Franz Lidz is an American writer and journalist. He was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, a contributing editor at Conde Nast Portfolio, and is a correspondent for Smithsonian,Slate,WSJ.,GQ, Sports Illustrated,The Wall Street Journal,The New York Observer,Men's Journal,AARP the Magazine,Philadelphia Magazine,Golf Digest and has written for the New York Times since 1983, on travel, TV, film and theater.