Last weekend was the Alabama Sports Writers Convention, which after a long absence returned to Mobile and our annual awards banquet was held at the USS Alabama. Yes, that's me holding Detontay Wilder's championship belt next to what I believe is an F-18.
As for which is more imposing I have to go with the fighter jet, but barely, and only because Wilder, the ASWA pro athlete of the year, was recovering from his title defense the night before and unable to attend.
Two additional special moments for me were seeing former SEC commissioner Mike Slive (who was also named an honorary admiral for the USS Alabama) and former Crimson Tide gymnastics coaches Sarah and David Patterson honored for their extraordinary careers.
Huge thanks to the people at the USS Alabama and our president Tommy Hicks for setting everything up. Also, I'm hereby giving fair warning to all the writers in the Tuscaloosa area that I plan on hitting you up to join the organization next year.
I'll have a couple of announcements to make over the next couple of days, but in the meantime here's a list of this year's award winners:
Best Sports Story, Writing On A Deadline, Professional Or College Event
Co-Runners Up: Teddy Couch, The Gadsden Times, JSU Tops Eastern Illinois to clinch DVC title; Christopher Walsh, Saturday Down South, Crimson Tide will remember 2014 SEC title as truly something special
Winner: Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News, Longtime University of Alabama gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson retires
Best Sports Story, Writing On A Deadline, Prep Or Other Amateur
Runner Up: Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News, Hale County girls basketball team playing after the death of a teammate
Winner: Tom Green, Opelika-Auburn News, Rashaan Evans signs with Alabama
Best Column, Four Columns Any time Of The Year
Runner Up: Mike Szvetitz, Opelika-Auburn News
Winner: Cecil Hurt, The Tuscaloosa News.
Best Football Feature Without A Deadline
Runner Up: James Crepea, Montgomery Advertiser, Chris Davis Jr. journey to the NFL far longer than 109 yards
Winner: Tom Green, Opelika-Auburn News, David Eastridge battles back from car accident, coma
Best Basketball Feature Without A Deadline
Runner Up: Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News, Former University of Alabama basketball player is reunited with his SEC Championship ring four decades after losing it
Winner: Rob Ketcham, The Cullman Times, Good Hope's Cofer shakes off visual impairment, blazes trail to scoring milestone, Eli Thomas Award
Best Baseball Feature Without A Deadline
Co-Runners Up: Stacy Long, Montgomery Advertiser, Outfielder Ty Morrison endures the same surgery and rehab that derailed his brother's Olympic decathlon hopes; D.C. Reeves, The Tuscaloosa News, Feature on heckling fans in right field at University of Alabama baseball games
Winner: Tony Tsoukalas, The Tuscaloosa News, Feature on Tim Anderson, who went from high school kid with one junior college scholarship offer to first-round draft pick
Best Outdoors Feature Without A Deadline
Runner Up: Kim Craft, The Gadsden Times, Tharp leads Bassmaster Classic while Carden passes Alabama anglers
Winner: Robert DeWitt, The Tuscaloosa News, Red Snapper
Best General Sports Feature Without A Deadline
Runner Up: Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News, Death of University of Alabama swimmer John Servati
Winner: Cecil Hurt and Tommy Deas, The Tuscaloosa News, University of Alabama reverses decision and reaches out to NCAA to support immediate eligibility of transfer women's basketball player after she alleges Title IX violations
Best Enterprise Story
Runner Up: Mike Szvetitz, Opelika-Auburn News, Auburn's athletic budget grows to $100 million-plus
Winner: Christopher Walsh, Saturday Down South, Reclaiming the crown; How Alabama can get back to the apex of college football
Best Story or Series Writing, Column - Non Daily
Runner Up: Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald, -"Just one of the guys" Sophomore Kaitlyn Rogers kicking for Spring Garden this season
Winner: Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald, "A Starr at Cinderella's Ball" Centre native receives "No Excuses" award in Washington
Best Story or Series Writing, Non Daily, Game Story
Runner Up: Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald, "Drought ended" Spring Garden rallies, hold on to defeat Cedar Bluff, 21-20
Winner: Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald, "Ready for Round 3" Cedar Bluff survives shootout against Hackleburg, 56-48
Best Headlines
Runner Up: Michael Wetzel, The Decatur Daily
Winner: Staff, The Tuscaloosa News
Best Sports Layout
Runner Up: Michael Wetzel, The Decatur Daily
Winner: The Tuscaloosa News
Best Supplement or Special Edition:
Runner Up: The Gadsden Times, Kickoff with The Times
Winner: The Tuscaloosa News, Reboot, Alabama makes fresh start for the playoff era
Herby Kirby Memorial Award (Story of the Year)
Shannon Fagan, Cherokee County Herald, "A Starr at Cinderella's Ball" Centre native receives "No Excuses" award in Washington
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