John Feinstein, Acclaimed Sports Writer and Bestselling Author, Dies at 69
John Feinstein, one of the nation’s most respected sports writers and the author of numerous bestselling books, including the groundbreaking A Season on the Brink, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday at the age of 69.
A Life Dedicated to Sports Journalism
Feinstein died of natural causes at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia, according to Robert Feinstein, who discovered his body.
A veteran journalist, Feinstein worked as a full-time reporter for The Washington Post from 1977 to 1991 and remained a contributing columnist. His career spanned multiple media outlets, including ESPN, where he was a regular on The Sports Reporters, and the Golf Channel. He also hosted satellite radio programs on SiriusXM and was a long-time voter in the AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll.
“He was very passionate about things,” Robert Feinstein said. “People either loved him or hated him — and equally strongly.”
Storytelling Until the End
Feinstein remained active in sports journalism until his final moments. He was in Washington, D.C., this week covering the Atlantic 10 Tournament ahead of March Madness. His final column, profiling Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, was published online Thursday.
“He was strong with his opinions,” Izzo remarked. “But very interesting to talk to.”
A Season on the Brink and College Basketball Legacy
Feinstein’s impact on sports journalism was immense, particularly in college basketball. His 1986 book, A Season on the Brink, chronicled Indiana coach Bob Knight’s volatile personality and coaching methods. The book provided unprecedented behind-the-scenes access, offering an intimate portrayal of Knight’s relationships with his players.
“I can’t possibly overstate how important Knight was in my life,” Feinstein wrote in The Washington Post after the coach’s passing in 2023. Despite a temporary fallout over the book, the two maintained a distant yet cordial relationship later in life.
A Wide-Ranging Career
While best known for his basketball coverage, Feinstein wrote extensively about other sports, including golf and tennis. His notable works include A Good Walk Spoiled (1995), which explored professional golf, and A Civil War (1996), a deep dive into the Army-Navy football rivalry. His latest book, The Ancient Eight, focused on Ivy League football and was published in 2023.
Feinstein also wrote sports novels for younger readers and served as a radio commentator for Navy football for many years.
Reverberations Across the Sports World
News of Feinstein’s death quickly spread, with an outpouring of tributes from coaches, players, and fellow journalists.
Marquette coach Shaka Smart, learning of Feinstein’s passing after a Big East Tournament game, expressed his admiration: “He’s one of the best sports writers ever. I got to know him as a writer before I got to know him as a person, reading some of his stuff when I was in high school. He cared about the teams, the players, and the coaches — which is not as common these days.”
A Teacher and Mentor
A Duke University graduate, Feinstein later returned to his alma mater as an instructor. He also served as a writer-in-residence at Longwood University in Virginia.
Barry Svrluga, a Washington Post columnist and former student of Feinstein’s sports journalism course at Duke, recalled his impact: “He got whoever he could to talk to the class—Gary Williams on a game day, Billy Packer, Bud Collins, Bob Woodward. He built relationships like no other, and people just liked to talk to him. He never pandered, and that earned him respect.”
A Lasting Legacy
Dan Steinberg, Feinstein’s editor at The Washington Post, remembered his colleague’s deep love for sports: “He loved Wimbledon, swimming, the Olympics, college basketball, the Naval Academy, West Point, the Mets, and people who returned his calls.”
Feinstein is survived by his wife, Christine; daughters, Brigid and Jayne; son, Danny; his brother, Robert; and sister, Margaret. His legacy as a fearless journalist and storyteller will endure in the world of sports writing for generations to come.
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