At the 2013 APSE Conference in Detroit, outgoing president Gerry Ahern highlighted the awards banquet by looking back at the progress the organization has made in recent years and the work still to be done. Here's his speech:
On the day I learned I had been elected as APSE president, some three years ago, one of the first people I heard from was Bill Speros, my old friend, a fellow Bostonian and Marquette Warrior. Billy sent me an email that made me smile and laugh out loud. It was a line from the movie “The Departed,” uttered by the character Frank Costello. Costello, played by Jack Nicholson, was supposed to represent Whitey Bulger, the notorious Irish gangster who eluded the authorities for a long, long time. The email read simply: “Twenty years after an Irishman couldn’t get a (expletive) job in this town, we had the presidency.”
This time, it was the APSE presidency.
When I took over last year I promised you things were going to change.
I’m proud to say they have, substantially, over the past 12 months.
Our organization is younger and more vibrant thanks to the addition of nearly 70 student members from campuses around the country. You may have met some of the aspiring sports journalists this week from Michigan and Michigan State, from Maryland, Indiana, Georgia and Oregon participating in our conference. These kids are the future and they are here because many of you answered my call to sponsor them and mentor them.
I thank you for your generosity.
The APSE pool will get deeper and more diverse with our recent decision to add writers as members of our group. Having writers participate on our committees, in conference planning and contest judging will give us needed, valuable perspective. Dan Wiederer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Kent Babb of the Washington Post have spearheaded this effort.
I can’t wait to see the fruits of their labor.
Important progress has been made regarding access and credential issues with the leagues and teams we cover. I am looking forward to serving on a working group along with John Cherwa and Tim Franklin of APSE, the NCAA, conference commissioners and COSIDA to sort through issues and represent our interests proactively. We hope to head off problems and protect our ability to practice sports journalism at its highest level.
Under Mark Faller of the Arizona Republic’s watch, our writers liaison groups have been rekindled, setting us up to better band together as situations arise.
I’m also happy to say that some things haven’t changed during my term. We continue to do the big stuff in a big way. This year’s Red Smith Award went to a true literary giant, Dan Jenkins. Jenkins’ grace when he learned he had won the prize was honorable. His speech and his banter with those of us lucky enough to chat with him was hilarious and inspiring. One of my favorite moments of the week was sitting with Jenkins and Dan Wetzel at the hotel bar, two of the greatest writers I’ve ever read, and listening in on their conversation about the craft.
The Red Smith, our crown jewel, is among the most important things we do. And I’m thrilled that Joe Sullivan of the Boston Globe will take over the voting process, looking both to history and to diversity in evaluating candidates.
We had another successful contest under Tim Stephens’ tutelage. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks to all of you who judged down in Orlando. It’s a huge undertaking to run what I consider to be the best and most important award program for sports journalists.
We had a rousing success of a summer conference here in Detroit with poignant sessions, interesting speakers and the usual whole hell of a lot of fun in my adopted home state. I enjoyed tipping a glass or two at the Old Shillelagh with many of you. You just can’t take the Irish out of the boy.
Appreciation to Gene Myers of the Detroit Free Press, Phil Laciura of the Detroit News and Jack Berninger for all their efforts in putting on one heck of an event.
Change may have been the main plank on my platform, but history and tradition are also vital if this organization is to remain strong. It was heartening to look around and see old friends back in the APSE fold and active in our sessions and discussions. Mike Fannin, now editor of the Kansas City Star, returned and did a masterful job with the Manti Te’o panel. Greg Gibson, my former boss at the Orange County Register, came back and offered his perspective and advice, some of the best counsel anyone could ask for. Roy Hewitt stopped in. Michael Anastasi too. APSE needs this brainpower and institutional knowledge, much of it coming from former presidents, to make sure we are all as good as we can be.
As I close the book on three years as an officer I look back fondly at what a pleasure it’s been to serve you.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without APSE and the friendships, the critiques, the phone calls and the advice so many of us have shared.
Thank you Michael Anastasi, Phil Kaplan, Garry Howard, Ron Fritz, Tommy Deas, Mary Byrne, Todd Adams, Larry Graham, Kent Babb, Jeff Rosen, Paul Skrbina, Joe Sullivan, Glen Crevier, Jerry Micco, Jorge Rojas, Bill Speros, Robert Gagliardi, Mike James, John Turner, Nick Mathews and John Quinn for being there. I could go on forever with the list of those who helped me out.
I call on current officers Tim Stephens, Mike Sherman, Tommy and Mary to continue to build upon the momentum. Let’s make this group bigger, faster, stronger and more modern.
And rest assured I’m not going anywhere. I will remain an active and vocal force in the best professional organization for journalists in the nation.
We are only going to get better.
It’s been an honor to be your president. I hope you feel that I have represented you and us well.
Bless you all.
