Thanks to my friends and colleagues at Golf Channel: Kristi Setaro, Matt Hegarty, Eric Rutledge, David Gross, Molly Solomon, Geoff Russell, Mark Summer, Kory Kozak, Adam Hertzog, Jon Steele, Tony Grbac, Courtney Holt, Alan Robison, Frank Nobilo, Brandel Chamblee, Rich Lerner, Kelly Tilgman, Whit Watson, Tim Rosaforte, Mark Rolfing, Notah Begay, Lisa Cornwell, Gary Williams, Damon Hack, Tripp Isenhour, Ryan Burr, George Savarikas, Lisa Cornwell, Jay Coffin, Rex Hoggard, John Feyko, and the world’s best-dressed new father, Todd Lewis. To those who came before: Tom Stathakes, Joe Riley, and Dave Taylor.
At CBS sports radio: Andrew Bogusch, Max Herman, Peter Bellotti, Dave Mayurnik, Anthony Pierno, and Mike Diaz. At SiriusXM: Scott Greenstein, Steve Cohen, Jeremy Davis, John Albanese, Diamond Gray, and Chris Spatola.
Others scattered across the sports world: David Fay, Mike Davis, Mike Butz, Mary Lopuszynski, Pete Kowalski, Craig Smith. It didn’t feel like a U.S. Open without Frank and Jayme Bussey. Other golf people: Marty Caffey, Heny Hughes, and Sid Wilson (sigh), Joel Schuchmann, Todd Budnik, Dave Senko, Doug Milne, Chris Reimer, Colin Murray, John Bush, Laura Hill, James Cramer, Joe Chemyz, Phil Stambaugh, Dave Lancer, Ward Clayton, and Guy Scheipers. Denise Taylor commented to me earlier this year that she should be in my will. She’s right. Thanks also to Joe Steranka, Pete Bevacqua, Julius Mason, and Una Jones at the PGA of America.
The rules guys: Mark Russell—not to mention Laura Russell and the invaluable Alex, who will be a Democrat someday. Also: Steve Rintoul, Jon Brendle (emeritus), Slugger White, Robbie Ware, Dillard Pruitt, and the great John Paramour.
More hoops people: the world’s greatest commissioner (ask him) David Stern. Tim Frank, Brian McIntyre, Lefty and Joyce Driesell, Seth and Brad Greenberg, Jim Calhoun, Brad Stevens, Shaka Smart, Billy Donovan, Larry Shyatt, Tom Brennan, Dave and Lynne Odom, Jim Larranaga, Mack McCarthy, Pat Flannery, Ralph Willard, Jim Crews, Zach Spiker, Emmett Davis, Billy Lange, Fran O’Hanlon. Frank Sullivan is still the best.
Docs—a longer list than I’d like it to be, but thankfully most are friends more often than docs: Eddie McDevitt, Dean and Ann Taylor, Bob Arciero, Gus Mazzocca, Murray Lieberman, plus the two men who saved my life, Steve Boyce and Joe Vassallo.
Probably my two favorite guys in basketball: Howard Garfinkel and Tom Konchalski—still the only honest man in the gym.
The swimming knuckleheads, who are not aging gracefully (neither am I): Jason Crist, Jeff Roddin, Clay F. Britt, Wally Dicks, Mark Pugliese, Paul Doremus, Danny Pick, Erik (Dr. Post) Osbourne, John Craig, Doug Chestnut, Peter Ward, Penny Bates, Carole Kammel, Mary Dowling, Magot Pettijohn, Tom Denes, A. J. Block, Pete Lawler, and Mike (three-timer) Fell.
The China Doll/Shanghai Village gang: Aubre Jones, Jack Kvancz, Stanley Copeland, Reid Collins, Harry Huang, George Solomon, Geoff Kaplan, and Jeff Gemunder. In absentia but still welcome: Morgan Wootten, Pete Dowling, Joe McKeown, Bob Campbell, and Ric McPherson. Missed always: Red and Zang; Hymie, Rob, and Arnie.
The Rio Gang, where I think I’m finally bringing Tate Armstrong around to the right (actually left) way of thinking. Mark Alarie, Clay Buckley, and Terry Chili remain hopeless, but friends nevertheless.
The Feinstein Advisory Board: Dave Kindred, Keith Drum, Frank Mastrandrea, and—up there somewhere saying, “I told you Coach Cutt would get it done!”—Bill Brill.
Almost last, but certainly not least, my family: Bobby, Jennifer, Matthew, and Brian; Margaret, David, Ethan, and Ben; Marylynn, Cheryl, and Marcia.
And, most of all: my wife and my children light up my life every single day: Christine, Danny, Brigid, and Jane. I could not possibly live without them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Legends Club is John Feinstein’s thirty-sixth book. He is the author of A Season on the Brink and A Good Walk Spoiled, both #1 New York Times bestsellers, and Last Shot, which won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for mystery writing in the Young Adult category. He was inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Hall of Fame in 2000, the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013. He currently writes for The Washington Post and Golf Digest and is a regular contributor to the Golf Channel and Comcast Sports Regional Networks; in addition, he hosts a college basketball show and a golf show on SiriusXM Radio. He lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife, Christine, and is the father of three children, Danny, Brigid, and Jane.
Dean and Jim share a pregame laugh—no surprise. Eddie Fogler is sitting next to Dean, and Roy Williams is next to Jim. Robert Crawford
Moment of pure joy…Dean Smith celebrates the 1982 national title with (from left) a very young Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, and James Worthy. Heinz Kluetmeier/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images
Valvano finally finds his designated hugger—Dereck Whittenburg—after his run to nowhere in 1983. Greg P. Hatem
Dean and Mike pose together before a game. Note the forced smiles. Robert Crawford
The author, Lefty Driesell, and Valvano. Two of the great talkers in college basketball and look who is talking. Courtesy of the author
Krzyzewski’s first national title team in 1991. In a twist, Jim Delaney—North Carolina graduate—had to present the trophy as NCAA basketball committee chairman. Duke Athletics
Krzyzewski with one of the five nets he cherishes most. Duke Athletics
The author and Dean about twenty minutes before a game. Dean was never looser than during pregame warm-ups. Courtesy of the author
Dean, Mike, and Jim sign autographs together at a charity function…The Herald-Sun/Harold Moore
Christian Laettner releases the shot that beat Kentucky in 1992. Note the time on the clock overhead. The Herald-Sun/Chuck Liddy
Title number three. Back on top six years after the fall of ’95…Duke Athletics
A rare, genuine Michael Jordan moment. This was during the one hundredth anniversary celebration of UNC basketball. Robert Crawford
At least he listens on occasion: Mike Krzyzewski with the author. David Bradley/Duke Blue Planet
Dean and Krzyzewski at one of Dean’s last public appearances. Charles Scott, North Carolina’s first African American player, is sitting next to Dean. Duke Athletics
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The Legends Club Page 48