10 Nov 2023, 00:00

76-year-old Woodrow Wilson Paige Jr., more popularly known as Woody Paige, is an author and sports columnist for The Gazette.

Paige is also popular as a regular panelist on the sports-talk program Around the Horn, hosted by ESPN. 

Around the Horn is a sports roundtable discussion show conducted in the style of a panel game with 18 seasons and over 2,500 episodes aired. 

Before his work for the Gazette and ESPN, Paige was a columnist for the Denver Post for 35 years.

In the middle of working for the Post, Paige took a years sabbatical in July 2004 to join ESPN2's then-debuting Cold Pizza.

Cold Pizza was touted as a daytime-TV "morning show" style program only loosely grounded in sports and primarily aimed at female viewers. 

Paige's role in the show was in a segment where he bantered with fellow sports writer Skip Bayless.

Paige also contributed to Around the Horn during this period, so he could not give an adequate amount of time to Cold Pizza. His last appearance on the show was November 28, 2006.

Cold Pizza itself only ended up lasting till May 4, 2007. After his stint at Cold Pizza, Paige returned to the Denver Post. 

Paige worked at the Denver Post till 2016 and then began writing for the Gazette the same year.

Here Are Some Facts About Woody Paige

Learn About Woody Paige's Illness And Health Issues

Sports columnist Woody Paige is not suffering from any illness but has had several health issues pertaining to his age.

Woody Paige is 76 years old. The man has been writing since the 60s and writing professionally since he was 35 years old.

In his multi-decade career, Paige has earned a reputation for being a hard drinker, partier, and living on the edge.

Paige's wild ways have gotten to the point where when he was looking a little disheveled in a recent television spot, fans were unfazed because that's just how he is.

In a Reddit post five years ago, a newer fan wondered if Paige was ill because he looked really bad, but other commenters quickly pointed out that that's just how Paige is and also pointed out his age.

However, despite all the guesstimation about his health, age, and potential sicknesses, one thing that can be attributed to Paige is that he's still showing up and doing his job.

Paige is one of the hardest-working sports panelists in media right now, and even at 76, the sports writer is still one of the most hard-working and forthright columnists there is.

His influence goes beyond just sports, as two years ago, when the race riots were in full swing, Paige wrote an article on his website where he compared the current riots to those in the 60s and lamented that nothing had changed. 

What Happened To Woody Paige?

Sports columnist Woody Paige has had many ups and downs in his multi-decade career over various mediums.

From becoming the most popular writer on the Denver Post, a job he started as a fresh-faced 31-year-old in 1981, Paige not only garnered fame but a solid fanbase that supported him and looked forward to his pieces. 

The support that Paige had garnered was unprecedented, but it has persisted to this day.

Still, his career is not without its hiccups.

In 2001, some of Paige's articles created controversy when he reported that an Invesco employee claimed that the Denver Broncos stadium Invesco Field at Mile High had been nicknamed "The Diaphragm" for its shape.

The CEO of Invesco, which had the stadium's naming rights, threatened the publication, specifically Paige, with legal action over the allegations. 

In a funny twist of faith, the lawsuit had to be retracted when the story was found to be true. 

Another minor controversy that Paige had been part of was when he was named the 35th biggest creep in sports by Bleacher Report due to his unsavory actions. 

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Where Is Woody Paige Now?

Sports columnist Woody Paige is still writing for The Gazette and paneling for Around the Horn. 

Paige's appearance in Around the Horn has rejuvenated his career, bringing him new fans. People love Paige's unhinged opinions and off-the-cuff behavior.

Paige's opinions have sometimes made him both a champion and a laughing stock on the show, as he is both the winningest and losingest panelist on the show.

Paige is also popular for hanging a chalkboard behind him, each segment with a humorous message.

For example, as of the publication of this article, the chalkboard behind him says: We were off so long I forgot how the scoring system works, and So thrilled ATH was off for three weeks. I didn't get muted once. 

Another aspect of the show that had gotten many fans during the show's early years was his friendly rivalry with fellow panelist Jay Mariotti before the latter's dismissal.

The two ex-co-panelists currently host a sports podcast called "Unmuted," referencing the mute button employed on ATH.

Paige continues to write on The Gazette and his website, where his topics have veered off sports strictly as he comments on America and the world at large. 

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