Jonathan Rand is an award-winning sports journalist. He was aSemifinalist for the Associated Press Sports Editors Award for column writing, a recipient of the Missouri Press Association's first and second place awards for sports columns, and has been recognized by the Pro Football Writers Association. A columnist and reporter at the Kansas City Star, Rand wrote a daily sports column for 15 years and covered virtually every major college, professional and Olympic sport. As a beat reporter, he covered the Kansas City Chiefs, the NFL at large and Kansas State athletics. After leaving Kansas, Rand moved on to Miami, where he worked as a columnist and reporter at both the Miami News and Miami Herald. He covered the South Florida professional and college sports scenes and wrote a media column at the News and a golf column at the Herald. As a beat reporter, he also covered University of Miami athletics and the Miami Dolphins on a backup basis. He received his M.A. in Journalism and completed his Masters thesis at the University of Missouri, and is the author of The Gridiron's Greatest Linebackers.