NSMA News Release on 2016 Award Winners & 2017 Hall of Fame Inductees

SALISBURY, N.C. – Linda Cohn, the late Frank Gifford, Mike Lupica and the late Sam Lacy will be inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame this June, NSMA executive director Dave Goren announced. The NSMA will also honor 2016 National Sportscaster of the Year, Vin Scully, 2016 National Sportswriter of the Year, Tom Verducci, and 106 State Sportscasters and Sportswriters of the Year from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia. They will be honored during the 58^th annual NSMA Awards Weekend, June 25-26, in Winston-Salem, N.C. The NSMA recently announced that it is moving its operations to Winton-Salem from Salisbury, N.C., where it was founded in 1959.

Cohn is best known for her work and versatility at ESPN, where she has anchored more of the sports network’s SportsCenter shows (5,000-plus) than anyone. After starting her career in radio, Cohn moved into local television sports, before starting at ESPN in 1992.

Gifford was one of the first athletes to leave the playing field and succeed in the broadcast booth. A football star at the University of Southern California and with the New York Giants, Gifford worked as a sportscaster while still playing in the NFL. Starting at CBS and moving to ABC, Gifford eventually worked his way into regular roles with Wide World of Sports and Monday Night Football. From 1971-1985, he was the lead play-by-play voice for Monday Night Football, transitioning to an analyst’s role from 1986-1997. Gifford died at the age of 84 in 2015.

Lupica became the youngest columnist ever at the New York Daily News in 1977 and 40 years later, is still there. For the last 30 years, Lupica has expanded his repertoire, writing books and magazine articles, hosting his own radio and television shows and, for the last 15 years, appearing as a regular panelist on ESPN’s The Sports Reporters.

Lacy was a sportswriting pioneer. After short stints at the Washington Tribune and Chicago Defender, Lacy moved to the Baltimore Afro-American, where he covered sports for 60 years. He was instrumental in helping to integrate Major League Baseball, using his status as sports editor to push baseball’s owners to consider it. Lacy wrote his final column for the Afro-American just days before his death at age 99, in May of 2003.

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Winning his fourth NSMA National Sportscaster of the Year award to go along with his 33^rd NSMA California Sportscaster of the Year award, Scully retired in October after broadcasting Brooklyn -- then Los Angeles -- Dodgers’ baseball for 67 seasons, the longest tenure of any broadcaster with one professional team. Scully also called major sporting events for both CBS and NBC, and was elected to the NSMA Hall of Fame in 1991.

Verducci has won his third straight NSMA National Sportswriter award. A 24-year veteran at Sports Illustrated, where he is now the senior baseball writer, Verducci has branched out in recent years to television, as a commentator for the MLB Network and FOX Sports. He has written several books, with one on the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs due out March 28.

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Among the state winners, Scully’s 33^rd award as California Sportscaster of the Year is a record. There are seven others who have won double figure times in their states. And John Blanchette, who has been elected Washington State Sportswriter of the Year nine times, also won five awards in Montana, giving him 14 total.

There are also 40 first-time winners of state awards. They include Erin Cofiell (sportscaster) and Lauren Read (sportswriter), who make Vermont the first state to have women win both awards. Of the 106 state winners, six are women, the highest total in the NSMA’s history.

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

2017 NSMA Hall of Fame Inductees

HALL OF FAME SPORTSCASTERS

Linda Cohn, ESPN

Frank Gifford, ABC/ESPN, others

HALL OF FAME SPORTSWRITER

Sam Lacy, Baltimore Afro-American

Mike Lupica, New York Daily News

2016 NSMA NATIONAL WINNERS

NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Vin Scully, Los Angeles Dodgers

NATIONAL SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tom Verducci, Sports Illustrated

2016 NSMA STATE WINNERS

ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Chris Stewart, Crimson Tide Sports Network, Tuscaloosa (5)

ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Cecil Hurt, Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa (1)

ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tim Healey, Arizona Sports 98.7 Sun Devil Radio Network, Tempe (2)

ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Paul Coro, Arizona Republic, Phoenix (3)

ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Bo Mattingly, SportsTalk With Bo, Fayetteville (3)

ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Troy Schulte, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Little Rock (1)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Vin Scully, SportsNet LA TV/Dodgers Radio Networks, Los Angeles (33)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco (14)

COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Drew Goodman, ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain, Denver (13)

COLORADO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Terry Frei, Denver Post, Denver (Tie) (4¹)

Mark Kiszla, Denver Post, Denver (Tie) (2)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Joe D’Ambrosio, WTIC-AM, Hartford (9)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Paul Doyle, Hartford Courant, Hartford (1)

DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Scott Klatzkin, 94.7 WDSD, Wilmington (3)

DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Tresolini, The News Journal, Wilmington (10)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Grant Paulsen, 106.7 The Fan, Washington (Tie) (1)

George Wallace, WTOP Radio, Washington (Tie) (2)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Barry Svrulga, Washington Post, Washington (2)

FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mick Hubert, Florida Gators Radio Network, Gainesville (1)

FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

David Whitley, Orlando Sentinel, Orlando (1)

GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Steve Holman, Atlanta Hawks Radio Network, Atlanta (2)

GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Steve Hummer, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta (8)

HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Rob DeMello, KHON-TV, Honolulu (2)

HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Brian McInnis, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Honolulu (1)

IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Dennis Patchins, Idaho Vandal Sports Network/Learfield, Spokane, WA (1)

IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, Boise (1)

ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Len Kasper, WGN-TV/Comcast Sports Network, Chicago (1)

ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, Chicago (2)

INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Boyle, 107.5/1070 The Fan Pacers Radio Network, Indianapolis (5)

INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Gregg Doyel, Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis (2)

IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Keith Murphy, WHO-TV, Des Moines (2)

IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mike Hlas, Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids (4)

KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Gerard Wellbrock, KAYS Radio, Hays (1)

KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Haskin, Topeka Capital-Journal, Topeka (4)

KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Rob Bromley, WKYT-TV, Lexington (Tie) (1)

Bob Valvano, ESPN Radio, Louisville (Tie) (1)

KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jen Smith, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington (1)

LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Doug Mouton, WWL-TV, New Orleans (2)

LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ross Dellenger, Baton Rouge Advocate, Baton Rouge (1)

MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tim Throckmorton, WABI-TV, Bangor (1)

MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mike Lowe, Portland Press-Herald, Portland (2)

MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Pete Gilbert, WBAL-TV, Baltimore (2)

MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Eduardo Encina, Baltimore Sun, Baltimore (1)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Joe Amorosino, WHDH-TV, Boston (Tie) (1)

Mike Gorman, CSN New England/Celtics TV, Boston (Tie) (1)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Paul Dupont, Boston Globe, Boston (4)

MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Matt Shepard, Fox Sports Detroit/WDFN Radio, Detroit (2)

MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, Detroit (2)

MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Rosen, WCCO-TV, Minneapolis (1)

MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Chip Scoggins, Star Tribune, Minneapolis (2)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

David Kellum, Ole Miss Radio Network, Oxford (8)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Rick Cleveland, Freelance, Jackson (10)

MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Kelly, Missouri Tiger Radio Network, Columbia (4)

MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, Kansas City (4)

MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jason Walker, ESPN Montana, Helena (2)

MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Steve Schreck, Great Falls Tribune, Great Falls (1)

NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Nick Bahe, 1620 The Zone, Omaha (1)

NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Dirk Chatelain, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (4)

NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Chris Maathuis, KLAS-TV, Las Vegas (2)

NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Ron Kantowski, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas (1)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mike Murphy, Wildcat Sports Properties/Learfield, Durham (6)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Roger Brown, Union Leader, Manchester (Tie) (1)

Tim O’Sullivan, Concord Monitor, Concord (Tie) (2)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tom Williams, Prime Events, Ocean City (9)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mike McGarry, Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic City (2)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Jeff Siembieda, 610 The Sports Animal, Albuquerque (2)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Rick Wright, Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque (5)

NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Ian Eagle, YES Network/Nets TV/CBS Sports, New York (3)

NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tyler Kepner, New York Times, New York (1)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Bob Harris, Duke IMG Sports Network, Durham (4)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Luke DeCock, Raleigh News & Observer, Raleigh (Tie) (1)

Ed Hardin, Greensboro News & Record, Greensboro (Tie) (2)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Steve Linzmeier, KQDJ Radio, Jamestown (1)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks (1)

OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Tom Hamilton, Indians Radio Network, Cleveland (6)

OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Paul Dehner, Jr., Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Cayden McFarland, KJRH-TV, Tulsa (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Mike Brown, Tulsa World, Tulsa (1)

OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

John Canzano, KXTG Radio, Portland (1²)

OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Gina Mizell, The Oregonian, Portland (1)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Merrill Reese, 94 WIP Eagles Radio Network, Philadelphia (5)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Bob Cooney, Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia (1)

RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Ken Bell, WLNE-TV, Providence (3)

RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Bill Koch, Providence Journal, Providence (2)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Mark Sturgis, ESPN Upstate, Greenville (1)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Lou Bezjak, The State, Columbia (2)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Ben Root, Hub City Radio, Aberdeen (1)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Jeremy Hoeck, Press & Dakotan, Yankton (2)

TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Pete Weber, Predators Radio Network, Nashville (5)

TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Teresa Walker, Associated Press, Nashville (2)

TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Craig Way, Longhorn Sports Network, Austin (1)

TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, Dallas (4)

UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Steve Klauke, Salt Lake Bees, Salt Lake City (3)

UTAH SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Dirk Facer, Deseret News, Salt Lake City (5)

VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Erin Cofiell, ABC22/FOX 44, Burlington (1)

VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Lauren Read, Burlington Free Press, Burlington (1)

VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Travis Wells, WDBJ-TV, Roanoke (2)

VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

David Teel, Daily Press, Newport News (10)

WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Bob Rondeau, Washington IMG Sports Network, Seattle (11)

WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

John Blanchette, Spokesman Review, Spokane (9³))

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Steve Cotton, Marshall IMG Sports Network, Huntington (11)

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Chuck McGill, Gazette-Mail/HerdZone, Charleston/Huntington (5)

WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Matt Lepay, Badgers Sports Network/Learfield, Madison (8)

WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Tom Oates, Wisconsin State Journal, Madison (1)

WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR

Frank Gambino, K2 Radio, Casper (3)

WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

Scott Nulph, Laramie Boomerang, Laramie (1)

1Won 3x in Oregon

2Won 5 Oregon Sportswriter of the Year Awards

3Won 5x in Montana

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About the National Sports Media Association

The National Sports Media Association & Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which seeks to develop educational opportunities for those who are interested in pursuing a career in sports media, through networking, interning, mentoring and scholarship programs.

The NSMA also honors, preserves and celebrates the diverse legacy of sports media in the United States.

For sponsorship and membership information, contact Danielle Randall at: drandall@nationalsportsmedia.org.

For more information on NSMA, go to: nationalsportsmedia.org