Journalism on the T

As I was riding the T home on Monday night, I thought about who I would choose for my journalist project. I concluded that I would try to find a sports journalist and preferably someone who covers horse racing. It won't be easy even in Boston. Horse racing is dying in many ways and I can't help but wonder if it isn't in part because the newspapers no longer cover it with any regularity on the sports page.

Last night, back in the T station, I happened to see the sports page from yesterday's Boston Globe. The front page had a half page size photo of Roger Federer running for a shot and below it this piece by Bud Collins. I happened to watch part of this match in which Federer, tennis's premier participant for the past 6 years or so, came within an inch or so of the biggest loss of his career.

Federer is on the back end of his career and every time he plays I wonder, "How much longer?". It is a slow playing drama unfolding. The match offered so many different levels of intrigue for a fan like me. I think Collins captured all of this so masterfully. He too is on the back end of his career and every time I stumble on something he has written, I marvel at his art.

But I want to find a horse racing journalist. Hopefully I find some clues the next time I take the T.