New York, NY - In a darkened dining hall at the Marriott Marquis Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, discussed recent draft picks with Herman Edwards, head coach of the NY Jets. "It's all about speed, isn't it?" Cuban asked Edwards. "Speed, yeah," Edwards said, "these days without speed you can't even compete. Well, speed and athletic ability." Cuban agreed and added, "I guess it's the same in both of our sports." "Mark," Edwards replied, "I'd say it's the same in all sports, you gotta have what it takes to compete.”

Edwards' remark applies equally well to the field of sports broadcasting. On the field, in the booth and in the studio, you have to have what it takes to compete.

On April 23rd uniforms and sports jackets were replaced with black tie and sequined gowns, and victories were marked not with a "W" in the win column, but by the clutching of the gold symbol of sports television excellence, the Emmy.
The 23rd Annual Sports Emmy Awards were presented before an audience of 500. The audience was hushed to a whisper when distinguished sports writer Frank Deford stepped to the podium to introduce long time friend and colleague, and new president of the National Academy, Peter Price. Deford and Price worked together at The Daily Princeton, as editor and publisher, respectively, and again in the same roles at National Sports Daily.

Price, presiding over his first Sports Emmy Awards honored the show of effort and dedication in the ranks of nominees who sat before him. "Tonight's ceremony reflects the quality and professionalism of sports television," Price said, adding that the event was a "beautiful demonstration of what the Academy can do at bringing colleagues together."

"I only ask," Deford said in commencing the awards, "that you make your acceptance speeches short so we can all be home to watch The Osbournes." And with that the show was under way.
Fox was the evening's big winner, garnering 11 awards, including honors for three different commentators: Terry Bradshaw, NFL on Fox, for outstanding sports personality/studio analyst, Tim McCarver MLB on Fox, for outstanding sports personality/sports event analyst, and Joe Buck MLB on Fox, for outstanding sports personalities/play by play.

ESPN, along with brother networks, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic were the other big winners, culling 7 awards, most notably the award for outstanding writing to Dick Schaap. The recognition of Schaap's work insured that the night would be filled with as much melanoncholy, as reverence.

Shaap, one of the centuries most honored and respected journalist, died last December from post-operative complications after hip replacement surgery. He was 67. In recognition of his contributions to sports journalism, NATAS has renamed the writing category the Dick Schaap Award for Outstanding Writing.

Another poignant moment was turned in by legendary Hall of Fame announcer Curt Gowdy, who eulogized President John Cannon. Gowdy, surprised by a standing ovation, held back emotion by biting his lower lip and silencing the applause with his signature deep drawling voice. "In 1949," Gowdy said, "I came out of the wild, wild west to New York to announce Yankee games. That fall I was asked by the Atlantic Refining Company to announce Eastern College football games…it was then that I started working with John Cannon, who worked color and commercials." Gowdy and his wife became life long friends with Cannon and his wife, Trudy, Director of Special Events for the National Academy. Gowdy honored Cannon's memory with a long list of the former President's accomplishments as an announcer and as a visionary who led the Academy for 23 years and established the Sports Emmys as a separate and distinct award show. In conclusion Gowdy asked the audience to acknowledge Cannon one more time with "a round of applause for a great guy."

Former President of ABC Sports Dennis Swanson was on hand to award the Sports Lifetime Achievement Award to Herbert Granath, Chairman Emeritus of ESPN. Sawnson praised Granath for his leadership with ABC's Video Enterprises in the late 1970's and for guiding ESPN into cable and international areas. "Granath," Swanson said, "created the business model that insured ESPN's success."

In addition to an impressive list of award winners the ceremony also featured an impressive list of presenters. Dave Anderson, New York Times Sports Columnist, Sue Bird, first pick in WNBA draft, Mark Cuban, Herman Edwards, Rod Gilbert NHL Hall-of-Famer, Tug McGraw, former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher and Harvey Shiller, former Executive Director for the USOC, were all on hand to present awards. This was the first year that the Academy teamed on-air personalities with athletes, a "winning" combination that Director David Beld said will continue to be a feature of the Sports Emmys.

The ceremony featured screenings of clips from nominated programs, providing a comprehensive, look into trends in sports reporting. Gone are the wide angle, distant visions of athletes at play. The modern sporting event has moved from arena topped camera angles to field level handi-cam images of the actual blood, sweat and tears that were once only the color analyst's verbiage. But the microscope doesn't stop at the field level, instead advances are taking sports fans inside the lockerroom, under the helmet, even into Formula One race cars. They're getting rare 360 degree angles on every step of every play and hearing every strategy or tirade as microphoned coaches and players verbalize what was once just booth analyst's conjecture.

"In our George Wensel Outstanding Innovative Technical Achievement Award we honor those technical achievements that enhance the broadcast to the viewer," Beld said. "Broadcasters are always looking for ways to bring the audience closer to the action and give them a greater appreciation for what the athletes are doing." Or in this year's case, what the umpires are doing as well. This year's winner was ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, K-Zone, for an innovation that highlights the strike zone for the audience at home.

Another trend in evidence is the production of more off-the-field stories. Many programs give equal air-time to the awesome and the ordinary, both glorifying players and examining them as human beings. Beld, celebrating 10 years as director, described the trend as a development of heightened scrutiny in all areas of television reporting. "Over the last several years there have been more in-depth documentaries and features looking at the off-the-field human side. I think you see more and more of this inside look at all celebrities, in all phases of television."
Finally, in the name of that complete coverage, Beld announced that the Sports Emmy Ceremony may be returning to television. "The Sports Ceremony was last on television in 1991 on ESPN," he said. "Both President Price and I are planning on an aggressive effort to get back on television." The Sports Emmy team, having just completed a successful season are already boasting, "just wait till next year!"