iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

I love my cat, but today she is making it very hard to work. 🐈‍⬛📚🐈‍⬛ #amwriting

Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

I can’t wait to return to Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County Public library! Hope to see you at the Middleburg Heights branch on Weds, Sept. 23, at 7p. It should be a great night, talking about basketball, miracles & Larry Bird—with Mac’s Backs on hand selling copies of HEARTLAND. 🏀📚❤️

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Welp. I guess I’ve finally made it. My high school has invited me back for an event... I promise I’ll be more interesting than I was 35 years ago. And Joseph-Beth Booksellers will be on hand selling copies of CHARLIE HUSTLE and HEARTLAND. Hope to see you on 9/22! www.stxavier.org/keithobrien

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Hey, Kennebunkport! The HEARTLAND tour resumes this week at the Graves Library in Maine! Hope to see you Thursday, August 13, at 7:30p, for a fun night talking about basketball, miracles & Larry Bird. Register in advance at this link! 🦞📚🏀 graveslibrary.org/event/author...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

HEARTLAND has gone into a second printing—and she got a glow-up to go with it. Thanks for reading, everyone! Without you, this wouldn’t be possible. The new books should be in stores soon. Go and get ‘em!

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

If anyone is wondering how Justin Turner (age 41) and Robinson Cano (age 43) are doing, they are just fine, thank you. They are playing in the Mexican League and last night represented Las Estrellas in the Mexican League all-star game. Baseball is life. ❤️⚾️❤️

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 20/06/2026

In celebration of my father and Boston’s love affair with the Scots, I have busted out the jersey that my father bought on a trip to Scotland in 1986. He loved soccer & this jersey. My dad even wore it on Easter Sunday ‘86, with my brother. Thinking of him & cheering on the Tartan Army. ⚽️💙

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 18/06/2026

Attention Last-Minute Father's Day Shoppers! I'll be at Water Street Books this Saturday, June 20, from noon-1p, signing copies of HEARTLAND and CHARLIE HUSTLE. Stop by to pick one up for your dad—or for yourself! Hope to see you at Water Street! @stefwaterstbook.bsky.social

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

You know what’s the fakest thing about this stupid AI-generated photo that is currently circulating on the internet? Bird didn’t wear #33 on the one day he played with the ISU baseball team in ‘79. He wore #24. I know this because I’ve held his jersey in my hands. AI is the worst…

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Hope to see everyone this weekend at the Gaithersburg Book Festival where I will be talking about basketball, miracles, and Larry Bird. 🏀📚💯

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

In 1978, when Pete Rose was a free agent for the first time, Ted Turner tried to entice Rose to sign with the Atlanta Braves. It almost worked. Pete loved money—and Ted. But in the end, he chose Philadelphia, a better team. RIP Ted Turner, a man who almost changed baseball history.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

The Celtics might have been eliminated, but the HEARTLAND book tour rolls on! I’ll be in Nashua, N.H., this Saturday, May 9, at Balin Books. If you’re in the neighborhood, come out for a fun afternoon discussing basketball, miracles, and Larry Bird. 🏀📚☘️

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Good on you, New York Times. Good on you. This note is in the running for best correction of the year. #mets

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

RIP to an all-timer, Tracy Kidder, who inspired me and legions of other young writers with his reporting, his craft, and his words. May his memory—and his work—be a blessing. www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/25/m...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Hope to see you @gibsonsbookstore.bsky.social in Concord, N.H., on Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 PM. Come out for a fun night talking about basketball, underdogs, Larry Bird, and life. 📚🏀☘️💙

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Congrats to my friend and former Boston Globe colleague, Dan Shaughnessy, who today received one of the most prestigious awards in all of sports journalism: the Red Smith Award. No one is more deserving. Congratulations, Dan! www.bostonglobe.com/2026/03/19/s...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Thank you to readers everywhere; my family & friends; everyone at @atriabooks.bsky.social who believed in me; all the indie booksellers who hosted events; and the people who lived this story & trusted me to tell it. This underdog book has done the impossible. We are a New York Times bestseller. 💙

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

If you love basketball, the Celtics, Larry Bird, or just great storytelling, you gotta make this HEARTLAND book event this Weds, March 11, at 7 PM @silverunicornbooks.bsky.social in Acton with @chadfinn.bsky.social, the great Bob Ryan, and me. It’s going to be amazing! Hope to see you there. 📚☘️🏀

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

Week 1 of the HEARTLAND tour began on a bus ends on a train—and with this incredible review from legendary Boston Globe writer Dan Shaughnessy. “White-hot and incredibly researched”—put it on my tombstone! Check out the list of HEARTLAND book events this week in New England. keithob.com/event-list

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

The HEARTLAND book tour begins, unshaven and way too early, on a bus headed south through the snow. But for this tour, starting Monday night in Terre Haute, Indiana, I think I chose the proper headwear. Hope to see you on the road in the next two weeks! We’ve got some fun events on the schedule. 🏀📚

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

We are days away from the launch of HEARTLAND in Terre Haute on Monday, March 2, at 6 pm. Register today to attend what will be far more than just a book event. Most of the 1979 miracle Indiana State team will be in attendance & in conversation about this story. www.eventbrite.com/e/heartland-...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Register today to attend the HEARTLAND book launch on Mon, March 2, at the Terre Haute Convention Center where I will be in conversation with several members of Indiana State's 1979 miracle team. It'll be a night to remember. Hope to see you there! 🏀📚🔥 www.eventbrite.com/e/heartland-...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

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...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

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. 🎉📚🙌

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

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.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 17/01/2026

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...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

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?

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Shout-out to the late, great Stuart Scott @espn.com whose signature phrase made it into the @nytimes.com games today. #iykyk

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

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!

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

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.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

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

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

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-...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

Philip Rivers is every dad. Ever.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

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...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

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.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

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...

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

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

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Nothing made me feel older today than the death of the penny.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

In an age of gambling scandals, this is just another. Prop bets are dangerous to all the sports you love.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

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.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Baseball. There’s nothing like it.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

Devastating loss for Toronto. Amazing World Series for baseball fans around the world. Pitchers and catchers report in 101 days.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

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. 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

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!

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

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. 🌳🍁💙

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

If you pray, pray for Jamaica. There should not be a hurricane this strong in the Caribbean this late in the season. #ClimateCrisis #HurricaneMelissa

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

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.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

What a fun night at the Ohio Book Awards—with Gov. Mike DeWine, the First Lady Ohio, my date for the evening (my mother!), great writers like @timothysnyder.bsky.social, and people fighting to defend books.

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Keith O’Brien @keithob.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Already paying the price for staying up until the end of this one. But I don’t regret it. It was PEAK playoff baseball.

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