RIP John Feinstein

[GreenLantern]

John Feinstein, a Washington Post sportswriter who became the best-selling author of more than 40 books, including “A Season on the Brink,” an inside look at volatile Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bob Knight, died March 13 at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia. He was 68

 

[mason89]

John Feinstein, a Washington Post sportswriter who became the best-selling author of more than 40 books, including “A Season on the Brink,” an inside look at volatile Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bob Knight, died March 13 at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia. He was 68

...and most notable for GMU fans, "A Season Inside" which includes the story of Rick Barnes' 1987-88 team. A must read.

 

[Pikapppatri8]

John Feinstein, a Washington Post sportswriter who became the best-selling author of more than 40 books, including “A Season on the Brink,” an inside look at volatile Indiana University men’s basketball coach Bob Knight, died March 13 at his brother’s home in McLean, Virginia. He was 68

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - 68 is young

 

[Patriotsince81]

Sad news. He was a great writer.

 

[GMU79]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot - 68 is young

This one hits too close to home.

 

[jessej]

This one hits too close to home.

amen

 

[Pablo]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2025/03/13/john-feinstein-sports-commentator-dies/

"In 1985, Mr. Feinstein took a leave of absence from The Post to follow the Indiana Hoosiers and their coach, Knight, for the season. Knight, who had already won the first two of his three national championships, was at the height of his career and was acclaimed as one of the foremost coaches of the era.

When 'A Season on the Brink' appeared in 1986, it was immediately recognized as a breakthrough in sports writing. Instead of deifying a successful coach, Mr. Feinstein portrayed Knight in all his complexities, which combined a sensitivity toward his players with a volatile, uncontrollable temper often marked by obscenity-laden tirades.

'Knight was an almost Shakespearean character: brilliant, thoughtful and tragically flawed,' Mr. Feinstein wrote in a 2023 column after Knight’s death.

The book, often cited among a pantheon of unblinkered sports books such as Jim Bouton’s irreverent “Ball Four,” spent 17 weeks as a No. 1 bestseller and was later made into a TV movie starring Brian Dennehy.

'I can’t possibly overstate how important Knight was in my life,' Mr. Feinstein wrote in 2023. Knight allowed total access to his team and coaches — a rarity for a coach who often took a scathing measure of journalists — but after 'A Season on the Brink' appeared, he did not speak to Mr. Feinstein for eight years, 'upset, of all things, with seeing profanity in the book.'”

 

[Falco]

My favorite junkies guest. I was bummed when they stopped having him.
RIP

 

[Jack Strop]

John Feinstein was Mason's friend. Any friend of George Mason University is a friend of mine. Sorry to hear of his passing.

 

[psyclone]

Barry Svrluga column from the Post--an appreciation:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/13/john-feinstein-appreciation/

 

[psyclone]

John Feinstein was Mason's friend. Any friend of George Mason University is a friend of mine. Sorry to hear of his passing.

Yes, I remember well the column he wrote on Coach L shortly after our Final Four season when he was considering and ultimately turned down his alma mater's (Providence, ironically) offer. After reading it, I was fully convinced that Larranaga would stay at Mason until he retired. Alas, it didn't work out that way.

 

[psyclone]

Excerpts of Feinstein's columns for the Post (sort of a "greatest hits" list), including Mason's Final Four:

Mason--https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2006/04/01/as-the-patriots-have-proved-desire-can-trump-talent/7e6b5367-1621-44be-bcbb-5930eb3fda14/

Embedded in this:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/03/13/best-sportswriting-john-feinstein/

 

[Patriot Lawdog]

Feinstein passing will leave a huge void. An ally to us and all mid-majors. To say his writing was influential to me would be a great understatement. My favorite author of all time and I would estimate over 80% of the books I've read in my life (not required by school or work) would have been written by him. Just a mammoth loss.

 

[Masonman]

They said on the Sports Junkies that he was covering the A-10 tournament.

 

[psyclone]

They said on the Sports Junkies that he was covering the A-10 tournament.

With the A-10 in town and Mason and GW matched up, it would be surprising if he wouldn't be covering it.