March 20: The best thing I've read this week

I don't exactly remember the year, but I'm estimating it was early 1990s.  A battle raged on the back page of Sports Illustrated. 

Now, this was a coveted room in what, at the time, was the finest real estate in sports journalism. SI was it for me. I read it religiously, pored over the work of writers like Gary Smith, Leigh Montville, Sally Jenkins, Rick Telander and Rick Reilly.

I remember Telander, then Jenkins word jousting with each other over the issue of female sports writers in men's locker rooms... in order to conduct interviews or, you know, do their jobs. 

My junior-sports writer heart had been stolen. Jenkins, with her wit, flair and accuracy, ran away with it.

In Summer 1995, I interned with the U.S. Tennis Association and found myself at the U.S. Open. Since we didn't have that new fandangled World Wide Web thing really cooking yet, part of my job was getting on a radio, calling around to other courts at the U.S. Tennis Center and updating scores on a giant whiteboard at the end of the press box. 

Given its proximity to one of the two entrances to the press box, this post also afforded me the opportunity to check media credentials. And, when Jenkins walked in one day, rather than check the credential hanging at the end of a lanyard, I totally fangirled. I mean, I damn near accosted the poor woman, excitedly telling her about a research paper I wrote my sophomore year of college about women in locker rooms, inspired by her go-round with Telander. She giggled at me, seemed genuinely thrilled with the story and was nice as can be. 

Jenkins left SI, eventually, wrote a few best sellers and is even more beautiful a thinker and writer now as a Washington Post columnist. 

Earlier this month, Jenkins' father died. 

Now, to most in this business, Sally is Dan Jenkins' daughter. You see, her father was one of -- if not the best sports scribes of all time. 

But, the best thing I've read this month is her tribute to her father. 

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