The National was an American attempt to emulate the model of several international all-sports publications, such as La Gazzetta dello Sport (Italy), L'Equipe (France), and others.

[2] Deford said that hiring Atlanta Journal-Constitution sports editor Van McKenzie away from the paper was the "best thing he did" and was the linchpin for getting many of the writers who eventually signed up to write for The National interested.

[2] Once McKenzie was hired, he brought his auto racing writer Ed Hinton and investigative reporter and NFL analyst Chris Mortensen with him.

The Wall Street Journal facilities would often have deliveries leave the distributors at such an early time that The National was often unable to meet deadlines for game results.

[citation needed] As the year went on, the financial state of The National worsened, to the point where the paper had tens of millions of dollars cut from its budget as 1991 began.

On June 13, 1991, The National put out its final issue with its front cover reading "We Had A Ball: The fat lady sings our song.