This is a collection of all of Jon Finkel’s blogs & columns and exclusive interviews. You’ll find essays and articles on everything from fitness and fatherhood, to sports, 90s nostalgia, pop culture, action movies and more. Along the way, you’ll even get some writing tips and inspirational stories.
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Read Jon Finkel’s Blogs and Columns:
Sports, fitness, books, interviews, pop culture, dude stuff, dad stuff… it’s all here:
- The Fine Art of Old Dude Forgiveness
This week I witnessed what I’m calling the fine art of old dude forgiveness. It was a moment so impactful, yet so understated, all I can do is describe the scene and you can decide for yourself. … Read more - How the Tough Guys in WWII’s Underwater Demolition Teams became the Navy SEALs
After reading the book Into Enemy Waters by Andrew Dubbins I became obsessed with how the underwater demolition teams of WWII became the Navy SEALs. So picture this: Imagine storming the beaches of Iwo Jima during WWII … Read more - Roger Staubach’s Remarkable Rise in the Navy, NFL and Business
60 years ago. Before NIL deals & sponsorships, one college football star did the following: Won the Heisman Trophy, then served in Vietnam, then won 2 Super Bowls as a QB, made 2 HOFs, started a company … Read more - Interview with Author Russ Bengtson
This is the Books & Biceps interview with author Russ Bengtson about his new book, A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers. From the minute I heard about this book I couldn’t wait to read it for … Read more - Why Deion Sanders in his Prime was More Fun than Coach Prime
Dads and 90s Dudes, here’s a fact: This new generation of sports fans discovering “Coach Prime” for the first time have no idea what peak 90s, full swagger Deion was like. I’m talking about Neon Deion, AKA, … Read more - The Real, Heartwarming Reason Ken Griffey Jr. Wore His Hat Backwards
Tens of millions of 1990s kids wore their hats backwards because of how cool Ken Griffey Jr. looked. I did it. You did it. We STILL do it. But do you know the real, heartwarming reason Ken … Read more - Dad Rant: Why Summer in the 90s Crushed Summer in the 2020s
I’m a dad who grew up in the 90s. I’m entitled to a “back in my day” rant with my kids every once in a while. And I just gave my kids an epic takedown that I … Read more - 3x Super Bowl Champion and Fighter Pilot Chad Hennings’ Utterly Unique Rise to the NFL
I co-wrote Chad Hennings’ book, Forces of Character, and I’ve always been fascinated with the life path that he took. For those who don’t know, this is 3x Super Bowl Champion and Fighter Pilot Chad Hennings’ utterly … Read more - Books & Biceps Interview with Lowdown Road Author Scott Von Doviak
This Books & Biceps interview with Lowdown Road author Scott Von Doviak appeared in issue #257 of my Books & Biceps newsletter. The phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover” is flat out stupid. I’ve always … Read more - Deep Life Wisdom at the Dentist’s Office
The absolute last place on earth I would expect to receive deep life wisdom is at the dentist’s office. And to be even more specific: in the dentist’s office waiting room. But a chance encounter with an … Read more - How ESPN’s SportsCenter United a Generation in the 90s
Dads and 90s kids, here’s a fact: We had it so good with ESPN’s SportsCenter and we didn’t know it…. How could we? We didn’t know what was on the horizon that would try to take it … Read more - One Dad, Two Sons and the Night the Driveway Basketball Legend was Born
My feature, One Dad, Two Sons, and the Night the Driveway Basketball Legend was Born, earned a Notable Mention in the 2015 Best American Sports Writing Anthology (originally featured on ThePostGame.com) The foul line we sprayed on … Read more - My Five Favorite Biographies on the Founding Fathers
Because I write the Books & Biceps newsletter every week to thousands of my fellow sophisticated meatheads, I get asked for book recs in all kinds of niches, but one that pops up a lot is the … Read more - 5 Takeaways from Phil Knight’s Autobiography, Shoe Dog
These are my 5 takeaways from Phil Knight’s autobiography Shoe Dog: Phil Knight’s autobiography, Shoe Dog, is a memoir of his life and of Nike (both one and the same) is a must-read for so many different … Read more - Books & Biceps Interview with Dumb Money Author Ben Mezrich
This Books & Biceps interview with Dumb Money author Ben Mezrich appeared in issue #266 of my Books & Biceps newsletter: I suppose it’s somewhat meta to reach out to the author of the book that inspired The … Read more - An Ace Ventura Miracle: Jon Finkel Interviews Ray Finkle
Sean Young as Ray FInkle in Ace Ventura - This is What Swimming a 200 Meter Butterfly Feels Like
When I was a writer for Muscle & Fitness magazine I wrote a first-person feature in the lead-up to the 2008 Olympics where I had the swimming coach at Pierce College in California put me through an … Read more - Books & Biceps Interview with Giannis Author Mirin Fader
This Books & Biceps interview with Giannis author Mirin Fader appeared in issue 267 of my Books & Biceps newsletter. The subtitle of this Giannis biography is “the improbable rise of an NBA champion.” “Improbable” is a … Read more - 7 Reasons Why The ’99 MLB All-Star Game Will Always And Forever Be My Favorite
I Was There I think attendance is imperative to claiming that a specific sporting event is your favorite of all time. In this case, the ’99 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is the only MLB All-Star Game … Read more - Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris And Jim Gentile: The Story Of Baseball’s Forgotten 1961 Sensation
By: Jon Finkel You meet a guy in his late 40s whose last name is DiMaggio or Killebrew or Aaron and yes, you naturally wonder if his dad isn’t Joe or Harmon or Hank. But you meet … Read more - How I Read a New Book Every 10 Days
No tricks. No gimmicks. No BS strategies about 5-minute reading windows or syncing an audio book with hard copy books or reading while you eat or while you brush your teeth or whatever other reading hack some guru is trying to sell you. - Three Answers with Author Glenn Stout
Author Glenn Stout is the longtime Series Editor of the “Best American Sports Writing” yearly showcase, AKA, every sportswriter’s bible and gold standard. Stout is also one hell of a writer and I’ve enjoyed and recommended a … Read more - D-Day Extended Reading and Viewing List
If you haven’t read Band of Brothers by Stephen E. Ambrose about D-Day make it the next book on your list. I could write 2,000 words on why it belongs in the pantheon of books on men, … Read more - Three Answers with ‘From Hang Time to Prime Time’ Author Pete Croatto
The beauty of this book is that it combines three elements that almost always lead to a winning read: 1) it’s a passion project expertly developed into a full-scale book, 2) it is extraordinarily researched and 3) … Read more - LeBron, Curry & Finkel: My One Night as the Miami Heat Mascot
This is what it’s like to share an NBA floor with LeBron James, Steph Curry & Dwyane Wade…as an NBA mascot.
