteller, and I’m interested in telling the stories behind these athletes,” Sielski said. “I’ve probably written 10 times more about A.J Brown’s mental health than I have about the trade rumors.”
Telling these types of stories doesn’t mean a lack of controversy, though. Sielski recalled a now-infamous moment of his from a year ago, when he called out Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni after a game against the Cleveland Browns. Sirianni had celebrated demonstratively after a win over a lowly Cleveland team, only to bring his children into the press conference afterwards, something Sielski viewed as a strategy to deflect “tough questions” from reporters.
“It’s a story I know he was not happy with, and I know the Eagles weren’t happy with,” Sielski said. But he emphasized that there was a mutual level of respect, despite the story. “I make sure to give every athlete, and every organization advance notice, before a critical story like that comes out,” he said. “It ensures that I’m being fair to the athlete.”
In the end, Sirianni showed that respect back. Sielski described going back to shake Sirianni’s hand after the Super Bowl, only to receive a kindhearted reception. “I went back and I shook his hand, and I said ‘I stand by what I wrote, but I’m sorry if you took it some way,” he said. “And Nick said, ‘I understand, it’s part of the business.’”
Mutual respect goes a long way in a town where tensions constantly run high. “Rarely do I have problems with the coach or the athlete, because [the advance notice] allows for a professional relationship,” he said.
Reaching Beyond the Column
Sielski has achieved great success through his work as a writer. But over the years, he’s reached into more long-form writing. The sportswriter has written two books over the past three years, with a third, “Going the Distance: Stallone, Philly, and Rocky” set to release in November. Sielski explained that he’s thoroughly enjoyed the shift in writing style, especially while researching his new book. “I had so much fun researching this book,” Sielski told Jesse Cherone and I, on our podcast, “Philly Sports Pulse.” “It puts the movie in context, and speaks so much about Philadelphia, the culture here during that time.”
Sielski has transitioned to this style of writing during a time where journalism is at serious risk. A student was quick to ask during the Q&A about the sportswriters’ comfort, given the closure of sports departments at places like the Washington Post. Sielski’s response echoed his previous claims, however. “The city of Philadelphia has such a passion for their local sports team,” he said. “I think this market is going to be safe.”
For it to stand though, it’ll take a strong backbone of future journalists. Sielski implored the crowd to “always ask the extra question,” hoping to grow a new wave of journalists. “It’s important to always be curious in that way,” Sielski said. “You never know what story will unfold.”