Michael Weinreb
@michaelweinreb.com
Bay Area-based journalist/historian/screenwriter. One Party Town podcast on Wondery Plus. The Ringer, The Atlantic, Grantland, ESPN, The Athletic, and many other places. https://linktr.ee/mweinreb
Read my newsletter for free: throwbacks.substack.com
Read my newsletter for free: throwbacks.substack.com
Pinned
Michael Weinreb
@michaelweinreb.com
· Oct 24
The Gambler and the Ballplayer (1950)
Seventy-five years after the biggest scandal in basketball history, here we are again.
open.substack.com
Latest newsletter: 75 years after the biggest scandal in basketball history, here we are again. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
Latest newsletter: the myth of the rattlesnake-hunting quarterback who became a one-hit Thanksgiving wonder, sucker-punched Roger Staubach...and then disappeared.
The Triumph of the Uncluttered Mind: Clint Longley and Thanksgiving, 1974
This is Throwbacks, a newsletter by me, Michael Weinreb, about sports, history, culture, and politics—and how they all bleed together.
throwbacks.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Latest newsletter: the myth of the rattlesnake-hunting quarterback who became a one-hit Thanksgiving wonder, sucker-punched Roger Staubach...and then disappeared.
I would be more than happy to move into the “Where was this Penn State team all season” phase
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I would be more than happy to move into the “Where was this Penn State team all season” phase
Latest newsletter, on the dumbest sports controversy of 1994, and Gen X’s (slight) return…
The Alright Guys: Todd Snider, Ken Griffey Jr., Ethan Hawke, and the Gen X Ethic
In 1994, refusing to sell out was a virtue. Thirty years later, we're still figuring out what we lost.
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Latest newsletter, on the dumbest sports controversy of 1994, and Gen X’s (slight) return…
Reposted by Michael Weinreb
Had an absolute blast chatting with @michaelweinreb.com for this week’s @i80club.bsky.social Football Show! Nebraska/PSU, the coaching search, and Matt Rhule.
Available now!
YouTube: youtu.be/erZ2txKCkyo?...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Available now!
YouTube: youtu.be/erZ2txKCkyo?...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
November 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM
Had an absolute blast chatting with @michaelweinreb.com for this week’s @i80club.bsky.social Football Show! Nebraska/PSU, the coaching search, and Matt Rhule.
Available now!
YouTube: youtu.be/erZ2txKCkyo?...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Available now!
YouTube: youtu.be/erZ2txKCkyo?...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Reposted by Michael Weinreb
Very excited to share the cover for my next book, HANNIBAL LECTER: A LIFE, coming in February from Simon & Schuster! It's about how Thomas Harris created one of the most beloved bad guys of all time, and a look at the making of such hits as THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, MANHUNTER, and NBC's HANNIBAL.
November 18, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Very excited to share the cover for my next book, HANNIBAL LECTER: A LIFE, coming in February from Simon & Schuster! It's about how Thomas Harris created one of the most beloved bad guys of all time, and a look at the making of such hits as THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, MANHUNTER, and NBC's HANNIBAL.
Are they just floating all these third-rate candidates to make us happy with whoever we get
There has been a lot of speculation about Penn State's interest in potential coaches.
One wild card in the mix: former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll: http://dlvr.it/TPGbfb
One wild card in the mix: former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll: http://dlvr.it/TPGbfb
November 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Are they just floating all these third-rate candidates to make us happy with whoever we get
Latest newsletter, on Ralph Sampson, Bo Jackson, and the fragile wondrousness of Wemby. throwbacks.substack.com/p/victor-wem...
Victor Wembanyama Doesn't Make Sense (1985)
On watching an evolutionary leap in real time...and hoping it lasts.
throwbacks.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Latest newsletter, on Ralph Sampson, Bo Jackson, and the fragile wondrousness of Wemby. throwbacks.substack.com/p/victor-wem...
Latest newsletter, on how Victor Conte (1950-2025), shameless steroid peddler, pioneered the logic of our cynical age. throwbacks.substack.com/p/victor-con...
Victor Conte and the Triumph of Shamelessness (2000)
How the BALCO founder pioneered the logic of our cynical age.
throwbacks.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Latest newsletter, on how Victor Conte (1950-2025), shameless steroid peddler, pioneered the logic of our cynical age. throwbacks.substack.com/p/victor-con...
Reposted by Michael Weinreb
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win
I have what I suspect is a somewhat counterintuitive take on the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:51 AM
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
The thing you realize being forced to watch Fox’s college football coverage on YouTube TV is that Fox’s college football coverage is largely unwatchable. throwbacks.substack.com/p/gus-johnso...
Gus Johnson, Fox Sports, and the Exhaustion of Bro Culture
Is the era of screaming gimmickry finally subsiding?
throwbacks.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The thing you realize being forced to watch Fox’s college football coverage on YouTube TV is that Fox’s college football coverage is largely unwatchable. throwbacks.substack.com/p/gus-johnso...
For a sport that’s been so ineptly governed for so long baseball still has it
November 2, 2025 at 3:41 AM
For a sport that’s been so ineptly governed for so long baseball still has it
Latest newsletter: Strange Brew, the Blue Jays, and how America learned to stop worrying and annex Canada. throwbacks.substack.com/p/blame-cana...
Blame Canada (1980)
Strange Brew, the Blue Jays, and how America learned to stop worrying and annex Canada.
throwbacks.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Latest newsletter: Strange Brew, the Blue Jays, and how America learned to stop worrying and annex Canada. throwbacks.substack.com/p/blame-cana...
Latest newsletter: It is still illegal to pull a runner but it literally hasn't been called in 35 years. Meanwhile, it is legal to push a runner, but it is now becoming unenforceable. In an era of blatant moral relativity, welcome to the party, NFL. throwbacks.substack.com/p/why-wont-t...
Why Won't The NFL Enforce Its Own Rules? (1992)
On selective enforcement, the Tush Push, and what happens when rules become suggestions.
throwbacks.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Latest newsletter: It is still illegal to pull a runner but it literally hasn't been called in 35 years. Meanwhile, it is legal to push a runner, but it is now becoming unenforceable. In an era of blatant moral relativity, welcome to the party, NFL. throwbacks.substack.com/p/why-wont-t...
Reposted by Michael Weinreb
Latest newsletter, on Shohei Ohtani as everything and nothing. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
Shohei Ohtani Is a Hero For the AI Age (1977)
This is Throwbacks, a newsletter by me, Michael Weinreb, about sports, history, culture and politics, and everything in-between.
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Latest newsletter, on Shohei Ohtani as everything and nothing. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
Sure, James Franklin may have been inscrutable and annoyingly opaque at times, but Brian Kelly is just a jerk
October 27, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Sure, James Franklin may have been inscrutable and annoyingly opaque at times, but Brian Kelly is just a jerk
The Tush Push is the anarchic metaphor we’ve been seeking
Oh boy that forward progress call on the tush push is weapons grade take fuel
October 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
The Tush Push is the anarchic metaphor we’ve been seeking
Latest newsletter: 75 years after the biggest scandal in basketball history, here we are again. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
The Gambler and the Ballplayer (1950)
Seventy-five years after the biggest scandal in basketball history, here we are again.
open.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Latest newsletter: 75 years after the biggest scandal in basketball history, here we are again. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
There is so much stupid shit happening that the president can prepare to invade San Francisco and then apparently chicken out and it’s barely a national story
October 23, 2025 at 5:10 PM
There is so much stupid shit happening that the president can prepare to invade San Francisco and then apparently chicken out and it’s barely a national story
Latest newsletter, on Shohei Ohtani as everything and nothing. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
Shohei Ohtani Is a Hero For the AI Age (1977)
This is Throwbacks, a newsletter by me, Michael Weinreb, about sports, history, culture and politics, and everything in-between.
open.substack.com
October 22, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Latest newsletter, on Shohei Ohtani as everything and nothing. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
Reposted by Michael Weinreb
Lotta balls, lotta heart. Easiest this team has been to root for all year.
October 19, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Lotta balls, lotta heart. Easiest this team has been to root for all year.
I am now remembering that college football is supposed to be fun
October 18, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I am now remembering that college football is supposed to be fun
Latest newsletter, on the deifying of jerky coaches in the age of rampant jerkdom. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
The Jerk Store Called. They've Got Your New Coach.
In an age of jerkdom, do we want our coaches to be insufferable?
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Latest newsletter, on the deifying of jerky coaches in the age of rampant jerkdom. open.substack.com/pub/throwbac...
Wouldn’t it be ideal if you had a Penn State beat writer right now @theathletic.com
Breaking News from @theathletic.com: Penn State has fired head football coach James Franklin after a 3-3 start to a season that began with championship aspirations.
Penn State fires James Franklin after season with title hopes rapidly unravels
The move caps one of the most stunningly quick collapses in college football history.
www.nytimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Wouldn’t it be ideal if you had a Penn State beat writer right now @theathletic.com
We’ll always have Tyler Warren, man
October 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM
We’ll always have Tyler Warren, man
Yep me too
Penn State's James Franklin: "Drew [Allar] will be done for the year."
October 11, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Yep me too