Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Inducts First Class Dec. 11

By Chris Pursell

The Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame will conduct its inaugural ceremony Dec. 11, enshrining 11 legendary figures from around the industry.

Hosted by sports broadcasters Jim Nantz of CBS Sports and Bob Costas of NBC Sports/HBO, the induction will be at the New York Hilton in New York City.

“Having two of the most recognized figures in sports broadcasting host our ceremony further underscores the widespread industry support we are receiving for this long-overdue event,” said selection committee chairman Ken Aagaard, who is also senior VP of operations and production services at CBS Sports. “This will truly be an evening in which the luminaries in sports broadcasting come out to honor their own and recognize those giants who came before us.”

The Sports Video Group, along with leading executives from the sports world, established the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame to honor executives from the worlds of sports, technology and broadcasting.

The first class for the Hall of Fame and the official reasons for their enshrinement will be:

Roone Arledge: “Chairman of ABC Sports from 1977 until 2002, Arledge is the unquestionable father of the modern era of TV sports broadcasting.”

Julius Barnathan: “For more than 40 years, Jules helped transform ABC Sports and the Olympic Games into a technical powerhouse.”

Frank Chirkinian: “While at CBS Sports, Frank revolutionized PGA coverage and turned the Masters into a TV sports mainstay.”

Howard Cosell: “Truly one of a kind, Howard changed the role of the sportscaster and, in two minutes during halftime of every ‘Monday Night Football’ telecast, helped redefine the way viewers and producers approached highlights.”

Harry Coyle: “The center-field shot in baseball? It was Harry’s idea and still remains the defining element of a baseball telecast.”

Jim McKay: “From 1961 to 1998 Jim hosted ABC’s ‘Wide World of Sports,’ transforming the very definition of televised sports into something more than just baseball and football.”

Pete Rozelle: “From 1960 to 1989 Pete turned the NFL into the premier sports league in the country and helped make the NFL the first league to broadcast every game on TV.”

Ed Sabol: “For more than 30 years Ed brought fans closer to the action than ever through NFL Films, the company he founded.”

Tom Shelburne: “The founder of NEP SuperShooters, Shelburne played a huge role in establishing the remote production vehicle market that plays an integral part in every TV sports production.”

Larry Thorpe: “One has to wonder where HDTV sports would be without him, and not just for his constant cheerleading of the format around the globe but also his integral role in the development of the CCD and the color studio camera.”

George Wensel: “George embodied the sports TV technical professional during his short life, becoming a ‘must-have’ tech during his days at NEP.”