By Mike Sherman, APSE First Vice President/Contest Chair
Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer took first place in the Associated Press Sports Editors 2013 contest in Column Writing category in the 75,001 to 175,000 circulation category.
Daugherty’s five-column entry included an assertion that coverage of Jason Collins’ announcement that he is gay missed the most important question: Is Collins a good man? Daugherty will be presented a first-place plaque at the 2014 APSE Banquet June 28 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.
Daugherty edged runner-up Nathan Fenno of the Washington Times and third-place finisher Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star. The top 10 is listed below with links to each columnist’s Twitter pages and entries.
Sports editors in the 75,001 to 175,000 circulation category submitted 53 Column Writing entries. Contest catchers numbered each entry, assuring they had been stripped of headlines, graphics, bylines and any other element that would identify the writer or news organization.
In early March, preliminary judges at the APSE Winter Conference in Indianapolis selected a top 10, with each judge ranking the entries in order from 1 to 10 separately on a secret ballot. Entries were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine points for second and so on down to 1 point for a 10th-place vote. The final 10 were given to a second judging group, which ranked the entries 1-10 in the same fashion. The winner and final rankings are determined by tallying the ballots.
The Column Writing category is judged based on style, writing quality, originality and local appeal. There is no restriction on subject matter and no requirement that the column appears regularly. Each news organization is permitted two entries in this category.
The contest is open to APSE members. Go to this link to join.
2013 APSE Contest: Column Writing, 75,001 to 175,000 circulation
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati Enquirer (1), 50 points
Joey Votto isn't big on baseball questions
Elder's Jack James doesn't play undersized (No link available)
Kremer's 'Next' should be respect, inclusion, acceptance
Urban Meyer and the blame game
With Collins' announcement, big picture missed
2. Nathan Fenno, The Washington Times (3), 46 points
For Victor Page, reality of fall from stardom difficult to grasp
Honestly, Mike Shanahan, why should we believe you now?
Pat White return to NFL would set troubling precedent
Student-athletes’ cups run dry as NCAA fills up
Mike Shanahan can’t escape shadow of past success
3. Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star (1), 44 points
Jim Irsay opens up to Bob Kravitz
Bob Kravitz writes an open letter to Peyton Manning
Olympic boycott over Russian anti-gay laws would deny defiant athletes a stage for protest
Is racism root of Indiana Pacers' poor attendance?
Brad Stevens talks about leaving Butler, Boston coaching job
4. Jenni Carlson, The Oklahoman (1), 38 points
8-year-old brings 80 pairs of shoes for Moore victims to Kevin Durant's camp
The best season ever: Why one season of T-ball meant the world to one Edmond family
Hugo's Trey Johnson not alone with pain
Life-saving meds cheat Roger Wenzel out of competing
Mr. Bedlam (Blake Bell) strikes again
5. Martin Fennelly, The Tampa Tribune, 32 points
Time for Bucs' Barber to go, on his terms (No link)
Draft day could be almost perfect for Durant star Danish
Willie, now is the time to do something
QB change won't end Bucs circus
6. Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 31 points
In Cooperstown, a little baseball magic from a special Utah kid
BYU football conquers demons in big win
Coaches are opportunists, not saints
Cheaters win in baseball and beyond
Remembering BYU, Raider great Todd Christensen
7. Tom Shatel, Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald, 27 points
One … more … year! Or one … more … year?
Creighton goes from mid to major
Cameras catch little of Jack's long journey
Fixing old times for an old hero, Tom Watson
Pelini's words, deeds may have put it on a tee for athletic director
8. Mike Imrem, The Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, Ill.), 23 points
Maybe Derrick Rose shouldn't wait to play next time
Bottom line: A slur is a slur is a slur
Nothing quite like that '63 Bears team
Two worlds: celebration and tragedy
Bulls show us anything's possible
9. Luke DeCock, The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.), 22 points
It's not me, NCAA tournament, it's you
Canes GM Rutherford should review own performance
UNC faculty silence has spoken volumes
Hockey diplomacy was Tripp Tracy's only hope to rescue brother
DeCock: Bigger issues at stake than football, Heisman in Jameis Winston.
10. David Climer, The Tennessean (Nashville), 17 points
Have the Titans evolved into the Raiders?
Meet SEC's Most Vilified Player: Ole Miss menace Marshall Henderson
Vanderbilt needs to repair its front porch
April 14, 2014 column from Masters (STILL NEED LINK)
Tennessee Titans should fire Mike Munchak
(Mike Sherman, APSE first vice president and contest chair, is sports editor of The Oklahoman. Email him at msherman@opubco.com, follow him at @MikeSherman or call 405-475-3164.)
