By Jeff Rosen
APSE President
Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News and Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal tied for first place in the Associated Press Sports Editors 2017 contest in column writing in the 30,000-75,000 circulation category.
Finger and Calkins will each be presented a first-place plaque at the 2018 APSE banquet. The banquet and awards dinner concludes the APSE Summer Conference June 17-20 at the Marriott Hotel Nashville/Vanderbilt University. The second- through 10th-place winners will receive frameable certificates.
The contest is open to APSE members. Click here to join.
Contest chair John Bednarowski and fellow APSE officers Jeff Rosen, Todd Adams and Robert Gagliardi numbered each entry. Preliminary judges selected a top 10, and from there another group of judges ranked the finalists in order from 1 to 10 separately on a secret ballot. Entries were given 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc. The winner and final rankings are determined by tallying the ballots.
APSE column writing entries were judged based on style, writing quality, originality and local appeal.
The top 10 are listed below with links to writers’ Twitter pages, APSE member websites and the winning entries.
T-1 . Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, 50 points, 4 first-place votes
UT ex Julius Whittier battles Alzheimer’s as his sister takes on the NCAA
At a football game, a community feels loss and finds hope
For Popovich, speaking out is intended to be uncomfortable
For Spurs’ Popovich, frustration finally boils over
In Texas, college football misery loves company
T-1 Geoff Calkins, Commercial Appeal, 50 points, 2 first-place votes
MUS tennis player Edward Apple makes year’s most miraculous return
Calkins: NCAA should give Memphis its banner back
Calkins: Grizzlies Wrestling Night’s hero is real
Hugh Freeze brought down by hubris, vengeance and sex
Tony Pollard kick return for TD won these guys free engagement rings
3 . Austin Meek, Eugene (Ore.) Register-Guard, 41 points
In life’s cruelest moments, the calls just aren’t fair
No matter how you look at it, Ducks come up just short
Helpful tips to coaches in media
4 . John Blanchette, Spokesman-Review, 36 points
Blanchette: Przemek Karnowski and his beard have endeared themselves to Zags fans
John Blanchette: Gonzaga has earned those tears, turning them from agony to joy
John Blanchette: Mariners offer perfect ideas for saving time in baseball
John Blanchette: Washington again proves it wants Apple Cup more than Cougars
John Blanchette: Jud Heathcote cared enough to ‘coach up’ everyone he knew
5 . Hugh Kellenberger, Clarion-Ledger, 31 points
Who MSU, Vic Schaefer are is because of where he has been
Kellenberger: Bulldogs showed up ready to win
Kellenberger: Hugh Freeze’s downfall is also Ole Miss’, and everyone shares in the fallout
Kellenberger: Surveying the damage created by Sanderson Farms Championship’s toughest hole
Meet Neil Price, the Mississippi State radio voice about to call his first Egg Bowl
6 . David Ramsey, The Gazette (Colo. Springs), 28 points
Trump wrong on Brandon Marshall, others who protest during anthem
Air Force’s Frank Serratore, back in NCAAs, deserves applause for superb hockey labor
Despite Donald Trump’s travel ban, I hope American wrestlers make trip to Iran
Carson Bird’s widow tries to understand what can’t be understood
Sierra’s Dante Thomas stuns everyone – including himself – to win 3A 100 sprint
T-7 . Guerin Emig, Tulsa World, 25 points
Far more important for Baker Mayfield to own up to this mistake than his last one
TPS athletics headed for bottom of pit being dug by state legislators
Sooners historically impressive in dominance of Ohio State
OSU’s management of basketball scandal hinges on decision about Mike Boynton’s future
T-7. Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune, 25 points
Noie: Notre Dame legend Ara Parseghian was a great coach, but an even better man
Noie: Notre Dame’s Muffet McGraw takes rightful place among basketball’s best
Noie: Brandon Wimbush ready for life as the Notre Dame starting quarterback
Noie: Notre Dame men’s soccer coach Bobby Clark walks away with class
Clay seniors keep faith during another winless football season
9 . Aaron McFarling, Roanoke Times, 23 points
McFarling Journal 5/10/17: Why you throw the pitch
McFarling: UVa’s photo statement appropriate response to a terrible event
McFarling: Night time the right time for Martinsville racing
McFarling: Fuente’s odd decisions stem from self-imposed limitations
McFarling: After 25 Stagg Bowls, Salem reluctantly prepares to say goodbye
10 . Mark Story, Lexington Herald-Leader, 21 points
When they need to chill, some of Louisville’s hottest athletes come to Lexington
On verge of being UK folk hero, Isaac Humphries instead feels ‘gutted’
The letters from Lou Gehrig that Earle Combs’ Kentucky grandson cherishes
Tolerance for scandal finally caught up to Louisville’s Tom Jurich
The ‘gift’ that saved the life of an ex-Kentucky Wildcats basketball player
