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
With the Washington Post layoffs this morning, I’m reposting my Atlantic piece from 2024. In the past month alone, we’ve had gambling scandals, allegations of fixed games & owners in the Epstein Files. Who’s going to cover it, if no one is there? www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
February 4, 2026 at 2:50 PM
With the Washington Post layoffs this morning, I’m reposting my Atlantic piece from 2024. In the past month alone, we’ve had gambling scandals, allegations of fixed games & owners in the Epstein Files. Who’s going to cover it, if no one is there? www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Oh, man—look what made an appearance on Pardon the Interruption … Thanks for the subtle shout-out, Tony Kornheiser! Your copy of HEARTLAND sure looks good on your shelf. 🎉📚🙌
January 21, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Oh, man—look what made an appearance on Pardon the Interruption … Thanks for the subtle shout-out, Tony Kornheiser! Your copy of HEARTLAND sure looks good on your shelf. 🎉📚🙌
College sports was never innocent. But man, has it changed. I can show you how in four simple slides. Check them out and preorder HEARTLAND today wherever books are sold! It's the Larry Bird story like it's never been told before, coming on 3/3/26 @atriabooks.bsky.social.
January 19, 2026 at 5:16 PM
College sports was never innocent. But man, has it changed. I can show you how in four simple slides. Check them out and preorder HEARTLAND today wherever books are sold! It's the Larry Bird story like it's never been told before, coming on 3/3/26 @atriabooks.bsky.social.
We need to be honest about what we witnessing: the Indiana Hoosiers aren’t true underdogs. They’re a reflection of our wild and moneyed times in college sports. My latest for @theatlantic.com in advance of Monday night’s championship game. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
January 17, 2026 at 3:17 PM
We need to be honest about what we witnessing: the Indiana Hoosiers aren’t true underdogs. They’re a reflection of our wild and moneyed times in college sports. My latest for @theatlantic.com in advance of Monday night’s championship game. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Yet another gambling scandal in sports—an alleged, widespread scheme among college basketball players to manipulate outcomes for profit. According to federal prosecutors, it involved 16 different schools. Makes you ask a simple—and alarming—question: what’s happening right now that we don’t know?
January 15, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Yet another gambling scandal in sports—an alleged, widespread scheme among college basketball players to manipulate outcomes for profit. According to federal prosecutors, it involved 16 different schools. Makes you ask a simple—and alarming—question: what’s happening right now that we don’t know?
Shout-out to the late, great Stuart Scott @espn.com whose signature phrase made it into the @nytimes.com games today. #iykyk
January 11, 2026 at 1:10 PM
Shout-out to the late, great Stuart Scott @espn.com whose signature phrase made it into the @nytimes.com games today. #iykyk
I love the cover for HEARTLAND. But man, I really love the back jacket. Thanks to all these great writers for their support and thanks to the brilliant design team @atriabooks.bsky.social for turning vision into reality. Book drops on 3/3 and preorders are open now!
January 9, 2026 at 6:27 PM
I love the cover for HEARTLAND. But man, I really love the back jacket. Thanks to all these great writers for their support and thanks to the brilliant design team @atriabooks.bsky.social for turning vision into reality. Book drops on 3/3 and preorders are open now!
On this date in 1991, Pete Rose was released from federal prison in Illinois, after serving a five-month sentence for failure to pay his taxes.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
January 7, 2026 at 6:14 PM
On this date in 1991, Pete Rose was released from federal prison in Illinois, after serving a five-month sentence for failure to pay his taxes.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
He had just weathered one of the darkest periods in his life. But he emerged on this day unchanged, defiant and bold and lying about betting on baseball.
The older teenager got me a Christmas gift. It is perfect. And with this mug at the ready, I am back at it, closing out the year with (hopefully) another productive day at the Word Factory. #amwriting
December 31, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The older teenager got me a Christmas gift. It is perfect. And with this mug at the ready, I am back at it, closing out the year with (hopefully) another productive day at the Word Factory. #amwriting
Massive preorder sale happening right now @barnesandnoble.com … Check it out and preorder your copy of HEARTLAND today at a serious discount! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heartland-...
December 30, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Massive preorder sale happening right now @barnesandnoble.com … Check it out and preorder your copy of HEARTLAND today at a serious discount! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heartland-...
Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.
December 23, 2025 at 3:58 AM
Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.
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...
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.
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...
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.
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. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦
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!
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.