Mourning a legendary sports writer: John Feinstein dies suddenly at age 68

Legendary U.S. sports writer John Feinstein passed away unexpectedly this week at the age of 68. The Washington Pot, where Feinstein worked, confirmed his passing on Thursday. Feinstein, who was known for his coverage of college sports, passed away at his brother’s home in Virginia. His brother, Robert Feinstein, said the cause of death was not immediately clear, according to the Washington Post.

Mourning a legend

John Feinstein was a prolific writer who authored more than 40 books, including “A Season on the Brink”, a bestseller about Bob Knight’s Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball team.

From The Washington Post’s obituary:

“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.”

Feinstein worked for The Washington Post, Sporting News and as a contributor at Golf Digest. He loved basketball, tennis, baseball, and football, but had a particular interest in golf, which was apparent in his works, “A Good Walk Spoiled: Days And Nights on the PGA Tour” and “Caddy For Life: The Bruce Edwards Story.” He was a fixture on television and radio for decades, but his written work was where he really shone, as an investigative journalist with “personality-driven and dramatic narratives about athletes, coaches and management.”

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