NSSA PARTNERS WITH SPORTS MUSEUM OF AMERICAN: The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and its Hall of Fame has formed a partnership with the Sports Museum of America (SmA) in New York City to be a part of the nation's first all-sports museum.  It is due to open in lower Manhattan in May.

The NSSA joins more than 50 single-sport halls of fame, national governing bodies, museums and other sports organizations across North America as a Founding Sports Partner of the Sports Museum of America (SmA).  

SmA is designed to be the nation's first and only museum to celebrate all sports under one roof.  Filled with original films, state-of-the-art interactive and an iconic collection of memorabilia, SmA will showcase the history, grandeur and significance of sports in American culture through great sports stories of courage, education and triumph.           

SmA will also be home to the legendary Heisman Trophy (and the annual televised presentation) and the Billie Jean King International Women's Sports Center, inclusive of the first hall of fame devoted exclusively to female athletes and coaches.

“The visibility that the Sports Museum of America will bring to the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association is phenomenal,” said Glenn Hudson, executive director of the NSSA.  “Any organization that is involved in sports media needs a presence in New York City.  And the fact that the Sports Museum of America is located in the revitalized downtown is even better.  We look forward to being able to use the Sports Museum of America as a forward operating base when we need to reach those in the New York market.  Plus, we know our presence in the museum will be viewed by millions.”

SmA is widely anticipated to be a vibrant new addition to the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan by significantly increasing commercial and tourist activity in the area.

The Sports Museum is pleased to have the NSSA among the organizations to create the first comprehensive museum of sports, according to founder and CEO Philip Schwalb.

“We're particularly excited because the sportswriters and sportscasters are the people who bring us the stories behind the athletes and the game.  They're special because they can help us see the ways that sport affects American culture and that it often transcends what you see on the field. SmA looks forward to sharing NSSA's tremendous legacy -- from Harry Carey to Jim Nantz to the stars of tomorrow -- with our millions of visitors,” Schwalb said.

The museum is in New York City at 26 Broadway (next to the “Charging Bull” and footsteps from the Statue of Liberty ferry).  More information is available on the web at:  www.sportsmuseum.com

FURMAN BISHER HONORED:   Legendary sportswriter Furman Bisher of Atlanta, a member of the NSSA Hall of Fame, will be honored with an annual award for a leading student at the University of North Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The inaugural presentation of the Furman Bisher Medal will be made during the 49th annual NSSA Awards Program weekend May 3-5 in Salisbury, N.C.

Bisher, a 1938 graduate of the UNC School of Journalism, has worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution since 1950.  He covered the first NASCAR race, has covered every Super Bowl except the first, conducted the only interview with Shoeless Joe Jackson, watched Cy Young pitch and Joe Louis box, and has covered more than 50 Kentucky Derbies.  He also helped bring the Braves to Atlanta, according to UNC Charlotte.

The Furman Bisher Medal will recognize one student each year who exemplifies the passion for sports journalism and community service exhibited by Bisher.  Bisher was surprised by the announcement, which was made at the Atlanta Country Club on Feb. 15 at a gathering of friends, including former co-workers, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

More than $50,000 has been raised, including a donation from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.  The goal is a $100,000 endowed fund that will provide an annual cash prize of $5,000.    The list of donors includes current and former colleagues, friends, and such legends as Jack Nicklaus, Ben Crenshaw and Vince Dooley.  The UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication will administer the award.


SQUIER NAMED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR:  Veteran sportscaster Ken Squier has been selected as the Vermont Citizen of the Year by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce. He will be honored during a dinner March 1 at the Stoweflake Resort in Stowe.

Squier is the owner of the RadioVermont group with the flagship station WDEV-AM & FM in Waterbury.  For over 75 years, Vermonters have known WDEV for its news  and sports coverage, community involvement and local flavor.  Squier is also the co-owner of Thunder Road, known as the Nation’s Site of Excitement for its outstanding summertime stock car racing in central Vermont.

Squier also has a notable career in national broadcasting.  His passion for racing changed NASCAR forever.  He single-handedly persuaded CBS to televise the complete Daytona 500.  He also put a camera in a race car to give viewers a feeling of being in the car.  Squier has worked for CBS and FOX TV for more than 30 years.

Squier’s community involvement includes currently serving as board chair of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra,  and he is a longtime member of the Central Vermont Adult Basic Education Board of Directors.   He is a member of the Hall of Fame of both the Vermont Association of Broadcasters and the Vermont Principals’ Association.   He has also won the Vermont Broadcasters’ “Distinguished Service” award.

MURRY STILL SHINES:  Jay Murry, the Missouri Sportscaster of the Year for NSSA last year, continued to pick up more hardware after Salisbury.  The Missouri Broadcasters Association honored him during its 2007 awards ceremony with the “Best Play-By-Play: Small Market award.

Murry also was an invited speaker by the MBA’s Day at the Royals in Kansas City.  Murry, who is with KWRE-AM  & KFAV-FM in Warrenton, Missouri, was part of the program that covered sharpening play-by-play, sports marketing and interviewing skills.  
 

INCREASING NSSA MEMBERSHIP:  We would love to pick up 100 members by the end of this calendar year.

If every winner of the state sportscasting and sportswriting awards secured one new membership from a co-worker, colleague or neighboring media outlet, we could build our membership by 100.  If other members picked up the tab for a new member we could easily make it 200 new members.

The NSSA is the largest journalism association in the country that focuses on both sportscasting and sportswriting. It is an honor to be a member and to receive the benefits.  So please sign one member for this year.   Dues are only $30.