Let's give a big huge CONGRATULATIONS!!!! to our very own Chris Egan, he was named Washington State Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA). Way to go Chris!WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (January 9, 2023) – ESPN College GameDay mainstay Lee Corso and Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke are among four elected to the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame, NSMA executive director Dave Goren announced. Corso and Plaschke are joined by two posthumous electees, legendary hockey announcer Dan Kelly and essayist Roger Angell.
CBS Sports’ Ian Eagle has been elected as the 2022 national sportscaster of the year. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Pete Thamel of ESPN.com are the 2022 co-national sportswriters of the year.
Among the 116 who won 2021 state sportscaster or sportswriter of the year honors, 70 are first-time winners in their respective states.
The NSMA will honor its award winners and Hall of Fame inductees during the organization’s 63rd awards weekend and national convention, scheduled for June 24-26, 2023, in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Plaschke is a Louisville native and Southern Illinois University graduate, who worked at newspapers in Fort Lauderdale and Seattle before joining the Los Angeles Times in 1987. He wrote for the paper’s San Diego County edition before moving into his sports columnist role in 1996. Plaschke’s work has been recognized by several organizations and has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. He is a three-time winner of the NSMA’s California Sportswriter of the Year Award. In addition to this work for the Times, he is a regular panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn and he has written five books. He has also been named Man of the Year by the Los Angeles Big Brothers/Big Sisters and has received a Pursuit of Justice Award from the California Women’s Law Center.
Born in Canada, Kelly spent 21 years as the play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Blues. He became known to a wider audience as the lead hockey play-by-play voice on CBS Sports’ National Hockey League coverage. He later broadcast games for the NHL Network and USA Network, as well as some Canadian television networks. He was only 52 years old when he died from lung cancer in 1989.
Angell was born in Manhattan and attended Harvard before World War Two called him into action. His first published work in The New Yorker was in 1944, and he became the magazine’s fiction editor in the 1950s, writing until 2020. He was best known for his baseball essays, many of which were compiled into books. He died in May of 2022 at the age of 101.
Eagle is coming up on his 25th anniversary at CBS Sports in March. He is one of the network’s top play-by-play voices for its coverage of the National Football League and NCAA men’s basketball. He also calls Brooklyn Nets’ games for YES Network and Thursday night NFL games for Westwood One Radio Sports. The Syracuse University graduate is a five-time winner of NSMA’s New York Sportscaster of the Year Award.
Rosenthal, senior baseball writer for The Athletic, is a University of Pennsylvania graduate who also serves as a field reporter for FOX Sports’ Major League Baseball coverage. He spent 12 years as a “baseball insider” for MLB Network, and while working for the Baltimore Sun from 1987-200, he was voted NSMA’s Maryland Sportswriter of the Year five times.
Thamel is a Syracuse University graduate, who joined ESPN last January after stints with Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times. In addition to his writing for ESPN.com and ESPN+, he also appears on several ESPN studio programs.
About the National Sports Media Association
The National Sports Media Association, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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 Grantland 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 dgoren@nationalsportsmedia.
2023 NSMA Hall of Fame Inductees and 2022 NSMA Award Winners
*Deceased
(# of times won in parentheses)
1 – won Sportswriter of the Year one time in New Hampshire
HALL OF FAME SPORTSCASTERS
Lee Corso, ESPN
*Dan Kelly, NHL on CBS, St. Louis Blues
HALL OF FAME SPORTSWRITERS
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times
*Roger Angell, The New Yorker, Author
NATIONAL SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Ian Eagle, CBS/Westwood One (1)
NATIONAL SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic (1)
Pete Thamel, ESPN.com (1)
ALABAMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Parris, Jacksonville State Network, Jacksonville (1)
ALABAMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Nubyjas Wilborn, AL.com, Auburn (1)
ARIZONA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jody Jackson, Bally Sports, Phoenix (1)
ARIZONA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Doug Haller, The Athletic, Phoenix (5)
Craig Morgan, PHNX, Phoenix (1)
ARKANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Kyle Deckelbaum, KATV, Little Rock (1)
Alyssa Orange, KNWA-TV, Fayetteville (1)
ARKANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Scottie Bordelon, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Fayetteville (1)
CALIFORNIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Tim Roye, Warriors/95.7 The Game, San Francisco (1)
CALIFORNIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles (2)
COLORADO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Romi Bean, KCNC-TV, Denver (1)
Conor McGahey, Avalanche/Altitude Radio, Denver (1)
COLORADO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mark Kiszla, Denver Post (3)
CONNECTICUT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Matt Finkel, WVIT-TV, Hartford (1)
CONNECTICUT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Jacobs, Hearst Connecticut Media, Hartford (11)
DELAWARE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Scott Klatzkin, iHeart Media, Wilmington (6)
DELAWARE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brad Myers, The News Journal, Wilmington (2)
DC SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Grant Paulsen, 106.7 The Fan, Washington (2)
DC SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Barry Svrluga, Washington Post (5)
FLORIDA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Gene Deckerhoff, FSU/TB Bucs Networks, Tallahassee/Tampa (16)
FLORIDA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, Miami (2)
GEORGIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Ben Ingram, Atlanta Braves Radio Network (1)
GEORGIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
D. Orlando Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta (1)
David O'Brien, The Athletic, Atlanta (2)
HAWAII SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Rob DeMello, KHON-TV, Honolulu (4)
HAWAII SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jason Kaneshiro, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Honolulu (1)
IDAHO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bob Behler, Boise State Radio Network/Learfield, Boise (6)
IDAHO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Kaye, Idaho Press, Nampa (1)
ILLINOIS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Jeff Joniak, Bears Radio Network, Chicago
Leila Rahimi, WMAQ-TV, Chicago (1)
ILLINOIS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Steve Greenberg, Chicago Sun-Times (1)
Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, Chicago
INDIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Chris Denari, Pacers/Bally Sports, Indianapolis (1)
INDIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bob Kravitz, The Athletic, Indianapolis (3)
IOWA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
John Sears, WHO-TV, Des Moines (1)
IOWA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, Iowa City (1)
KANSAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Thompson, K-State Sports Network/Learfield, Manhattan (7)
KANSAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jordan Guskey, Topeka Capital-Journal, Topeka (1)
KENTUCKY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
*Mike Pratt, UK Radio Network, Lexington (1)
KENTUCKY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jerry Tipton, Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington (2)
LOUISIANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Brooke Kirchhofer, WWL-TV, New Orleans (1)
LOUISIANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Robin Fambrough, The Advocate, Baton Rouge (1)
MAINE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Peck, WVII-TV, Bangor (1)
MAINE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
1Steve Craig, Portland Press Herald, Portland (1)
MARYLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Morgan Adsit, WBFF-TV, Baltimore (1)
MARYLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Dan Connolly, The Athletic, Baltimore (2)
Rich Dubroff, BaltimreBaseball.com (1)
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Joe Castiglione, Red Sox Radio Network, Boston (1)
MASSACHUSETTS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Karen Guregian, Boston Herald, Boston (1)
MICHIGAN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dan Dickerson, Tigers Radio Network, Detroit (4)
MICHIGAN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brendan Quinn, The Athletic, Detroit (1)
MINNESOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Cory Provus, Twins Radio Network, Minneapolis (3)
MINNESOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Andy Greder, Pioneer Press, St. Paul (1)
Patrick Reusse, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minneapolis (2)
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
David Kellum, Ole Miss Radio Network/Learfield, Oxford (9)
MISSISSIPPI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Rick Cleveland, Mississippi Today, Jackson (14)
MISSOURI SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dan McLaughlin, Cardinals/Bally Sports Midwest, St. Louis (1)
MISSOURI SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Katie Woo, The Athletic. St. Louis (1)
MONTANA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Rocky Erickson, Rocky Erickson Sports, Billings (10)
MONTANA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Victor Flores, 406mtsports.com, Bozeman (1)
NEBRASKA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Doug Duda, ESPN Tri-Cities Radio, Kearney (1)
NEBRASKA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Evan Bland, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (1)
Stu Pospisil, Omaha World-Herald, Omaha (1)
NEVADA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Bolinger, KVVU-TV, Las Vegas (3)
NEVADA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Adam Hill, Las Vegas-Review Journal, Las Vegas (1)
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Mike Murphy, UNH Radio Network/Learfield, Durham (9)
NEW HAMPSHIRE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Benjamin Rosenberg, Valley News, Lebanon (1)
NEW JERSEY SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Eric LeGrand, Rutgers Radio Network/Learfield, Piscataway (1)
NEW JERSEY SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Brendan Kuty, NJ Advance Media, Woodbridge (1)
NEW MEXICO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Lee Faria, KOB-TV, Albuquerque (1)
NEW MEXICO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jason Groves Las Cruces Sun News, Las Cruces (1)
NEW YORK SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Gary Cohen, Mets/SNY, New York (2)
NEW YORK SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Mike Vaccaro, New York Post, New York (4)
Jenny Vrentas, New York Times, New York (1)
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Stan Cotten, Wake Forest Sports Network/Learfield, Winston-Salem (6)
NORTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Carter, News & Observer, Raleigh (2)
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Luke Gamble, KXMB-TV, Bismarck (1)
NORTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Tom Miller, Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks (2)
OHIO SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Chris Welsh, Reds Radio & Bally Sports, Cincinnati (1)
OHIO SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, Cincinnati (2)
OKLAHOMA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Dave Hunziker, Oklahoma State Radio Network/Learfield, Stillwater (2)
OKLAHOMA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City (1)
OREGON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Brooke Olzendam, TrailBlazers/ROOT Sports NW, Portland (1)
OREGON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Anne Peterson, Associated Press, Portland (1)
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Scott Franzke, Phillies/WIP Radio, Philadelphia (3)
PENNSYLVANIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia (1)
Audrey Snyder, The Athletic, State College (1)
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Nick Coit, WLNE-TV, Providence (4)
RHODE ISLAND SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Bill Koch, Providence Journal, Providence (4)
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Scott Eisberg, WCIV-TV, Charleston (3)
SOUTH CAROLINA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Jon Blau, Post and Courier, Charleston (1)
Grace Raynor, The Athletic, Clemson (4)
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Steve Ammerman, Riverfront Broadcasting, Spearfish (1)
SOUTH DAKOTA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Ryan Deal, 605 Sports, Mitchell (4)
TENNESSEE SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Willy Daunic, Predators/Bally Sports, Nashville (1)
Pete Weber, Predators Radio Network, Nashville (9)
TENNESSEE SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Mike Organ, The Tennessean, Nashville (1)
TEXAS SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Chuck Cooperstein, Mavericks Radio Network, Dallas (1)
Robert Ford, Astros Radio Network, Houston (1)
TEXAS SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, Dallas (6)
UTAH SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bill Riley, ESPN700, Salt Lake City (3)
UTAH SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Sarah Todd, Deseret News, Salt Lake City (1)
VERMONT SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Jack Fitzsimmons, WCAX-TV, Burlington (1)
VERMONT SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Alex Abrami, Burlington Free Press (4)
James Biggam, Times Argus, Barre/Montpelier (1)
VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Bill Roth, Virginia Tech Sports Network, Blacksburg (12)
VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR (TIE)
Andy Bitter, The Athletic (1)
Michael Phillips, Richmond Times-Dispatch (1)
WASHINGTON SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Chris Egan, KING-TV, Seattle (1)
WASHINGTON SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Gregg Bell, Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma (2)
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Paul Swann, WRVC-AM 93/ESPN 94.1, Huntington (1)
WEST VIRGINIA SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Luke Creasy, HD Media, Huntington (1)
WISCONSIN SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Sophia Minnaert, Brewers/Bally Sports, Milwaukee (1)
WISCONSIN SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Eric Nehm, The Athletic, Milwaukee (1)
WYOMING SPORTSCASTER OF THE YEAR
Kent Smith, KYCN Radio, Wheatland (1)
WYOMING SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jack Nowlin, Casper Star Tribune, Casper (4)
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