A record-setting number of entries were turned into the
USBWA's best-writing contest for a second year in a row,
again turning it into a highly competitive affair.
There were no double-winners – also for the second
year in a row – among the 162 entries.
The judge
said "the quality of writing this time around was excellent."
This year's winners were John Feinstein of the Washington
Post, Zak Keefer of the Indianapolis Star, Eric Prisbell
of USA Today, Luke Winn of Sports Illustrated and Mike DeCourcy
of The Sporting News.
The top five finishers in each category receive a plaque
and a cash prize for their winning entries. First place
is awarded $150, second place $125, third place $100, fourth
place $75 and fifth place $50.
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield,
Mass., serves as sponsor of the writing contest.
|
COLUMN
1. John
Feinstein, Washington Post: Dean Smith's Dignity Worth Remembering
2. Kirk Wessler, Peoria Journal Star: From Pernicious To
Picasso
3. John Akers, Basketball Times: Johnny Orr's
Hilton Magic
4. Caulton Tudor, WRAL SportsFan.com: Reminder:
Team, Not NBA Draft Prediction
5. Bryan Burwell, St.
Louis Post-Dispatch: The Game We Waited For |
GAME STORY/SPOT NEWS
1. Eric Prisbell, USA Today: They Gave 'Em The Whole Enchilada
2. Jesse Temple, FoxSportsWisconsin.com: Badgers Dance Into
Final Four
3. David Teel, Newport News Daily Press: Virginia
Title A Masterpiece Of Patience
4. Gary Parrish, CBSSports.com:
Something Special, Something Great
5. Skip Myslenski,
NUSports.com: Compelling Victory Marks A First |
ENTERPRISE
1. Zak Keefer, Indianapolis Star: The Day That Rocked Butler
2. Pete Thamel, Sports Illustrated: Transfers The New Prized
Recruits
3. Mick McCabe and Mark Snyder, Detroit Free
Press: Fired Coach Accused Of Abuse
4. Laura Keeley,
Raleigh News & Observer: College Basketball Needs A
Commissioner
5. Tom Noie, South Bend Tribune: Digger's
Sacred Corner |
MAGAZINE LENGTH FEATURE
1. Luke Winn, Sports Illustrated: The Freshman: Wilt To
Manning To Wiggins
2. Jason King, Bleacher Report: Adreian
Payne's Princess Lacey
3. Kevin Armstrong, New York Daily
News: Cleanthony: From The Bottom To Perfection
4. Seth
Davis, Sports Illustrated: A Lonely, Wounded Search For
Meaning
5. Ryan Kartje, Orange County Register: Weathering
Of A Hoosier Legend |
MODERATE LENGTH FEATURE
1. Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News: He Sees Basketball
Differently
2. Andrew Kahn, SportsOnEarth.com: UConn's
Breanna Stewart: Best Ever?
3. Myron Medcalf, ESPN.com:
Butch's Death Softened Bo
4. Brendan F. Quinn, MichiganLive.com:
Peace After An Easter Tragedy
5. Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland
Plain Dealer: Aaron Craft's Zen Huddles |
