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We received a press release an hour ago announcing that John Byrne, editor of Fast Company for the last two years, has left the magazine to join BusinessWeek. "This is the one job I could not turn down," Byrne said of his new gig in the FastCo-issued statement. "I have every confidence in Fast Company's editorial team and every confidence in the magazine's new owner to get the magazine to a new level of success."

Of course we didn't believe that official rationale — who ever believes an official rationale? — but we figured the real reason was a fairly straightforward new-ownership thing. But then just moments ago we received a forwarded email and realized there might be a different explanation:

BizWeek shellacked FastCo on the softball field Saturday morning, taking the nine-inning game by a final score of 18 to 6. And anyone would rather go work for a winner.

Full BusinessWeek email after the jump.

Earlier: Softball: The Hits (and Pitches) Just Keep Coming

From: Lowry, Tom
Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 11:27 AM
To: #bw_edit_ny
Subject: Still Here But Not That Fast

At least on a muggy Saturday morning. BusinessWeek took apart John Byrne's Fast Company 18 to 6 in a nine-inning contest to even out our record to 5-5. We played an outstanding and consistent game, even against Byrne's latest band of ringers. Former Marines? Come on now.


GAME MVPS

Spencer E. Ante. He hit two huge triples during out last game against DC Comics and we left him stranded both times at third. On Saturday, he took matters into his own hands and hit not just one homer, but two. An All-Star year for SEA.

Jonathan Byrne. What can you say? He goes five for six with a bunch of key rbis and big scoops at shortstop. He just loves beating the old man.

Lucy Santana. She's in research on the biz side of BW and has come out to play and cheer for us on a regular basis over the past two years. Lucy has a lot of heart and she showed that Saturday by beating out an infield dribbler to get on first. Her best game so far.

Thanks to everybody else who helped us with a big win: Pradeep Varghese; Jose and Martin Sanchez; Jan Simmonds; Fred Katzenberg; Jeff Fox; James Mehring and Burt Helm.

NEXT UP: Fortune. 10 a.m., Saturday, July 23, Field #6, Heckscher Fields, Central Park.