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Home , Adrian Wojnarowski, Bob Ley, Doris Burke, Grantland, Johnny Holliday, John Forslund

Contact:

Dave Goren, Executive Director [email protected] 336-655-2976 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EMRICK, LEY, KING, KORNHEISER ELECTED TO NSMA HALL OF FAME BURKE, WOJNAROWSKI WIN NATIONAL AWARDS McISAAC, WHALEY WIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (January 14, 2019) – Mike “Doc” Emrick, , Peter King, and 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 as the 2018 National Sportscaster of the Year, as the 2018 National Sportswriter of the Year; and members in each state elected 109 state Sportscasters and Sportswriters of the Year from 49 states, plus the District of Columbia. They will be honored during the 60th annual NSMA Awards Weekend, June 22-24, 2019 in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Justin McIsaac, color commentator on the UNH Wildcats Sports Network/Learfield, was voted the 2018 New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year. It’s his first state win. Mike Whaley, of the Foster’s Daily Democrat, won his second New Hampshire Sportswriter of the Year Award.

Emrick has served as the lead play-by-play voice for telecasts on NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network since 2011, just the latest stint in a hockey broadcasting career that began in 1973, as the voice of the Port Huron Flags. He has won the prestigious Foster Hewitt Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame and is enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is a three-time winner of the NSMA’s National Sportscaster of the Year Award.

Ley is synonymous with ESPN, beginning as a SportsCenter anchor on the network’s third day of operation. A longtime fixture on the SportsCenter desk, Ley has spent the better part of the last 28 years as the host of ESPN’s award-winning program, which examines issues of the day in the sports world that go beyond the playing field and arena.

After getting his start in the newspaper business, King spent 29 years covering pro football at Sports Illustrated. His last 20 years at SI, he became known for his weekly Monday Morning Quarterback column, which frequently ran 6,000-to- 8,000 words and covered everything NFL. Last July, King moved to NBCSports.com, where his Football Morning in America column runs each Monday.

Kornheiser spent 35 years as a sportswriter at , becoming a sports columnist for one of the nation’s premier sports sections in 1984. He branched out into radio, with The Tony Kornhesier Show in 1992. The show is now available as a . And since 1992, Kornheiser and former Washington Post co-worker have co- hosted ESPN’s popular .

Burke first female National winner

No stranger to firsts, Burke becomes the first woman to win one of the NSMA’s National Awards. The former player began her broadcasting career calling games for her alma mater in 1990. A succession of steps up the ladder included turns as a college basketball analyst for the Big East and Atlantic 10, before she landed at ESPN. Since 1991, Burke has served as an analyst and sideline reporter covering college basketball, the WNBA and NBA. She became a full-time ESPN NBA game analyst before the 2017-2018 season and serves as the lead NBA sideline reporter 1 for the NBA Playoffs on ESPN and NBA Finals on ABC. The winner of several awards, Burke was named the 2018 winner of the Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame, for her outstanding contributions to basketball.

Wojnarowski has now won back-to-back NSMA National Sportswriter of the Year Awards, becoming the tenth person to do so. Known for his NBA scoops, or “Woj Bombs,” ESPN’s Senior NBA Insider left 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 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 26th time. ● , the Portland Trailblazers’ TV play-by-play announcer is the Oregon Sportscaster of the Year for the first time. He won the Washington Sportscaster of the Year Award nine times. ● Calabro (Trailblazers TV), (Clippers TV), Steve Buckhantz (Wizards TV), Eric Reid (Heat TV), Steve Holman (Hawks radio), (Celtics TV), (Nets TV), Marc Zumoff (Sixers TV), Mark Followill (Mavs TV).

There were 41 first-time winners of the state awards; two more than in 2017.

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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 HALL OF FAME SPORTSCASTERS Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick, NBC Sports, et al Bob Ley, ESPN

HALL OF FAME SPORTSWRITER Peter King, NBCSports.com, Sports Illustrated, et al Tony Kornheiser, Washington Post

2017 NSMA NATIONAL WINNERS NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Doris Burke, ESPN/ABC (1)

NATIONAL SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN (2)

2018 NSMA STATE WINNERS ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Lauren Sisler, AL.com/ESPN, Birmingham (2) 2

ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Cecil Hurt, Tuscaloosa News, TideSports.com, Tuscaloosa (2)

ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Jeff Munn, ASU Women's Basketball, Tempe (2) ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Nick Piecoro, Arizona Republic, Phoenix (1)

ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Phil Elson, Razorback IMG Sports Network/ESPN Arkansas, Little Rock (3) ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Paul Boyd, NW Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Fayetteville (1)

CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Ralph Lawler, Clippers TV/FOX Sports West, Prime Ticket, Los Angeles (1) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Ann Killion, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco (3) Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle (1)

COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Vic Lombardi, Altitude TV/KSE Radio, Denver (2) COLORADO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, Denver (1)

CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Rich Coppola, WTIC-TV, Hartford (9) CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, Hartford (5)

DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Matt Janus, , Wilmington (3) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Andy Walter, Delaware State News, Dover (4)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Steve Buckhantz, Wizards/NBC Sports Washington (1) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Barry Svrluga, Washington Post, Washington (3)

FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Eric Reid, Miami Heat/FOX Sports Sun (2) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg (2)

GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Steve Holman Atlanta Hawks Radio Network, Atlanta (3) Zach Klein, WSB-TV, Atlanta (1) GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Steve Hummer, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Atlanta (10) 3

HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Kanoa Leahey, /ESPN 900, (2) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Stephen Tsai, Honolulu Star Advertiser, Honolulu (6)

IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Paul J. Schneider, KBOI Radio, Boise (1) IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR B. J. Rains, Idaho Press, Nampa (2)

ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Pat Hughes, Cubs Radio Network/670 The Score, Chicago (*9) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Rick Morrissey, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago (1)

INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Don Fischer, Indiana Hoosier Radio Network/Learfield (26) INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR **Terry Hutchens, CNHI Sports, Anderson (6)

IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Keith Murphy, WHO-TV, Des Moines (4) IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Tommy Birch, Des Moines Register, Des Moines (1)

KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Wyatt Thompson, K-State Radio Network/Learfield (4) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Tom Keegan, Lawrence Journal-World, Lawrence (3)

KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Kent Spencer, WHAS-TV, Louisville (2) Kent Taylor, WAVE-TV, Louisville (2) KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR John Clay, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington (6)

LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Ed Daniels, WGNO-TV, (2) LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Brett Martel, The Associated Press, New Orleans (1) Nick Underhill, The Advocate, New Orleans (1)

MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Jessica Gagne, WCSH-TV, Portland (1) MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Mike Lowe, Portland Press-Herald, Portland (3)

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MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR , Terrapin Sports Network/MASN, College Park (2) MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Jamison Hensley, ESPN.com, Baltimore (1)

MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Mike Gorman, Celtics TV/NBCSports Boston, Boston (2) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Dan Shaughnessy, Boston Globe, Boston (13)

MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Brad Galli, WXYZ-TV, Detroit (1) MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Angelique Chengelis, Detroit News, Detroit (1)

MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Mark Rosen, WCCO-TV, (2) MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, Minneapolis (1)

MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Richard Cross , Supertalk Mississippi/Ole Miss Radio Network/SEC Network , Oxford (1) MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Rick , Syndicated Columnist, Jackson (11)

MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Mike Kelly, Missouri Tiger Radio Network, Columbia (6) MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis (1)

MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Riley Corcoran, Grizzly Sports Properties/Learfield, Missoula (1) MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Greg Rachac, 406MTSports.com, Billings (4)

NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Gary Sharp, KOZN 1620 the Zone, Omaha (1) NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Tom Shatel, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (4)

NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Kevin Bolinger, KVVU-TV, Las Vegas (1) NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Ed Graney, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas (6)

NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Justin McIsaac, UNH Wildcats Sports Network/Learfield, Dover (1) NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR

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Mike Whaley, Seacoast Media Group, Portsmouth (2)

NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Matt Loughlin, Devils/WFAN/The One Jersey Network, Newark (2) NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Gregg Lerner, Shore Sports Network, Toms River (3)

NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Jack Nixon, New Mexico State Radio Network/Learfield, Las Cruces (4) NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Jason Groves, Las Cruces Sun-News, Las Cruces (2)

NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Ian Eagle, Brooklyn Nets/YES Network, City (4) NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Mike Waters, Syracuse.com/Post-Standard, Syracuse (1)

NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR John Forslund, TV/, Raleigh (1) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Ed Hardin, News & Record, Greensboro (2)

NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Jack Michaels, KFGO-AM, Fargo (1) NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Chris Murphy, The Forum, Fargo (1)

OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Marty Brennaman, Reds/700 WLW Radio Network, (***16) OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati (1)

OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Nathan Thompson, KOKI-TV, Tulsa (1) OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Eric Bailey, Tulsa World, Tulsa (1)

OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Kevin Calabro, Trailblazers/NBC Sports NW, Portland (****12) OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune, Portland (2)

PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Marc Zumoff, 76ers/NBC Sports , Philadelphia (2) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Zach Berman, Philadelphia Inquirer/Daily News, Philadelphia (1) Matt Gelb, The Athletic, Philadelphia

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RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Nick Coit, WLNE-TV, Providence (2) RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR William Geoghegan, South County Independent, Wakefield (1)

SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Rick Henry, WIS-TV, Columbia (2) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Grace Raynor, Post & Courier, Charleston (2) Manie Robinson, Greenville News, Greenville (1)

SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Al Decker, KDSJ Radio, Deadwood (3) SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Ryan Deal, Daily Republic, Mitchell (2)

TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Dawn Davenport, WGFX-FM, SEC Network, Nashville (1) Pete Weber, Predators Radio Network (102.5 The Game), Nashville (6) TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Joe Rexrode, The Tennessean (*****2)

TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Mark Followill, Mavs/FOX Sports SW & FC Dallas/TXA21, Dallas (1) SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE) Kirk Bohls, Austin American-Statesman, Austin (4) Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, Dallas (3)

UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR David James, KUTV-TV/KZNS Radio, Salt Lake City (2) UTAH SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Kurt Kragthorpe, Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City (6)

VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Mike McCune, WCAX-TV, Burlington (2) VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Alex Abrami, Burlington Free Press, Burlington (2)

VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Andrew Allegretta, VT IMG Sports Network, (1) VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR David Teel, Daily Press, Newport News (13)

WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Dave Sims, Mariners/ROOT Sports, (1) WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Gregg Bell, The News Tribune, Tacoma (1)

WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE) 7

Tony Caridi, Mountaineer IMG Sports Network, Morgantown (4) Steve Cotton, Marshall IMG Sports Network, Huntington (12) WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Chuck McGill, Thundering Herd Illustrated/HerdZone, Huntington (7)

WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Matt Lepay, Badgers Sports Network/Learfield & FOX Sports , Madison (9) WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee (2)

WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR Erik Pauley, Wind River Radio Network, Riverton (1) WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR Robert Gagliardi, Wyoming Tribune Eagle/WyoSports.net, Cheyenne (4)

* - won Wisconsin Sportscaster of Year award 3 times ** - deceased *** - won Virginia Sportscaster of Year award 4 times **** - won Washington Sportscaster of Year award 9 times ***** - won Michigan Sportswriter of Year award 1 time

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About the Voting

From mid-October to mid-November, NSMA members provide up to three nominations each for their state’s sportscaster of the year and sportswriter of the year, as well as the National Sportscaster of the Year and National Sportswriter of the Year.

The top two vote-getters in state races and top ten vote-getters in national races are then placed on the final ballot, along with ten sportscaster finalists and ten sportswriter finalists for the Hall of Fame.

Final ballots are emailed to members for voting throughout the month of December. Winners are notified by phone individually during the first week of January.

About the National Sports Media Association

The National Sports Media Association, Inc.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. Founded in 1959 as the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association in Salisbury, N.C., the NSSA added its Hall of Fame in 1962, with Rice as its first member. The organization rebranded to the National Sports Media Association in 2016 and moved to Winston-Salem, N.C. one year later. For sponsorship and membership information, contact Dave Goren at [email protected]. For more information on NSMA, go to nationalsportsmedia.org. 8