I recently had the opportunity to interview David Rumsey, a veteran newsletter writer at Front Office Sports. In doing so, I was fortunate enough to learn more about what it means to cover the business side of sports and entertainment, which as it turns out, frequently overlaps with sports law. Our conversation mainly covered David’s background, role as a writer, career interests, and insight on some hot topic issues at the intersection of business, sports, and law.
Born and raised in North Carolina, David, like many of us, has been interested in sports his entire life. Growing up, David had a special interest in golf, which has followed him into his career, as David noted one of his favorite areas of study is within the world of golf. In fact, recently, David covered the Ryder Cup “pay-for-play” issue that was one of the hottest topics in the sport this year. In addition to golf, David has taken an interest in the NFL and collegiate athletics.
David’s career in sports reporting dates back to 2014, when he was an editor of the sports section of the “Southern Accent,” the official newspaper of Southern Adventist University. From there, David went on to gain his first experience in professional sports at a job with Charolette Motor Speedway, where he wrote press releases, promotional material, and race recaps. He also spent time working with UNC Charolette, the NCAA, and Breaking Limits, before landing at Sports Business Journal, a prominent newsletter in the industry. In 2023, David moved to Front Office Sports, where he works currently. Like those of us involved in sports law, David noted one of his favorite things about his current role at Front Office Sports is analyzing how sports can have such an impact on various other fields like business, law, etc. When asked about what separates Front Office Sports from other journals, David emphasized how Front Office Sports allows him to dive into the culture of sport, exploring not just the business side of sports but also human stories, industry trends, and behind-the-scenes realities that shape modern athletics.
I’d like to thank David for taking time out of his schedule to speak with us and give us some insight into what it means to be a writer in the sports world. I was pleasantly surprised to see how much of the legal side of sports intersects with the business and professional sectors. On behalf of myself and the rest of UB’s Sports Law Blog, Thanks David—wishing you all the best!
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