ESPN “SportsCenter” Anchor John Anderson wins Bill Teegins Award
Posted by Karina Henderson
on Nov 15, 2011
OKLAHOMA CITY — Organizers of the Warren Spahn Award Gala announced today that John Anderson, ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor and co-host of ABC’s hit primetime television series “Wipeout,” is the 2011 Bill Teegins Excellence in Sportscasting Award winner.
The Teegins Award is presented annually to an outstanding sportscaster with Oklahoma ties. Prior to joining ESPN, Anderson was a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor at Tulsa’s KOTV from 1990 to 1996 and a sports photographer and reporter at Tulsa’s KTUL from 1988 to 1990. Anderson worked directly with the late Bill Teegins on Oklahoma City Blazers and Tulsa Oilers simulcasts in the mid-1990s.
Randy Cassimus, chair of the Teegins Award selection committee, said it will be a pleasure to present this year’s award to Anderson.
"John's body of work and his character easily meet the criteria, and the fact that he and Bill actually had the opportunity to work together in Oklahoma makes the selection even more special. It's wonderful that John's talent has taken him to a national stage where so many more sports fans can appreciate him."
The Teegins Award honors previous OSU men’s basketball play-by-play announcer Bill Teegins, who died tragically in a 2001 plane crash, along with 10 OSU basketball players and support personnel. Teegins donated many hours to the Oklahoma sports community as a volunteer and was inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Sports of Fame in 2001 and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Clearly, I am honored to be chosen for the award, but I am humbled as well,” Anderson said. “I had the great pleasure of knowing and often working with Bill early in my career. There were lessons in excellence, professionalism and how to treat people in just watching him go about his job. To be linked to Bill through this award is truly special as was my time in Oklahoma as a young journalist."
The Teegins Award will be presented to Anderson at the Warren Spahn Award Gala, hosted by Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Rotary Club and the Jim Thorpe Association. The gala will be held on January 26th at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame & Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City. Tickets are available now. Proceeds will benefit several local charities including Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Autism Walk, Red Ribbon Week, Christmas Connection and Alzheimer’s Walk.
Previous Teegins Award winners include Dave Hunziker, John Brooks, Bob Carpenter, Joe Simpson, Bob Barry Sr., Bobby Murcer, Curt Gowdy, Ross Porter, Bill Mercer and John Rooney.
In addition to the Teegins Award, the Warren Spahn Award will be presented at the gala to this year’s best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. The 2011 Spahn Award winner is Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For more information, visit OKCSpahnAwards.com. To purchase tickets, contact Bill Hickman at 405.605.2375 or hickman@hickmanlawgroup.com.
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The Teegins Award is presented annually to an outstanding sportscaster with Oklahoma ties. Prior to joining ESPN, Anderson was a sports reporter and weekend sports anchor at Tulsa’s KOTV from 1990 to 1996 and a sports photographer and reporter at Tulsa’s KTUL from 1988 to 1990. Anderson worked directly with the late Bill Teegins on Oklahoma City Blazers and Tulsa Oilers simulcasts in the mid-1990s.
Randy Cassimus, chair of the Teegins Award selection committee, said it will be a pleasure to present this year’s award to Anderson.
"John's body of work and his character easily meet the criteria, and the fact that he and Bill actually had the opportunity to work together in Oklahoma makes the selection even more special. It's wonderful that John's talent has taken him to a national stage where so many more sports fans can appreciate him."
The Teegins Award honors previous OSU men’s basketball play-by-play announcer Bill Teegins, who died tragically in a 2001 plane crash, along with 10 OSU basketball players and support personnel. Teegins donated many hours to the Oklahoma sports community as a volunteer and was inducted posthumously into the Oklahoma Sports of Fame in 2001 and the Oklahoma Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002.
“Clearly, I am honored to be chosen for the award, but I am humbled as well,” Anderson said. “I had the great pleasure of knowing and often working with Bill early in my career. There were lessons in excellence, professionalism and how to treat people in just watching him go about his job. To be linked to Bill through this award is truly special as was my time in Oklahoma as a young journalist."
The Teegins Award will be presented to Anderson at the Warren Spahn Award Gala, hosted by Oklahoma City’s Bricktown Rotary Club and the Jim Thorpe Association. The gala will be held on January 26th at the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame & Jim Thorpe Museum in Oklahoma City. Tickets are available now. Proceeds will benefit several local charities including Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Autism Walk, Red Ribbon Week, Christmas Connection and Alzheimer’s Walk.
Previous Teegins Award winners include Dave Hunziker, John Brooks, Bob Carpenter, Joe Simpson, Bob Barry Sr., Bobby Murcer, Curt Gowdy, Ross Porter, Bill Mercer and John Rooney.
In addition to the Teegins Award, the Warren Spahn Award will be presented at the gala to this year’s best left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. The 2011 Spahn Award winner is Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For more information, visit OKCSpahnAwards.com. To purchase tickets, contact Bill Hickman at 405.605.2375 or hickman@hickmanlawgroup.com.