IMHO,  the best journalism in the Times is in the Sports page.   Monte Poole is red hot. Today's article on El Cerrito's Pumpsie Green breaking into the majors w/ Boston was a keeper.  (12 years after Jackie Robinson !),  That's your nostagiia piece. 

Even better was his truth telling on the decline of the A's ...just when Hollywood is about to make a movie on Billy Beane.   No venom...just what has happened and the A's organizational missteps, in a very tidy column.  Prior to that was Poole's cautionary piece on Steve McNair, the murdered football star.  No holier than thou effort, it was just so well put, that every manager of a major sports franchise should be posting it in their locker room for the young wealthy players.

Good stuff Monte !