Keith O’Brien
@keithob.bsky.social
NYT bestselling author of FLY GIRLS, PARADISE FALLS, and CHARLIE HUSTLE, the definitive story of Pete Rose’s rise and fall. II Bylines @NPR, @washingtonpost, and elsewhere. II Learn more at www.KeithOB.com
Fans have been complaining this month about the death of the college bowl. Turns out, the men who created the first real national title game back in 1998 predicted this future. We should have seen it coming all along. My latest for @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
The Slow, Inevitable Death of the Bowl Game
For college-football fans, the playoffs are now everything.
www.theatlantic.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Fans have been complaining this month about the death of the college bowl. Turns out, the men who created the first real national title game back in 1998 predicted this future. We should have seen it coming all along. My latest for @theatlantic.com www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.
December 23, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.
If you’ve never seen Larry Bird in a cowboy hat, you have now. My new book, HEARTLAND, comes out on 3/3/26. Preorder your copy today wherever they sell books. 🏀🤠🔥 www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yM1bbh/
If you’ve never seen Larry Bird in a cowboy hat, you have now. My new book, HEARTLAND, comes out on 3/3/26. Preorder your copy today wherever they sell books. 🏀🤠🔥 #larrybird #basketballtiktok #booktok...
TikTok video by Keith O’Brien
www.tiktok.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
If you’ve never seen Larry Bird in a cowboy hat, you have now. My new book, HEARTLAND, comes out on 3/3/26. Preorder your copy today wherever they sell books. 🏀🤠🔥 www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8yM1bbh/
Dear readers: If you are looking for personalized gifts this holiday season, my local independent bookseller is ready to help. Order your signed copies today. Water Street Books ships for free. Your books will arrive in time for Christmas, and everyone wins! waterstreetbooks.com/keith-obrien...
December 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Dear readers: If you are looking for personalized gifts this holiday season, my local independent bookseller is ready to help. Order your signed copies today. Water Street Books ships for free. Your books will arrive in time for Christmas, and everyone wins! waterstreetbooks.com/keith-obrien...
The great Traci Thomas—the heart of The Stacks podcast and one of best literary voices out there today—has named HEARTLAND as one of her “most anticipated” books of 2026. And apparently, I am now the “Larry Bird of sports biographers." Amazing! Truly. Wow. shereads.com/traci-thomas...
Traci Thomas' Most Anticipated Books of 2026 - She Reads
I’m back! Did you miss me? Here is my list [...]
shereads.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
The great Traci Thomas—the heart of The Stacks podcast and one of best literary voices out there today—has named HEARTLAND as one of her “most anticipated” books of 2026. And apparently, I am now the “Larry Bird of sports biographers." Amazing! Truly. Wow. shereads.com/traci-thomas...
This is a no-brainer, folks. Vote him in! And while you’re at it, vote in Roger Craig too. If you watched football in the 1980s, you know.
December 4, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This is a no-brainer, folks. Vote him in! And while you’re at it, vote in Roger Craig too. If you watched football in the 1980s, you know.
My new book HEARTLAND has a trailer! Watch, enjoy, share with friends, spread the word, and preorder your copy today. It comes out on 3/3/26 from @atriabooks.bsky.social, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Thanks, everyone! 💙🏀💙
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
HEARTLAND — video trailer
YouTube video by Keith O'Brien
www.youtube.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:03 PM
My new book HEARTLAND has a trailer! Watch, enjoy, share with friends, spread the word, and preorder your copy today. It comes out on 3/3/26 from @atriabooks.bsky.social, and I can’t wait for you to read it. Thanks, everyone! 💙🏀💙
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H6_...
I am thrilled that my home state of Ohio has selected Charlie Hustle as a community read in 2026! Thank you to the @statelibohio.bsky.social, the Ohio Center for the Book & the Ohioana Library for this honor. This book just keeps chugging around the bases... library.ohio.gov/home/news-an...
December 1, 2025 at 6:50 PM
I am thrilled that my home state of Ohio has selected Charlie Hustle as a community read in 2026! Thank you to the @statelibohio.bsky.social, the Ohio Center for the Book & the Ohioana Library for this honor. This book just keeps chugging around the bases... library.ohio.gov/home/news-an...
The best story you’ll ever hear about softball and two future Hall of Famers. Check out my TikTok account to give it a listen. 🥎🏀🏈 #heartland
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
The best softball story you’ll ever hear involving two future Hall of Famers. #heartland #larrybird #larrylegend #joemontana #marchmadness
TikTok video by Keith O’Brien
www.tiktok.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
The best story you’ll ever hear about softball and two future Hall of Famers. Check out my TikTok account to give it a listen. 🥎🏀🏈 #heartland
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UhvRos/
In the summer of 1978, two future Hall of Famers—Larry Bird and Joe Montana—squared off for a state title in slow-pitch softball. Can you guess who performed better that weekend on the dusty fields of Indiana? Make your choice in the comments. I’ll reveal the answer later this week. #heartland
November 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
In the summer of 1978, two future Hall of Famers—Larry Bird and Joe Montana—squared off for a state title in slow-pitch softball. Can you guess who performed better that weekend on the dusty fields of Indiana? Make your choice in the comments. I’ll reveal the answer later this week. #heartland
Nothing made me feel older today than the death of the penny.
November 13, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Nothing made me feel older today than the death of the penny.
In an age of gambling scandals, this is just another. Prop bets are dangerous to all the sports you love.
November 9, 2025 at 10:02 PM
In an age of gambling scandals, this is just another. Prop bets are dangerous to all the sports you love.
Quietly, the NCAA has banned six players in yet another sports gambling scandal. Just another day in America.
www.espn.com/mens-college...
www.espn.com/mens-college...
NCAA: Six hoops players banned for betting plots
Six former men's college basketball players at New Orleans, Mississippi Valley State and Arizona State participated in gambling schemes that included game manipulation or sharing information with know...
www.espn.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Quietly, the NCAA has banned six players in yet another sports gambling scandal. Just another day in America.
www.espn.com/mens-college...
www.espn.com/mens-college...
The switch to standard time means one thing: it already feels like winter in New Hampshire. This is a live view of the sky at 4:53 p.m.
November 3, 2025 at 10:02 PM
The switch to standard time means one thing: it already feels like winter in New Hampshire. This is a live view of the sky at 4:53 p.m.
Baseball. There’s nothing like it.
November 2, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Baseball. There’s nothing like it.
Devastating loss for Toronto. Amazing World Series for baseball fans around the world. Pitchers and catchers report in 101 days.
November 2, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Devastating loss for Toronto. Amazing World Series for baseball fans around the world. Pitchers and catchers report in 101 days.
Gotta hand it to Derek Jeter … He called this in the pregame. He said Bo Bichette would come up with runners on as the Dodgers tried to pitch around Vlad. Shohei intentionally walks Vlad to get the Bichette. And—boom—Canada explodes. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
November 2, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Gotta hand it to Derek Jeter … He called this in the pregame. He said Bo Bichette would come up with runners on as the Dodgers tried to pitch around Vlad. Shohei intentionally walks Vlad to get the Bichette. And—boom—Canada explodes. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
It’s been 32 years since the Stanley Cup resided in Canada. But the World Series champs could reside there tonight—and Toronto is so excited for it, they might be getting ahead of themselves. 🇨🇦⚾️🇨🇦
torontosun.com/sports/baseb...
torontosun.com/sports/baseb...
Will the Toronto Blue Jays get a White House invite if they win the World Series?
The 1992 World Series champion Toronto Blue Jays visited the White House after their title, back when George Bush was in office. Read more.
torontosun.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
It’s been 32 years since the Stanley Cup resided in Canada. But the World Series champs could reside there tonight—and Toronto is so excited for it, they might be getting ahead of themselves. 🇨🇦⚾️🇨🇦
torontosun.com/sports/baseb...
torontosun.com/sports/baseb...
When did I get interested in writing about Larry Bird? I guess you can say 1987—when we visited Terre Haute and stopped at Bird’s restaurant. This is me with my brother and sister that day. I regret nothing—except for that Ohio State hoodie. Check out HEARTLAND, coming 3/3/26. Preorders are open!
October 31, 2025 at 5:28 PM
When did I get interested in writing about Larry Bird? I guess you can say 1987—when we visited Terre Haute and stopped at Bird’s restaurant. This is me with my brother and sister that day. I regret nothing—except for that Ohio State hoodie. Check out HEARTLAND, coming 3/3/26. Preorders are open!
Things get messy once you open Pandora's box... Now that college athletes are cleared to bet on professional sports, it's only a matter of time before the NEXT sports gambling scandal hits. It's not if, but when.
www.espn.com/college-spor...
www.espn.com/college-spor...
Sankey asks NCAA to rescind betting rule change
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey sent a letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker on Oct. 25, stating that a rule change allowing athletes to bet on professional sports is a step in the wrong direction.
www.espn.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Things get messy once you open Pandora's box... Now that college athletes are cleared to bet on professional sports, it's only a matter of time before the NEXT sports gambling scandal hits. It's not if, but when.
www.espn.com/college-spor...
www.espn.com/college-spor...
We should all channel the fortitude and determination of this tree, trapped in an abandoned suburban parking lot, but still releasing its glory into the great wide world.
🌳🍁💙
🌳🍁💙
October 28, 2025 at 2:17 PM
We should all channel the fortitude and determination of this tree, trapped in an abandoned suburban parking lot, but still releasing its glory into the great wide world.
🌳🍁💙
🌳🍁💙
If you pray, pray for Jamaica. There should not be a hurricane this strong in the Caribbean this late in the season. #ClimateCrisis #HurricaneMelissa
October 28, 2025 at 2:04 PM
If you pray, pray for Jamaica. There should not be a hurricane this strong in the Caribbean this late in the season. #ClimateCrisis #HurricaneMelissa
Given the latest sports gambling scandals, I’m not sure this fan is the image that MLB wants behind home plate tonight. But I guess this is what you get in a world of legalized gambling.
October 26, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Given the latest sports gambling scandals, I’m not sure this fan is the image that MLB wants behind home plate tonight. But I guess this is what you get in a world of legalized gambling.
Wait—which team was heavily favored to win this World Series?
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October 25, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Wait—which team was heavily favored to win this World Series?
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Yesterday's sports gambling bombshell isn't an outlier. Actually, it's alarmingly normal. Gambling scandals are the new American pastime. But there is an easy way to head off the next crisis: Take prop bets off the board. My piece for the @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Prop Bets Must Die
As long as one player can fix the outcome of a wager, the temptation will prove irresistible to some athletes.
www.theatlantic.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Yesterday's sports gambling bombshell isn't an outlier. Actually, it's alarmingly normal. Gambling scandals are the new American pastime. But there is an easy way to head off the next crisis: Take prop bets off the board. My piece for the @theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...