"The Paper" alert

in the late '70s, i was jimmy olsen at the ny daily news, working nights. i'd sometimes have to pick up breslin in a company car to drive him home from a bar. he was great company.

he'd ask what my aspirations were. i'd tell him, and he'd say, "remember the gravedigger."

"huh?"

"in 1963, jfk is killed. i'm sent to washington. everyone's scurrying, looking for something to write. i happened upon the burial site and the guy digging the ditch for the grave. that was my story and led to many awards and my first columns."

pause.

"so always look for the gravedigger."

sage advice from one of the greats.

learning from breslin and pete hamill -- often after their stints on a bar stool -- was better than any j-degree i could have ever earned.

 

After reading that, please excuse me while I go find all my so-called mentors in this business and kick their ass up and down the newsroom.

 

We studied that one story for about a week in one of my j-school classes. It's one I always go back to, or at least think about, when I'm scuffling for ideas or getting discouraged.

 

Love Hamill.

 

We're "The Sentinel." We cover the world.

and after Quaid's character fires the gun, "Let Marty talk to her husband"

 

I always love when the editors are late for the meeting and Duvall is yelling out the time through the news room. Always cracks me up.