Another Columnist Loses His Job for Plagiarizing Rick Reilly

It's official: local sports columnists losing their jobs after plagiarizing Rick Reilly is a full-fledged trend. Or at least, it's happened twice.

In June we told you about a sports talk radio host who was fired from his second job as a columnist for the Vancouver Province for lifting material for Reilly. And now comes John Sleeper of the Everett County Herald, who has resigned after a similar offense. I do give Sleeper credit for his contrition:

That's Sin No. 1 in the profession I love. I don't expect anyone to understand. I don't understand, either.

Now, I'm on the outside, looking in. And that is the way it should be.

I resigned last week because I damaged this newspaper's credibility. I could have drawn it out during a six-week suspension, but I knew that even if by some miracle I was allowed back, suspicion's dark cloud would never leave. Better to end it now and pursue the next phase of my life.

Reilly, who recently left Sports Illustrated for ESPN, is America's highest-paid sports writer, so I guess it's not too surprising that other sports writers want to be just like him. But it is surprising that they think they can get away with it.