No, I'm afraid he was never "well respected". In certain compliant media circles perhaps, but yes, even that seems to have faded. Appearing on an espn special as a fanboy of a the topic of a documentary does not "national cache" make. Plus, I don't remember any national platform being the golden ticket to respectability.
This is far, far, far from just my opinion. Jesus, even the people he writes for (St. Louis readers) seem to have a very negative opinion of him. Recognizing what's going on doesn't make anyone a racist. What, you think they don't do minority hires in the, of all things, the US newspaper business? Come on, man.