One of the most entertaining columnists on the site is Bill Simmons, also known as the Sports Guy. A true Boston sports fan, much of his work is unbridled favoritism for his hometown teams and amusing commentary on whatever he sees fit, but his most recent article is very much a departure from his typical tone.
The article is entitled "To An Athlete Dying Young," named after a 100-year-old poem by A.E. Housman. The topic is the sudden death of Jamiel Andre Shaw Jr., known as "Jas," who was a standout junior running back at Los Angeles High School. Earlier this month, Shaw was gunned down outside his home by members of a local gang, which he had no involvement in, at the age of 17.Simmons' tone is serious and reflective, his focus shifts from life, to potential, to gang violence. He opens with a moving and descriptive scene of Shaw's father painfully eulogizing his son at his funeral on Tuesday.
It's not a tight news story, but one full of emotion, contemplation and a few tangents and pop culture references. There are however some poignant turns of phrase that make the piece. For example: "Jas' death makes all of us feel vulnerable. If the anointed ones can't make it, then who can?"
To me this piece is more than a well-written feature on a tragic news story. It is a reminder of what sports journalism can be and that sports writers are in fact writers. Though they are often caught up in cliches and statistics and their work is lost on those not interested in sports, this piece reminds me that sports can offer incredible stories and opportunities for writers to craft beautiful pieces that shouldn't be overlooked. It reminded me why I want to be a sports journalist.
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