He actually loved writing for ESPN. His page 2 column was renowned. He actually wrote one of the most eloquent and accurate statements on 9/11 the morning of in that column.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?id=1250751

He was an excellent sportswriter, and an even more extraordinary political one. His influence is now gone in Rolling Stone, but he gave them their entire ethos alongside Jan Wenner for years.