Boxing Writers Association of America Announces Contests Winners

Veteran Associated Press writer Tim Dahlberg took top honors in the eighth annual Boxing Writers Association of America writing contest, known as the “Barneys” in memory of the late Barney Nagler, a former president of the BWAA. The contest period covered the 2009 calendar year.

“Barney” winners will be recognized along with other award recipients at the 85th annual BWAA Awards Dinner on June 4 at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.

Dahlberg was the only winner of two first places as well as the only person to place among the top three in three of the six categories. He took first in Event Coverage, for his account of Manny Pacquiao’s victory over Miguel Cotto, and in Feature Under 1,750 words, for a piece on George Foreman’s memories of his “Rumble in the Jungle” loss to Muhammad Ali. He also placed second in Column, which was about Mike Tyson’s grief over the accidental death of his young daughter.

Other first places went to Tim Smith of the New York Daily News, in the Column category; Norm Frauenheim, of CBSsports.com, for News Story; Don Steinberg, of Philadelphia Magazine, for Feature Over 1,750 words, and Thomas Hauser, of Secondsout.com, for Investigative Reporting. The only other multiple placer was Bernard Fernandez, of the Philadelphia Daily News, who had a second in News Story and third in Feature Over 1,750 words.

The results:

EVENT COVERAGE

1. Tim Dahlberg, The Associated Press. 2. (tie) Bill Dwyre, Los Angeles Times, and Springs Toledo, Thesweetscience.com. 3. (tie) Ronan Keenan, Thesweetscience.com, and Dave Skretta, The Associated Press. Honorable Mention: Ron Borges, Thesweetscience.com; Chris Cozzone, Fightnews.com; Peter Owen Nelson, The Ring Blog; Eric Raskin, RingTV.com; T.K. Stewart, boxingscene.com.

COLUMN

1. Tim Smith, New York Daily News. 2. Tim Dahlberg, The Associated Press. 3. David Weinberg, The Press of Atlantic City. Honorable Mention: Bart Barry, 15rounds.com; Adam Berlin, 15rounds.com; Ron Borges, Thesweetscience.com; Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com; Chris Mannix, SI.com; T.K. Stewart, boxingscene.com; Don Stradley, The Ring.

NEWS STORY

1. Norm Frauenheim, CBSsports.com. 2. Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News. 3. George Willis, New York Post. Honorable Mention: Ron Borges, Boston Herald; David P. Greisman, Boxingscene.com; George Kimball, Thesweetscience.com; Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times; Michael Rosenthal, RingTV.com; Don Stradley, The Ring; T.K. Stewart, Boxinscene.com; John Whisler, San Antonio Express-News.

FEATURE UNDER 1,750 WORDS

1. Tim Dahlberg, The Associated Press. 2. (tie) Ron Borges, Boston Herald; Nigel Collins, The Ring. 3. (tie) Michael Rosenthal, RingTV.com; Don Stradley, The Ring. Honorable Mention: Norm Frauenheim, 15rounds.com; Matthew Hurley, Secondsout.com; Robert Mladinich, Thesweetscience.com; Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times; Dave Skretta, The Associated Press; Springs Toledo, Thesweetscience.com.

FEATURE OVER 1,750 WORDS

1. Don Steinberg, Philadelphia Magazine. 2. Nancy Armour, The Associated Press. 3. Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News. Honorable Mention: Thomas Gerbasi, Boxingscene.com; Michael Rosenthal, RingTV.com; Dave Skretta, The Associated Press; Tim Struby, ESPN The Magazine; Pablo S. Torre, Sports Illustrated.

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

1. Thomas Hauser, Secondsout.com. 2. Lance Pugmire, Los Angeles Times. 3. (tie) Richard Fletcher, Boxing Monthly; Lee Groves, Maxboxing.com; Tim Keown, ESPN.com. Honorable Mention: Ron Borges, Boxing Monthly; Bill Dettloff, The Ring; Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News; Jerry Glick, Boxing Digest; Don Stradley, The Ring; Springs Toledo, Thesweetscience.com.