John Feinstein: A Legendary Sportswriter's Journey

John Feinstein, a renowned sportswriter, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69. His brother, Robert, found him at their home in McLean, Virginia. Robert described John as a passionate individual who sparked strong emotions in people. He was known for his deep insights and honest writing style. Feinstein's career began in 1977 as a night police reporter. He later became a respected columnist, notably for The Washington Post. His work covered a wide range of sports, including college basketball, golf, college football, and the Olympics. He was also a regular contributor to Golf Digest and had a long-running role on National Public Radio. Feinstein's love for sports and his unique voice earned him a devoted following. Just hours before his death, a column by Feinstein on Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was published in The Post—a fitting final tribute to his unyielding dedication to his craft. The PGA Tour released an official statement expressing their condolences to Feinstein's family and friends. Feinstein spent five decades chronicling the world of golf, particularly the PGA TOUR. His most well-known work, "A Good Walk Spoiled, " became a New York Times bestseller in 1995. The book offered a behind-the-scenes look at life on the PGA TOUR, following players like Billy Andrade, Paul Azinger, Brad Faxon, Paul Goydos, Davis Love III, Greg Norman, Nick Price, and Tom Watson, among others. It was a testament to Feinstein’s ability to capture the essence of golf, his love for the sport, and the personality that brought it to life. Tom Watson, a legendary golfer, was stunned to hear the news. He took to X to express his emotions: “One of our sports world’s finest writers, John Feinstein, sadly left us today. His innate ability to describe the inner workings and complexities of the players, teams, and coaches about which he wrote, left us readers and fans with much greater understanding of his subjects. He was always an enjoyable read, and we will sorely miss him. ” Alan Shipnuck, a well-known golf writer, was also taken aback by the news. “Sad day. For three decades, I enjoyed hearing J. Feinstein hold court in assorted press rooms. He was a character and a throwback. I admired his prolificacy and especially his big brass ones, ” he wrote on X. John Feinstein authored 48 books throughout his illustrious career, with 23 of them reaching the New York Times bestseller list. His first book, "A Season on the Brink, " captured the 1985-86 Indiana University basketball season. The book, which spent 17 weeks at No. 1 on the bestseller list, focused on the coaching methods of Bob Knight and was later adapted into an ESPN film. Feinstein’s remarkable contributions to sports journalism earned him numerous accolades, including the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. He was also inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. He is survived by his wife, Christine; their children Danny, Brigid, and Jayne; as well as his brother Robert and his sister, Margaret.