Bøger af John Feinstein

Inside the Ivy League, college football's oldest teams, amid a rapidly changing and increasingly monetized collegiate sports world--from award-winning and bestselling author of A Season on the Brink and A Good Walk Spoiled, and contributing columnist for The Washington Post, John Feinstein. There is a tremendous amount of history surrounding the Ivy League, dating back to Princeton playing in what is considered to be the first college football game, in 1869, against Rutgers. That history, however, is not what this book is about. This book is about Ivy League football today--specifically, the 2023 season. Why? Because Ivy League football is underrated--there are typically about a dozen former Ivy players in the NFL. To play in the league, you have to be smart and a good student and a good football player. The rivalries are as intense as in the SEC or the Big Ten, even if the linemen aren't quite as large. There are some arcane rules--not letting the league champion play in the NCAA postseason, not allowing eligible graduate students to play, and insisting on playing ten straight weeks with no bye. But there is also a real purity--not one that's made up for marketing purposes--in the Ivy League. ​ The story of the 2023 season began with tragedy when longtime Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens suffered fatal injuries in a bicycle accident in March; one of his players died of cancer the day of the accident. But Dartmouth would fight through the tragedies to win a share of the Ivy title, along with both Harvard and Yale--the result of a nail-biting 138th meeting of those two schools in The Game. On the field, inside the locker room, and around campus, The Ancient Eight explores the phenomenal stories of the young men who play in today's Ivy League and the men who coach them.

Legendary sports journalist John Feinstein tells the inside history of Duke’s five NCAA championships set against the arc of Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s forty-two-year Duke career.

The definitive biography of enigmatic golfer, commentator, and performer David Feherty-one of the most universally beloved figures in the game.John Feinstein, who has spent four decades finding intriguing sports characters and narratives and turning them into classic books, chronicles the life and career of David Feherty. The two have known each other for years, beginning with Feinstein's work on A Good Walk Spoiled, researched and written at a time when Feherty was an excellent player, who won five times in Europe and was on the '91 Ryder Cup team, but also a functioning alcoholic. In retirement from the game, Feherty has sobered up, while his golf world persona has only grown in stature. Feherty is now a grand ambassador for golf, a man who is feted by US Presidents and respected by every big name in the game.Feinstein tells hilarious true tales about Feherty's time in the limelight and interactions with stars such as Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Payne Stewart, and Seve Ballesteros. He also details Feherty's struggles with alcoholism, the death of his son who was lost to addiction, and the highs and lows of Feherty's marriages. Feinstein captures the human being behind the athlete, and his triumphant rebound as a golf commentator after his athletic career fell apart. Feherty is fall-down-funny, self-deprecating, and a lifelong underdog who has thrived as a commentator and television interview host, and most recently as a touring stand-up comic, using the difficult experiences of his life as a source for humour and understanding, which Feinstein mines with an expert's touch.

Jeff and Andi return to serve up trouble in tennis season, in this standalone third middle-grade book in the Benchwarmers series by #1 New York Times-bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein.Andi Carillo may have been a soccer prodigy and a basketball superstar, but tennis is where she really shines-she's eleven years old and nationally ranked. For her, the sport is just for fun, but suddenly agents are crawling out of the woodwork to offer her deals. Her best friend, Jeff Michaels, is a pretty talented player himself, but he's been dropped into the number-two slot in spite of a perfect record-and he's getting a little jealous of Andi's star potential. These teammates will have to lean on each other more than ever if they're going to handle new emotions, face tough competition, and close out this challenging season with a win.Mixed Doubles is the exhilarating final volume of this popular middle-grade series by a #1 New York Times-bestselling sportswriter.

From award-winning sportswriter John Feinstein, a YA novel about a teen golfer poised to blaze his way into Masters Tournament history-and he'll face secrecy, sacrifice, and the decision of a lifetime to get there. Seventeen-year-old Frank Baker is a golfing sensation. He's set to earn a full-ride scholarship to play at the university of his choice, but his single dad wants him to skip college and turn pro-golf has taken its toll on the family bank account, and his dad is eager to start cashing in on his son's prowess. Frank knows he isn't ready for life on the pro tour-regardless of the potential riches-so his swing coach enlists a professional golfer turned journalist to be Frank's secret adviser.Pressure mounts when, after reaching the final of the U.S. Amateur tournament, Frank wins an automatic invite to the Masters. And when the prodigy, against all odds, starts tearing up the course at Augusta National, sponsors are lined up to throw money at him-and his father. But Frank's entry in the Masters hinges on maintaining his standing as an amateur. Can he and his secret adviser-who has his own conflicts-keep Frank's dad at bay long enough to bring home the legendary green jacket?

"The best writer of sports books in America today" (The Boston Globe) tells a thrilling story of friendship, football, and a fight for justice.Renowned sports journalist and New York Times-bestselling author John Feinstein's young adult novel Backfield Boys follows best friends and football stars Jason Roddin and Tom Jefferson, a perfect, though unconventional, pair: Jason, the Jewish kid, is lightning fast and a natural wide-receiver, while African-American Tom has an amazing arm and a quarterback's feel for the game. After summer football camp at an elite sports-focused boarding school, the boys are thrilled to enroll on scholarship for their freshman year-despite their mothers' fears of injury and especially CTE. On day one, they're stunned when the coaches make Tom a receiver and Jason a quarterback, a complete contradiction to their skill sets and training. Suspecting deep-seated racial bias, the boys speak out, risking both their scholarships and their chance to play. Soon local newspaper reports begin a secret investigation, and as tensions rise Jason and Tom must decide how much they're willing to lose in their quest to expose the ugly remnants of a racist past that still linger in contemporary jock culture.Praise for Backfield Boys:"An intriguing look at racism in contemporary sports and the power private schools have in shaping sports and upholding racist traditions." -Booklist"A strong football hook will draw in most sports fans . . . The boys' driving quest for the truth will keep readers engaged." -School Library Journal"Over the years, John Feinstein has built a career covering many aspects of athletics as a sportswriter, author, and media commentator. He has also written several sports novels for young adult audiences. In his most recent novel, Feinstein tackles racism in a way that is both thought-provoking and timely. . . . The end product is a fast-paced, reflective, well-written book that simultaneously entertains and challenges its readers." -Children's Literature

Twenty-five years after it spent sixteen weeks at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list, John Feinstein's A Season on the Brink remains the classic of the genre and an unforgettable chronicle of his year spent following the Indiana Hoosiers and their fiery coach Bob Knight. This anniversary edition features an updated package and a new Introduction by Feinstein. Granted unprecedented access to the Indiana Hoosiers' basketball program during the 1985-1986 season, John Feinstein saw and heard it all--practices, team meetings, strategy sessions, and mid-game huddles--as the team strove to return to championship form. A Season on the Brink, recently named #6 on Sports Illustrated's "Top 100 Sports Books of All Time" list, not only captures the drama and pressure of big-time college basketball, but paints a vivid portrait of a complex, brilliant coach as he walks the fine line between genius and madness.

Trouble is about to tip off for Jeff and Andi's sixth-grade basketball teams in Game Changers, a standalone second book in the middle-grade Benchwarmers series by #1 New York Times bestselling sportswriter John Feinstein.After a controversial season playing on the boys' soccer team, Andi Carillo is ready to kick butt and take names on the girls' basketball team. Jeff Michaels, her best friend, is raring to drop his benchwarmer status from soccer and play a leading role on the boys' basketball squad. But between a coach's coded racism and a teammate's endless sabotage, neither Andi nor Jeff is in for a layup of a season. To make matters worse, the local media smells more than one juicy story. Will Andi and Jeff be able to power through and find a way to help both their teams rebound?From sportswriting legend John Feinstein comes this fast-paced novel about two friends who are willing to risk it all to change the game-on and off the court.

The path to victory starts on the sidelines, in this fast-paced new middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling sportwriting powerhouse John Feinstein.Twelve-year-old Jeff Michaels, son of a Philadelphia TV sports reporter, is just learning to play soccer on the new sixth-grade team at his middle school. Andrea Carillo has fought her way onto the squad, but the coach doesn't think girls should play with boys, so she's riding the bench with Jeff-even though she's one of the best players. With Jeff's help, the Philly media gets ahold of the story, and suddenly Andi is all over the news as she shows her worth on the soccer field. But amid bullies, threats, and a media firestorm, will Andi's skills and Jeff's perseverance be enough to save the season? An action-packed novel about two kids who may be "benchwarmers," but prove themselves naturals when it comes to teamwork, friendship, and finding a path to victory.

The path to victory starts on the sidelines, in this fast-paced new middle grade series from #1 New York Times bestselling sportwriting powerhouse John Feinstein.Twelve-year-old Jeff Michaels, son of a Philadelphia TV sports reporter, is just learning to play soccer on the new sixth-grade team at his middle school. Andrea Carillo has fought her way onto the squad, but the coach doesn't think girls should play with boys, so she's riding the bench with Jeff-even though she's one of the best players. With Jeff's help, the Philly media gets ahold of the story, and suddenly Andi is all over the news as she shows her worth on the soccer field. But amid bullies, threats, and a media firestorm, will Andi's skills and Jeff's perseverance be enough to save the season? From sportswriter John Feinstein comes this action-packed novel about two kids who may be "benchwarmers," but prove themselves naturals when it comes to teamwork, friendship, and finding a path to victory.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE to win a major championship and reach the absolute pinnacle of golf? Through a season of the four tournaments -- the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the PGA Championship -- known collectively as the majors, John Feinstein takes us where the television cameras never go, both off the links and "inside the ropes", as he reveals the special challenges and rituals, the frustrations and exhilaration, that mark the lives and careers of the world's greatest golfers.

Based on dozens of shocking interviews with some of the most influential names in sports, this is the urgent and revelatory examination of racial inequality in professional athletics America has been waiting for.Commentators, coaches, and fans alike have long touted the diverse rosters of leagues like the NFL and MLB as sterling examples of a post-racial America. Yet decades after Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in a display of Black power and pride, and years after Colin Kaepernick shocked the world by kneeling for the national anthem, the role Black athletes and coaches are expected to perform—both on and off the field—still can be determined as much by stereotype and old-fashion ideology as ability and performance.Whether it’s the pre-game moments of resistance, the lack of diversity among coaching and managerial staff, or the consistent undervaluation of Black quarterbacks, racial politics impact every aspect of every sport being played—yet the gigantic salaries and glitzy lifestyles of pro athletes often disguise the ugly truths of how minority players are treated and discarded by their White bosses. John Feinstein crisscrossed the country to secure personal interviews with quarterbacks, coaches, and more, revealing the stories none of us have heard (but all of us should know).Seventy-five years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color line, race is still a central and defining factor of America's professional sports leagues. With an encyclopedic knowledge of professional sports, and shrewd cultural criticism, bestselling and award-winning author John Feinstein uncovers not just why, but how, pro sports continue to perpetuate racial inequality. “None of us are trying to make race an issue. Race IS an issue.” (From the Foreword by Doug Williams)

Feeling that the vast sums of money involved in NCAA basketball had turned the sport into a division of the NBA rather than the beloved amateur sport it once was, the author went in search of college basketball played with passion and integrity, and found the Patriot League.

America's favourite sportswriter teams up with Red Auerbach, the most successful and admired coach in basketball history, to tell the best stories of a legendary life.

* John Feinstein tells the amazing story of one moment of aggression that changed two lives, the NBA and how we think about basketball forever.

June 2008's US Open produced one of the most unexpected and dramatic showdowns in golf history. Day after day the invincible Tiger Woods was challenged by Rocco Mediate, a respected journeyman. On Sunday, both ended play tied at par, forcing a playoff. Defying expectations, Mediate played Woods to yet another tie, losing only after forcing a sudden-death showdown. Through it all, Rocco Mediate emerged as one of the most likable, open, and fascinating golfers. In Are You Kidding Me?, he tells the full story of these five life-changing days. With John Feinstein, whose insider knowledge of the golf world is unparalleled, Mediate relives one of sport's greatest feats, how one man overcame every obstacle to challenge the game's finest.

Tiger Woods has called the U.S. Open "e;the most difficult national championship."e; With Open, John Feinstein goes behind the scenes to tell for the first time the full story of how the 2002 U.S. Open Championship came into being-how a public course was transformed into one of the most difficult and surprising in the tournament's history, and how the greatest golfers in the world rose to its almost insurmountable challenges. The Black course at the public golf club in Bethpage, New York, has long had a mythic status among golfers. Designed by legendary course architect A. W. Tillinghast in 1936, it is known as a work of genius-with long fairways, gorgeous vistas, and roughs and bunkers that stymie all but the very best golfers. It is a course where any player can compete, but its cult reputation means that golfers often have to camp overnight in the parking lot to get a tee time the next day. The 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black was the first time in history that golf's greatest championship had been held at a true public course. Open is the full drama of that championship, from the moment that officials first considered holding it there until the last putt rolled in at dusk on Sunday. Along the way, John Feinstein reveals the full glory of golf as it's never been explored before. He digs deep to find out what it really takes to make golf's most famous event worthy of the champions who compete in it. He tells the remarkable story of the artisans who transformed the Black from a downtrodden and rough-around-the-edges public course to one that top pros hailed as "e;unbelievable"e; and "e;the toughest par-70 I've ever played in my life."e; He also tracks the drama of the masters who battled for supremacy at the Black-Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Nick Faldo, Phil Mickelson, Jeff Maggert-to show how true champions respond to the toughest conditions. Open is the story of people who devote their entire lives to golf, both behind the scenes and inside the ropes. Their struggles and exhilarations as they master the monster known as Bethpage Black make for a story every golf lover will want to read again and again.