John Feinstein
Born	John Feinstein July 28, 1956(1956-07-28) New York, NY, U.S.
Occupations	Sportswriter, Columnist, Author, Broadcaster, Sports commentator

John Feinstein (born July 28, 1956) is an American sportswriter, author and sports commentator who is particularly known for authoring the top two best-selling non-fiction sports books in history, A Good Walk Spoiled and A Season on the Brink. Feinstein is a columnist for the The Washington Post, The Sporting News, and Golf Digest. He is also a guest commentator on NPR, and does color commentary for United States Naval Academy (aka "Navy") football games. He is also a frequent contributor to The Tony Kornheiser Show and The Jim Rome Show. He also writes a blog called "Feinstein on the Brink." Feinstein has a son, Danny, and a daughter, Brigid.

Contents 1 Early Life 2 Education 3 Best-Sellers 4 Films 5 Works 6 Reviews 7 References

[edit] Early Life

Feinstein was born in New York, NY, July 28, 1956 to Martin and Bernice Feinstein. His father was heavily involved in the arts having been the General Manager of the Washington National Opera from 1980 to 1995 and was also the first Executive Director of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

[edit] Education

Feinstein received his bachelor's degree from Duke University in Durham, N.C. He is also a former visiting professor at Duke University.

[edit] Best-Sellers

Feinstein's works include the two top best-selling non-fiction sports books in history. In 1995, he published the all-time best seller A Good Walk Spoiled, a year inside life on the PGA Tour as told through seventeen players on the PGA Tour. Just behind that in sales is A Season on the Brink, which chronicled a year in the life of the Indiana basketball team and its enigmatic coach, Bob Knight.

[edit] Films

A Season on the Brink (film) was adapted to film with an ESPN production of a made-for-TV movie of the same title. It starred Brian Dennehy in the role of Bob Knight. During its original airing on ESPN on March 10, 2002, the film was presented uncensored for profanity, while a censored version was simulcast on ESPN 2. The film was also released to DVD later in 2002.

Perhaps one of his most poignant books, Caddy for Life, the Bruce Edwards Story was released in 2004. In that book Feinstein writes about the life and final days of Tom Watson's caddy, Bruce Edwards, who had been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Early on, the book was identified as a candidate to be adapted to film, and Feinstein’s long-time friend Terry Hanson led that effort on John’s behalf. They engaged the William Morris Agency and commissioned a screenplay in conjunction with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's production company, Live Planet. The script was optioned by Disney, who considered either ABC or ESPN for air and the body of work presently is still in development.

[edit] Works

• Change-Up: Mystery at the World Series ISBN 0-375-85636-6

The third sequel to Last Shot, involving a mystery at the World Series.

• Living on the Black: Two Pitchers, Two Teams, One Season to Remember ISBN 0-316-11391-3

A look at two pitcher's seasons, Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees and Tom Glavine of the New York Mets, as they chase success and another World Series in their long careers.

• Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major ISBN 0-316-01430-3

The story of the players who compete for coveted positions on the PGA Tour in the 2005 Q School

• Last Dance: Behind the Scenes at the Final Four ISBN 0-316-16030-X

Tales of plays, coaches, and refs in the NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament Final Four

• Next Man Up: A Year Behind The Lines in Today's NFL ISBN 0-316-00964-4

The story of the 2004-2005 Baltimore Ravens.

• Vanishing Act second book in series that includes "Last Shot". Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson try to solve a kidnapping and numerous crimes at the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
• Last Shot: A final four mystery ISBN 0-375-83168-1

A fictional children's book about two children trying to solve a mystery at the Final Four. Winner of the 2006 Edgar Award in the Best Young Adult category. Stevie and Susan Carol get caught up in a blackmail threat to Chip Graber, Minnesota State's best player.

• Cover Up: Mystery at the Super Bowl ISBN 0-375-84247-0 follows Stevie and Susan Carol as they try to expose football players who are going to play in the Super Bowl because they failed their doping tests and their Owner is covering it up.
• Let Me Tell You A Story (with Red Auerbach) ISBN 0-316-73823-9

An audio collection of Feinstein's interviews with the legendary coach of the Boston Celtics.

• Caddy For Life: The Bruce Edwards Story ISBN 0-316-77788-9

The story of Bruce Edwards, the longtime caddy for golf great Tom Watson, and his ultimately losing battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.

• Open: Inside the Ropes At Bethpage Park ISBN 0-316-77852-4

A look at the 2002 US Open golf tournament, held at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park on Long Island.

• The Punch ISBN 0-316-73563-9

Deals with the infamous punch thrown by Kermit Washington that nearly killed Rudy Tomjanovich during an NBA game in 1977, and its impact on both men and the league.

• A Good Walk Spoiled: Days And Nights on the PGA Tour ISBN 0-316-27737-1

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 1995.

• The Last Amateurs ISBN 0-316-27842-4

A look at the 1999-2000 basketball season in the Patriot League, a low-ranked Division I basketball conference. "Amateurs" refers to the fact that when Feinstein wrote this book, the conference had a policy against the granting of athletic scholarships, and even today strongly emphasizes the "student" in "student-athlete".

• The Majors: In Pursuit of Golf's Holy Grail ISBN 0-316-27795-9

A look behind the scenes at a season's worth of majors, and what players do to win their sport's biggest prizes.

• First Coming ISBN 0-345-42286-4
• A March to Madness ISBN 0-316-27712-6

An inside look at the 1996-97 basketball season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, featuring segments on each of the nine schools then in the conference. Notably, this was the last season for North Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith.

• A Civil War: Army vs. Navy ISBN 0-316-27824-6

A look at the 1995 football season at Army and Navy, culminating in the Army–Navy Game.

• Running Mates (book)|Running Mates
• Play Ball ISBN 0-679-41618-8
• Hard Courts ISBN 0-679-74106-2
• Forever's Team ISBN 0-394-56892-3

A look at the Duke team that lost in the NCAA final game in 1978. Because many of its stars were freshmen and sophomores, it was widely expected that the team would win a national title, but this group of Duke players never did so.

• A Season Inside ISBN 0-394-56891-5

In his follow up to Brink, Feinstein took an inside look at the 1987-1988 college basketball season, including teams, players, coaches and officials from throughout the country.

• A Season on the Brink ISBN 0-671-68877-4

A look at the 1985-86 basketball season at Indiana University, especially famous for its treatment of legendary coach Bob Knight.

[edit] Reviews

• Review of Living On The Black at Letters On Pages
• Review of The Majors at World Golf

[edit] References