The five best writers, period.

I am never able to answer this question, although I have my favorites, because 1) writing is such a matter of taste (example:Simmons is super popular and deservedly so, but I hate reading him), and 2) It's Any Given Sunday. There are days when Dan Jenkins is the best writer ever,and days when Sally is. There were days at big events when everybody sent columnist (remember that?) when I felt I had done one of the five best jobs or better and days when I felt they ought to fire me for the good of journalism. I bet every writer has the felt the same each way.

 

That is the highest drug high the vocation offers- that no one on Earth is seeing this story with as much acuity as you are.
And like the highest drug high, often fleeting and diminishing.

 

Spoken like a real journalist.

 

Eleana is busy posting racy pics on Instagram from her beach front house in Boca Raton. Mom's money appears to have healed all wounds so far.

 

Ya know, I did look Eleana up on Facebook six months ago, and saw that yes, she's pretty hot and pretty social media happy.

 

Two writers doing exceptional work are Scott Cacciola of NYT and Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post. I don't really care about the Knicks or the Nationals, but these days I read everything those guys write.

I find Sally Jenkins a more interesting and compelling read than any other columnist working today. I can't really speak to her dad's work as a journalist since I didn't start reading him until he was the elder statesman at all the golf majors, but his novels have mostly been funny as hell.

 

Svrluga is outstanding.

 

Sure, that's what gives the story its power. Better to leave the crowd wanting more than to leave it wanting less.

 

How would you like to teach longform?

 

Only if you can put me up in Missoula.

 

You kiddin? Instagram selfies are a damn cry for help. I worry about the people who post them all the time, to be frank.

 

Split image -- the life and death of Madison Holleran | SportsJournalists.com