Boswell, Durham, Gumbel, Weiss Elected to NSMA Hall of Fame

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (January 16, 2018) – Thomas Boswell, Woody Durham, Bryant Gumbel and Dick Weiss have been voted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame and will be inducted this June, NSMA executive director Dave Goren announced. Goren also said that NSMA members voted Kevin Harlan as the 2017 National Sportscaster of the Year, Adrian Wojnarowski as the 2017 National Sportswriter of the Year; and members in each state elected 105 state Sportscasters and Sportswriters of the Year from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia. They will be honored during the 59th annual NSMA Awards Weekend, June 23-25, 2018 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Boswell is one of the pre-eminent baseball writers in the country, having served as a Washington Post sports columnist since 1969. Boswell is also the author of several books, including Why Time Begins on Opening Day, The Heart of the Order, and Why Life Imitates the World Series. In 1984, his peers voted him the 1984 NSMA D.C. Sportswriter of the Year.

Durham is best known for the 40 years he spent as radio play-by-play announcer for University of North Carolina football and basketball. He also spent 14 years as a television sports anchor, and is a 13-time winner of the NSMA’s North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year award.

Gumbel’s sports broadcasting career has taken him from KNBC-TV in Los Angeles to NBC, CBS, PBS and HBO. He has hosted REAL SPORTS WITH BRYANT GUMBEL on HBO since April 1995, and has won dozens of awards for his work as a host, interviewer, anchor, and reporter.

Weiss, known as “Hoops” to generations of basketball fans, worked for the Philadelphia Daily News and New York Daily News, covering college football and college and professional basketball for a total of 40 years. Currently, he writes a blog for the online site, Blue Star Media. He has also written or co-written seven books.

* * *

Winning his first NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year award, Harlan is the recognizable voice of the NFL and college basketball on CBS, the NBA on Turner Sports, and Monday Night Football on Westwood One. Harlan began his career as a 22-year-old radio and TV play-by-play announcer, calling Kansas City Kings’ games. His path has also included stints as play-by-play announcer with the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, NBC, ESPN, and FOX Sports.

Wojnarowski has won the NSMA National Sportswriter of the Year award for the first time. Known for his NBA scoops, he left Yahoo Sports after nearly ten years, and on July 1, 2017, returned to his hometown of Bristol, Conn. to work at ESPN. Before Yahoo, Wojnarowski wrote for The Record (Bergen County, NJ), Fresno Bee and Waterbury Republican-American. He is a two-time winner of the Associated Press Spots Editors’ “Columnist of the Year” award.

Notable among the state winners:

• Indiana University radio play-by-play announcer Don Fischer was voted Indiana Sportscaster of the Year for the 25th time
• Jack Ebling, who won three Michigan Sportswriter of the Year awards, was voted the Michigan Sportscaster of the Year for the first time
• Kanoa Leahey becomes the third member of his family to Hawaii’s Sportscaster of the Year Award. His grandfather, Chuck Leahey, won the award twice in the 1960s. His father, Jim Leahey, won it 17 times between 1971 and 1991.

There were 39 first-time winners of the state awards.

Below is a list of all of the Hall of Fame inductees, National and State winners, with number of times won in parentheses.

2018 NSMA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

SPORTSCASTERS

Woody Durham, Univ. of North Carolina Radio

Bryant Gumbel, NBC, CBS, PBS, HBO

SPORTSWRITERS

Thomas Boswell, Washington Post

Dick Weiss, Blue Star Media, Philadelphia Daily News, New York Daily News

2017 NSMA NATIONAL WINNERS

NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Harlan, CBS, Turner Sports, Westwood One (1)

NATIONAL SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN, Yahoo Sports (1)

2017 NSMA STATE WINNERS

ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jim Dunaway, WJOX-FM & WIAT-TV, Birmingham (3)

ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Matt Zenitz, AL.com, Tuscaloosa (1)

ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dave Pasch, Arizona Cardinals Radio Network, Phoenix (3)

ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Doug Haller, Arizona Republic, Phoenix (2)

ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Phil Elson, Razorback Sports Network/Fox Sports Arkansas/Henderson State U, Little Rock (2)

ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tom Murphy, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock (1)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Krukow, NBC Sports Bay Area/KNBR Giants Networks, San Francisco (2)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco (2)

COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dave Logan, KOA Denver Broncos Radio Network, Denver (4)

COLORADO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mark Kiszla, Denver Post, Denver (3)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

John Pierson, WTNH-TV, New Haven (1)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant, Hartford (2)

DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Matt Janus, Wilmington Blue Rocks/WDSD Radio, Wilmington (2)

DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Tresolini, The News Journal, Wilmington (11)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Joe Beninati, Washington Capitals/NBC Sports Washington, Washington (2)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Zuckerman, MASNSports.com, Washington (1)

FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Eric Reid, Miami Heat/Fox Sports Sun (1)

FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, Miami (1)

GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Wes Durham, Atlanta Falcons Radio Network/Fox Sports Network, Atlanta (11)

GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Steve Hummer, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta (tie) (9)

Jeff Schultz, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta (tie) (4)

HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Kanoa Leahey, Spectrum Sports/ESPN 900, Honolulu (1)

HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Honolulu (5)

IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Chris King, Idaho Vandals Sports Properties/Learfield & Tri-City Dust Devils, Moscow/Pasco, WA (1)

IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

B. J. Rains, Idaho Press-Tribune, Nampa (1)

ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Giangreco, WLS-TV, Chicago (tie) (1)

Pat Hughes, Chicago Cubs Radio Network/670 The Score, Chicago (tie) (*8)

ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Chris Hine, Chicago Tribune, Chicago (1)

INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Don Fischer, Indiana Hoosier Radio Network/Learfield (25)

INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Eric Hansen, South Bend Tribune, South Bend (1)

IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Keith Murphy, WHO-TV, Des Moines (3)

IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids (5)

KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Wyatt Thompson, K-State Radio Network/Learfield (3)

KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Bob Davidson, Salina Journal, Salina (1)

KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tom Lane, WDRB-TV, Louisville (1)

KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jen Smith, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington (2)

LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jacques Doucet, WAFB-TV, Baton Rouge (1)

LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Scott Rabalais, Baton Rouge Advocate, Baton Rouge (1)

MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Rich Kimball, Black Bear Sports Properties/Learfield, Orono (7)

MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Joe Cyr, Houlton Pioneer Times, Houlton (1)

MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Viviano, WJZ-TV, Baltimore (5)

MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Zrebiec, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore (3)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dan Roche, WBZ-TV, Boston (2)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe, Boston (12)

MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jack Ebling, 92.1 FM & Fox 47, Lansing (**1)

MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, Detroit (1)

MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

John Focke, Minnesota Lynx/Timberwolves Radio/FOX Sports North, Minneapolis (1)

MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Chip Scoggins, Star Tribune, Minneapolis (3)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Rob Jay, Jackson State Radio Network/ESPN The Zone, Jackson (1)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Scott Walters, Commercial Dispatch, Columbus (2)

MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Kelly, Missouri Tiger Radio Network, Columbia (5)

MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, Kansas City (5)

MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jay Sanderson, Montana State Sports Network/Learfield, Bozeman (1)

MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Greg Rachac, Billings Gazette, Billings (3)

NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Greg Sharpe, Husker IMG Sports Network, Lincoln (tie) (***1)

Kevin Sjuts, KOLN/KGIN-TV, Omaha/Lincoln (tie) (2)

NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (5)

NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Amber Dixon, KSNV-TV, Las Vegas (1)

NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas (6)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Murphy, Wildcat Sports Properties/Learfield, Durham (7)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Allen Lessels, UNH Wildcat Insider, Durham (12)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tom Williams, Prime Events, Ocean City (10)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Gregg Lerner, MSG Varsity, Toms River (2)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jack Nixon, New Mexico State Radio Network/Learfield, Las Cruces (3)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jason Groves, Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces (1)

NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Bruce Beck, WNBC-TV, New York (****9)

NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Neil Best, Newsday, New York (1)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Stan Cotten, Wake Forest IMG Sports Network, Winston-Salem (4)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Luke DeCock, Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh (Tie) (2)

Andrew Carter, News & Observer, Raleigh (Tie) (1)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brad Anderson, 740 The Fan, Fargo (1)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Eric Peterson, The Forum, Fargo (2)

OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dan Hoard, Bengals Radio/Cincinnati IMG Sports Networks, Cincinnati (2)

OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tim May, Columbus Dispatch, Columbus (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dennis Higgins, Tulsa Drillers Radio, Tulsa (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Guerin Emig, Tulsa World, Tulsa (1)

OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jerry Allen, Oregon IMG Sports Network, Eugene (12)

OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Andrew Greif, The Oregonian, Portland (1)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Marc Zumoff, 76ers/NBC Sports Philadelphia, Philadelphia (1)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jim Salisbury, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Philadelphia (2)

RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Nick Coit, WLNE-TV, Providence (1)

RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Brendan McGair, Pawtucket Times/Woonsocket Call, Pawtucket/Woonsocket (3)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Scott Eisberg, WCIV-TV, Charleston (1)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Scott Keepfer, Greenville News, Greenville (tie) (1)

Grace Raynor, Post & Courier, Charleston (tie) (1)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dellas Cole, Brookings Radio, Brookings (2)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ryan Deal, Daily Republic, Mitchell (1)

TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Pete Pranica, FOX Sports Southeast (Grizzlies), Memphis (1)

TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Joe Rexrode, The Tennessean (*****1)

TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brad Sham, Dallas Cowboys Radio Network, Arlington (12)

TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, Dallas (5)

UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Alema Harrington, ROOT Sports, Salt Lake City (1)

UTAH SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tony Jones, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City (1)

VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Erin Cofiell, ABC22/FOX 44, Burlington (2)

VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tom Haley, Rutland Herald, Rutland (9)

VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Wes McElroy, Fox Sports 910 Radio, Richmond (2)

VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

David Teel, Daily Press, Newport News (11)

WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brock Huard, 710 ESPN, Seattle (2)

WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Stef Loh, Seattle Times, Seattle (1)

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Steve Cotton, Marshall IMG Sports Network, Huntington (12)

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Chuck McGill, Thundering Herd Illustrated/HerdZone, Huntington (6)

WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Brian Anderson, FOX Sports Wisconsin (Brewers), Milwaukee (3)

WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jason Wilde, Wisconsin State Journal/ESPN.com, Green Bay (3)

WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Keith Kelley, KFBC Radio, Cheyenne (4)

WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jack Nowlin, Casper Star-Tribune, Casper (3)

* - won Wisconsin Sportscaster of Year award 3 times

** - won Michigan Sportswriter of Year award 3 times

*** - won Kansas Sportscaster of Year award 2 times

**** - won New Jersey Sportscaster of Year award 2 times

***** - won Michigan Sportswriter of Year award 1 time