Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan has the finish line in sight.

“The quintessential American sportswriter” doesn’t want to be one of those sports journalists that walks away from the business well past their prime.

That’s why Ryan has targeted the 2012 London Olympics for his potential retirement after more than 40 years at the Boston Globe:

By now Ryan has seen it all, even if he hasn’t seen enough. An author of 11 books, he believes he’ll work at least through the 2012 London Olympics.

“I can see the finish line,” he said with another warm smile. “I’m like everyone else. I just wanted a job, number one, and I wanted to get good at it. But you don’t know where it’s gonna take you. You don’t know where you’re going. You have no idea.”

Ryan discussed the topic in greater depth on The Tony Kornheiser Show Wednesday.

Whenever Ryan is ready to eventually retire, he will go down as one of the greatest sports writers of our time.