2005 Arizona Press Club Awards

SPORTS REPORTING
Each winning entry is followed by judges' comments

Small newspapers 

A9. Sports reporting

19 entries

Judge: Bill Higgins, sports editor of the Cape Cod Times, manages a staff that took home a 2004 National AP Sports Editors Award for special sections for their coverage of the Boston Red Sox World Series championship.

First place

Christopher Drexel, Chandler Connection: “Morgan’s calling brings him back to coaching Trojans”

“An emotional story well told with sensitivity; excellent use of quotes.”

Second place

Jim Powers, Ahwatukee Foothills News: “Checkmate — national chess tourney allows players to rub shoulders with the best”

“Writer took an offbeat story and made it a fun read with a lot of voices.”

Third place

Todd Glasenapp, Arizona Daily Sun: “Lake Powell national: A decade of failing to break par”

“An important community story; solid reporting and balanced.”

Honorable mention

Max Foster, Payson Roundup: “Residents open hearts to cancer victim”

“Well researched and reported.”

Mid-sized newspapers and magazines

B9. Sports reporting

18 entries

Judge: Bill Higgins, sports editor of the Cape Cod Times, manages a staff that took home a 2004 National AP Sports Editors Award for special sections for their coverage of the Boston Red Sox World Series championship.

First place

Jana Bommersbach, Phoenix Magazine: “The Kobe case”

“Wow! What a story! Thorough and a compelling narrative.”

Second place

Tom Danehy, Tucson Weekly: “The communicator keeps drivin’”

“The writer takes us behind an often-told story with a strong portrait of what keeps Candrea going.”

Third place

John Dickerson, North Scottsdale and Northeast Phoenix Times: “Shooting stars”

“An important story; the writer earned trust and got a lot of people to speak candidly on a tough subject.”

Honorable mention

David Eskes, Phoenix Magazine: “Bertrand Berry”

“A good look at a professional athlete’s life away from the field and the spotlight.”

Any publication

C25. Sports breaking news reporting

9 entries

Judge: Mark Fainaru-Wada, a sports investigative reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, has received several national honors with colleague Lance Williams for their coverage of the BALCO steroids scandal, including the 2004 Polk, Edgar A. Poe Award, Dick Schaap Excellence in Journalism and Associated Press Sports Editors awards. Their book, "Game of Shawdows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sports," is to be published this spring.

First place

Charles Durrenberger, Greg Hansen, Jane Erikson, Patrick Finley, Ryan Finley, Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star: the death of Shawntinice Polk

“The Daily Star's extensive coverage of the death of Shawntinice Polk was both thorough and enlightening, touching on every element necessary to bring the story home to its readers.”

Second place

Scott Bordow, Ed Price and Slim Smith, East Valley Tribune: Randy Johnson trade

“The East Valley Tribune provides an insightful and crisp package of stories detailing the Diamondbacks' trade of fixture Randy Johnson to the New York Yankees.”

Third place

Bruce Bourquin — Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Daily Review: "Girls OK after they lose their way during run, spurring search by parents, authorities”

“Bruce Bourquin turned what could have been a mundane, even brief news item into a well-reported, interesting read about 30 young girls who got lost — and then found — while running in the desert.”

C26. Sports enterprise reporting

16 entries

Judge: Molly Blue writes about professional hockey, the Olympics and soccer for the (Portland) Oregonian.

First place

Jim Gintonio, The Arizona Republic: “Almost there”

“After reading this NASCAR coverage, I didn't have a single question about the event and I learned things I didn't know before about racing, NASCAR and the people

involved. The pieces had good tempo, good flow and didn't bog down in

jargon.”

Second place

Robert Nelson, Phoenix New Times: "Hardball"

“It's hard to write something like this without sinking into self-indulgent humor that a reader may not get, or appreciate. Nelson neatly avoided that while

mixing his personality — warts and all — into a story that weaves

together new information with a touch of humor and personality.”

Third place

Paul Giblin, East Valley Tribune: "Final fiesta"

“When a labor of love turns into business, and decisions on its future are driven more by dollars than the traditions it has created, it can be hard to let go.

This tribute to a college bowl game is comprehensive.”

C27. Sports beat reporting

12 entries

Judge: Brian Mctaggart is baseball beat writer for the Houston Chronicle.

First place

Kent Somers, The Arizona Republic

“All stories were nice reads and showed in-depth knowledge of beat. Writer wasn't afraid to call out the Cardinals, either. Terrell Suggs story was well-done.”

Second place

Bruce Pascoe, Arizona Daily Star

“Interesting behind-the-scenes stories on Miles Simon, the scorekeepers and travel to Pullman. Those stories were well-written and very original. The deadline story on the death of George McClellan covered all the angles, which can be challenging on those kinds of situations.

Third place

Christopher Wuensch, Explorer Newspapers

“The features were very colorful and gave fascinating insight into sports, like tae kwon do and wrestling, that aren't in the mainstream.”