Doesn't The Dig seem like the perfect paper for a Bill Simmons-eque but possibly edgier sports column? I didn't know the Phoenix had one until recently, and I'm not so impressed with it.
I don't know what their financial numbers look like, but the Dig's content is getting kind of stagnant. The Onion had the same issue years ago, and they got things going again by adding a sports section. Of course, I'm probably just setting myself up for failure because even if they did start a sports column they'd probably hire some hipster asshole to write it like they do the rest of their columns. Maybe they're doing everybody a favor by just not touching it.