Reed83HOF Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 The old timers here will know who he is... Peter KingVerified account @peter_king 1h1 hour ago More We have lost a legend. Football writer/raconteur Paul Zimmerman, 86, died this afternoon. There’s only one Dr. Z. He’ll be missed. Richard DeitschVerified account @richarddeitsch 18m18 minutes ago As a young reporter, I got to fact check Paul Zimmerman on some stories he did for SI's commemoratives (when a team wins a championship or a single-issue devoted to something that was separate from the weekly magazine. I have but one fun story. Richard DeitschVerified account @richarddeitsch 16m16 minutes ago I was checking a fact that involved John Elway. Zimmerman had written how many seconds it took Elway to throw one snap when he was a quarterback at Stanford. It wasn't exactly verifiable without the game film -- which we were not getting as fact-checkers. Richard DeitschVerified account @richarddeitsch 14m14 minutes ago One of the editors -- I shall leave his name anonymous -- asked me to ask Z how he knew this stat. SI editors left notes in the stories for fact-checkers and we had to follow them the way North Koreans follow the Kim family. Richard DeitschVerified account @richarddeitsch 14m14 minutes ago So I called Z to tell him an editor wanted to know how he knew this. This was an editor who had changed Z's copy before. In Z parlance, and the parlance of most writers, he had ***** with the copy. Z asked who the editor was. I told him. Richard DeitschVerified account @richarddeitsch 12m12 minutes ago That led to a fantastic series of f-bombs and mother f-bombs. I then calmly asked what I should put in the story notes. He told me I should put in, "From Z: Go ***** yourself." So I did. One of the greatest fact-checking notes I ever had. And the stat stayed. Rest in peace, Z. 1 1 4
KD in CA Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 Sad news, always enjoyed Dr. Z. And he was a big believer in the Bills! 2
26CornerBlitz Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 One of the most knowledgeable football writers ever. May the Great Dr. Z Rest In Peace 2
Olaf Fub Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 His was the only weekly power ranking ever that was worth a damn; funny, insightful and always a mention of the flaming redhead. I wish there was a guy half as good as Z writing today. RIP. 2
row_33 Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 Back when we had to wait many days to read an article that didn’t tell us much more than we saw simply watching the game
Lurker Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 Agree with Peter King--there was only one Dr. Z. In his prime, he was the best out there. RIP...
Boatdrinks Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 Always enjoyed Dr Z, he had a lot of praise for the Bills in the ‘90s. His articles were interesting, and I liked reading his takes. Pre internet was more exciting in a way. I couldn’t wait to see the next issue of SI, pro football weekly etc. The buildup in between games kept things interesting. I think Dr.Z was live with ESPN during the great ‘83 draft. One of the best football writers out there...RIP
billsbackto81 Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 11 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said: Always enjoyed Dr Z, he had a lot of praise for the Bills in the ‘90s. His articles were interesting, and I liked reading his takes. Pre internet was more exciting in a way. I couldn’t wait to see the next issue of SI, pro football weekly etc. The buildup in between games kept things interesting. I think Dr.Z was live with ESPN during the great ‘83 draft. One of the best football writers out there...RIP https://www.sicovers.com/thurman-thomas-of-the-bills-1992-january-20 Wish he was right on this prediction. RIP Z.... 1
Boatdrinks Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 Just now, billsbackto81 said: https://www.sicovers.com/thurman-thomas-of-the-bills-1992-january-20 Wish he was right on this prediction. RIP Z.... I do too. I remember that one well, think I still have my copy after all these years.
Augie Posted November 1, 2018 Posted November 1, 2018 RIP, I always wanted to read his stuff. That was the old days, when it wasn’t just about cheap clicks. 2
Fadingpain Posted November 2, 2018 Posted November 2, 2018 He was discussed at the beginning of John Clayton's segment today with Schopp & Bulldog. https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/11-01-hr-3-schopp-bulldog
atlbillsfan1975 Posted November 2, 2018 Posted November 2, 2018 Great great writer. Loved reading his articles in SI during the glory years. Seemed he loved picking the Bills almost as much as Chris Berman. You lived a full life my friend . Thank you for helping a teenage kid enjoy his team. I think we got one more guy in a special place pulling for the Bills.
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