Pete Croatto

@petecroatto

Sports and media writer, mostly. Former Borders employee of the month. Articles in NYT, Andscape, GQ, Poynter, Philly Mag, AV Club, etc. Author of FROM HANG TIME TO PRIME TIME. He/him. Tips or inquiries: pscroatto@gmail.com.

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Pete Croatto@petecroatto· 29d

Let me stop your right there....

Email that begins "Hi Peter..." The only person who calls me "Peter" is my mom.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jul 9

The good news is that for $300 they also want you to record an audio version of your story.

Text from a job ad:

($300) Fansplaining | Fansplaining is a publication by, for, and about fandom, and they're open to pitches for longreads (2k–5k words) across three categories: Features (deeply sourced cultural critique of fan activity), Criticism (cultural commentary with a fan...)

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jul 7

Joey from FRIENDS dressed as a perfume cowboy.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jul 4

And this bad boy.

Cover shot of Signed First Edition of Moonglow by Michael Chabon.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jul 4

One of the best books ever written about the realities of being a sportswriter on a beat. Nabbed this pristine copy for $2.50 at Goodwill.

Image of The Worst Time Money Could Buy.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jul 2

Want an idea of the highs and lows of freelance writing? This was my earnings sheet, which I keep track with pen and paper, for June. Through the 25th, not a dime had tumbled in. Then, from June 26 to June 29, I received $5,100 from clients. They had us in the first half, not gonna lie.

Shot of my earnings tally for June, which is zero before a $5,100 windfall. It's a piece of yellow legal paper with a smattering of push pins and some notes

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 30

Deadline day. Made it just in time. (Doll is a gift from my daughter.) .

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 28

Gonna hang this in the living room. I’m sure my wife will love that.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 22

And Alexander wept….

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 17

This is a work trip!

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 17

Hello, Boston!

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 14

He has two daughters.

Screen grab from ESPN.com with the caption “Stephen A.: ‘This is the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life.’”

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 10

We’re back. First cover story since 2024.

Roger Denny on cover of Sooner Magazine.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 6

Every time I see a veteran journalist give advice to youngbloods like "be yourself," I think of what Jason Zengerle told me a few months ago.

Zengerle: Oh, God, yeah. (Laughs.) I am, super, super fortunate that I’m still doing this. And I think had I come along, even just a few years later than I did — the path that I took just doesn’t exist anymore. I feel very much like Indiana Jones when he reaches back to pull the hat out before the cave wall closes. I sort of got in at the last possible moment. No, I feel totally lucky.

When a college kid asks me for advice, the thing I always say is, “If you want to do journalism, you should do it.” It’s fantastic. It’s so great. It’s the best job, but you’ve got to really want to do it. Because there’s going to be all sorts of hardship, right? And it’s not a stable job. It’s not a stable industry. But if you really like doing it and you get sort of a psychic value, a psychological reward, from it, then you should do it because it’s extremely high. But if it’s something you’re just kind of lukewarm about, definitely don’t do it and go to law school. But I think for people who really want to do it, it’s still worth doing.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Jun 2

I missed three deadlines, my mom's birthday, and my anniversary, but it was totally worth it.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 30

Decided to highlight the best book I’ve read every month. Here’s May’s choice, which was recommended by @bryancurtis.bsky.social.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 30

And now The Juicy Fruits are out, too. Wow.

The Juicy Fruits from The Phantom of the Paradise.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 29

This just in: Beef has pulled out of the Freedom 250 concert.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 27

It's a good thing I don't rely on AI as a source of information. I just received confirmation from a Montclair University official that its alumni magazine was shuddered years ago.

Text from Google's AI round-up says, "Montclair Magazine Montclair State University Magazine, the university's official publication, has not closed and remains active online and in print Montclair State University."

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 25

No.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 22

Thanks, @bryancurtis.bsky.social and @joelanderson.bsky.social, for dropping a hit of existential dread before I go to bed.

“Is Sports Journalism Dead?” reads the preview to this podcast episode.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 17

Never read him. Picked this up from the little free library on my road. We shall see if cardio has its privileges.

Photo of “Fire” paperback by Sebastian Junger.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 15

Headed to Twitter for my daily pop-in, and I should really spend more time there.

Added for some kind of weirdo erection remedy, which I'm sure is totally effective.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 10

Haul at the library book sale. It was two bucks a book. Would have grabbed more, but the kid wasn’t feeling well.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· May 7

The kid took my book to school today so she could read it during her down time. (She has state tests this week.) I’m not quite sure what to do, so I guess I’ll revel in this moment forever.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Apr 22

For freelancers, a little discussed red flag is a pay rate that looks like the speedometer on a 1988 Ford Escort.

Ad from Indeed that has a salary range of $15 to $100 an hour.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Apr 19

Cleveland Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Apr 10

I think you forgot a zero there, pal.

-Matador Network is looking for pitches of travel stories for Spring 2026. They are particularly interested in stories around sports-related travel (including major global events), deeply reported travel pieces that require on-the-ground access, and trend-driven or surprising travel angles, rather than service journalism, listicles, or destination roundups. Stories should be specific, reported, and not easily replicated through desk research. Please note: "We cover travel worldwide, but remember that most of our readers are based in the US." Rates range from $200 to $300 per story.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Apr 3

Guys, my ship has come in. Thank you, Layla, who apparently works for a megaphone manufacturer.

Pete Croatto@petecroatto· Apr 3