Mike Royko and the Art of the Column

Just a thought: Mike Royko is one of America's greatest writers. Like, definitively a Top 10 artisan of the craft across the board, with no regard to ranking based on genre.

I grew up the son of a newspaper feature writer and editor, and I had the benefit of three newspapers in my house everyday -- The St. Louis Post Dispatch, The St. Louis Globe Democrat, and The Alton Telegraph. And from an early age I learned to appreciate, value, even love the art of commentary and the daily newspaper column. From Erma Bombeck to George Will, I gleaned so much knowledge and insight about the world through their deft knack for language and the concise medium of "the column." And I'd probably rank my favorite columnist of all time this way:  Mike Royko, George Will, David Brooks, Bill McClellan, and Erma Bombeck.

But my highest respect, admiration, and praise goes to the gritty Chicago voice of Royko.