The News Sentinel won five first-place awards in the top circulation category by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association.
The winners were announced Friday to conclude the TSWA’s annual convention in Lebanon on Friday.
News Sentinel sports editor John Adams was named best columnist, Mike Strange was first in event writing, Roland Julian was first in headline writing, Bob Hodge was first in outdoor writing, and David Goddard was first in layout.
On Adams the judges had this to say: “This was a close race between the top two columnists (Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal), because both called for a change at the top of Tennessee football and both had cleverly written collection of columns. But the winner’s Fulmer column had the advantage of a full season’s perspective, but also took the debate into the area of off-field happenings which gave it a stronger base. I especially liked the winner’s trick play column. I chuckled all the way through it and went back to read it again after the judging was done.”
Adams was second in the sportswriter of the year category, which was won by Higgins. The award is named after former News Sentinel sports columnist Gary Lundy.
Mark Burgess of the News Sentinel was second for best investigative series, and Mike Griffith was third in the same category. John Battle was second in layout, Adams was third in event writing, and Dan Fleser was third in headline writing.
The News Sentinel also placed second for best daily section and third for best special section.
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Comments » 111
TommyJack writes:
Congrats. Adams. I'm sure the rest of the board joins me. :)
dfreeman writes:
TJ - this could get ugly as well huh?? LOL
TommyJack writes:
DF: love it :)
VOLS85 writes:
"But the winner’s Fulmer column had the advantage of a full season’s perspective, but also took the debate into the area of off-field happenings which gave it a stronger base."
So we did better than 10 SEC teams last year (great perspective), and talked about off-field happenings (which haven't occurred in months). Nothing like stepping back and looking at the big picture from last year Johnny boy! I'm sure that perspective is why you haven't posted an article on GVX for 39 days.
I'm thinking about writing an article about how we should fire Pearl for not making it past the sweet 16, I'm sure the controversy there would merit a reward...
Since when did controversy and quality journalism overlap?
LanceR24 writes:
so basically the award for top columnist went to who could bash fulmer the best....wow.
bholt#207077 writes:
If Adams can win this award what does this say about the quality of sports writers in this state?
FLAVOLS writes:
Nice job John Adams.
alfrizzle097 writes:
What a joke.
Caspian writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
LanceR24,
Perfectly stated my man.
TommyJack writes:
Nick: I'm surprised at you. A man of the cloth and all...
orangeinga writes:
They loved him here in GA,too. Anyone who bashs another SEC opponent will be liked.
Volfan1 writes:
If Johnny boy is the best, the rest of the sportswriters in Tennessee must be using crayons and "The Cat In The Hat" for a reference guide.
FLVol writes:
Fulmer is the man! He will have more wins than Robert Neyland and more National Championships once it's said and done..wait and see John Adams.
ctownvol writes:
I'm sorry. I could've swore this article said John Adams won the Best columnist award.
I don't get it Big Dan!
oasis3#214380 writes:
The paragraph about Adams says judges but the qoute is by an individual, hence the use of I. I think this one paragraph tells us all we know about the quality of the journalists and judges involved in this award.
airship writes:
atta boy john keep it going.
utchris writes:
This Tennessee Sports Writers are the same group of clowns that publish the High School All State teams every year and every year, they pick a few a few kids to their All-State team that failed to make All-Region.
The KNS Staff (aka. Deputy Dawg) wrote this to make it seem like Adams won this award based on the Fulmer article. If they based it on one article, then they are not very bright. My guess is that one of the judges thought this way and the KNS Staff (who knew this intense piece of journalism needed to be a collaborative piece) slanted as a way to irritate the Adams bashers.
Wonder if this new found ego booster will make him stop pouting and come out of his hiding place?
rthestar#368358 writes:
yet another reason newspaper readership is way down..looks like awards giving has followed ADAMS to the bottom....The self administered slime however is well earned...
Bigger_Al writes:
Better headline: Incestuous Sportswriter Fraternity Names Adams(!) Top Sortswriter in the state.
This award, which is about as difficult to win as the Top Football Coach which ironically was awarded to Phillip Fulmer, is as laughable as the close-knit group that annually circulates the award to themselves. Adams, who will be frozen-out by Tennessee players this year and who cannot land a job anywhere else on the planet, said "I'm glad the writers thought my hack-job on Fulmer was better than Higgins'. Just goes to show you don't need ideas to prosper in this business, just a lot of voters of whose wife you have nekkid pictures. Yes, spell that 'nekkid'."
Meanwhile, the fact that Coach Fulmer's job was actually extended rather than terminated was lost on the sports writers.
"What's important to us is Change. Change! For coaches, not ourselves", said the simpleton judges, too obtuse to recognize that they were pushing for the opposite behavior than actually occurred. Asked why they awarded both the writer calling for the head of the coach as well as the coach calling for the head of the writer, the judges said, "Look, somebody's right, and somebody's wrong. Adams is probably an idiot, but just in case UT doesn't go bowling this year, we could come out of this smelling like a rose!"
LanceR24 writes:
the irony of this is if adams ever gets fired or quits you know he is gonna say, "fire fulmer! its his fault i got fired!" lol.
GerryOP writes:
Hee, hee, hee, hee! Coach Fulmer wins TSWA Coach of the Year award and John Adams wins TSWA Columnist of the Year! How fitting!
rusty_shackleford writes:
The Mainstream Media is dead. It's just a matter of time until papers (can't really call them "newspapers" since most of the pages are filled with advertisements) are gone like AM radio. The Internet is filled with MSM cutting staff like a fat boy cuts the cheese at a Mexican restaurant.
Enjoy the accolades, Tuscaloosa John. That and 50 cents will buy a bunch of Brown Squirrel ads to read!
littleorange writes:
This award has about as much credibility as the Heisman Trophy......
Bigger_Al writes:
I got a chance to interview "Tuscaloosa John" soon after accepting the award:
BA: "So, John, you have to be pretty happy with this award. What is it, your third?"
JA: (Giggles uncontrollably) "Hah!" (Snorts audibly and surprisingly) "I won!" (Snorts again, and rubs trophy in a way that made this writer uncomfortable) "I won! Hah!"
BA: "What is the message this sends to the young sports writers of the state?"
JA: "Sports writing is the power position in sports, not coaching. Jocks are arrogant, and I will get back at them for what they did to me in High School. Get the mindless minions calling for the Head Coaches head, and they won't call for your's. I've got modest talents at best, but I"m good for life here. I outlasted Johnny, and I applauded heartily when he was fired. I will do the same for Phil. Mark my words!" (Audible giggle)
BillVol writes:
Well deserved honor for Mr. Adams. I honestly believe early in his career, he tried to intentionally stir up things with provocative columns, and I didn't used to be a fan of his. But he has stopped doing that. His columns now are well thought out and are accurate opinions about the current UT sports situation.
I never knew Roland Juilian did the KNS's headlines. That is a real art and if you are not good at it, it can take away from the story. Needless to say, Mr. Julian, one of the best sportswriters anywhere, is very good.
THANKYOU4GETTINGRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE writes:
You know that Mama said to always tell the truth. Great job John and congrats!
volroadwarrior writes:
Reminds me of the Nobel Peace Prize going to idiots like Jimmy Carter who jump started the terrorist threat by his hand wringing over the Iranian hostages--and Al Gore who is pushing the biggest hoax in a century (global warming)--after he invented the internet. These media types sit around in a circle j**k. It has nothing to do with quality of work or being informative. It has everything to do with making everyone in their little circle feel real good.
murrayvol writes:
Not only does he win a gold but gets a hat trick with a silver and a bronze.
Congratulations John! We've been concerned that you may be in an undisclosed location. Who knew?
VolunteerMan writes:
How many times does Adams have to say that he is not a Vol fan, but a Vol reporter. He has written article after article detailing short comings of the athletic dept. that wouldn't have been written by a homer. If you're not someone who believes in dissent or an unpopular opinion, pick your cut-off sweatshirt and your radiator fluid and go to Canada. You certainly aren't someone that deserves the fruits that this country provides the opportunity to attain.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Truth hurts sometimes.
gohawks1 writes:
Now we know where Johnny has been lately - doing the banquet scene, pressing the flesh, and accepting awards. Whoda thunkit?
rootin4volz writes:
"Adams named top columnist." HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!! Now THAT, my friends, is some comedy!
So, come on...who REALLY was named top columnist? I mean, that's funny and all, but you guys are going to tell us who REALLY got named top columnist, right?
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!
CoverOrange writes:
It's not that I disagree with his opinion, it is how he arrives at his opinion with seemingly very little thought or research.
What was that so called "Trick Play" column he wrote that was so funny? I have no memory of that one.
LiveFaith writes:
*What a surprise. Journalists support journalists.*
Knoxsingle said it all, except I would substitute propagandists for the word journalists these days!
Way to go Adams, you have now entered into the same glory with Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize, Candace Parker's SEC "runner-up", and Brokeback Mountain as picture of the year.
Looks like the more things change ...
WaltGoVols writes:
Adams is no friend of the UT football program.
That is not his job.
People just should have no illusions.
Walt
murrayvol writes:
Walt: People without illusions are cadavers.
ctownvol writes:
Well said murrayvol
TommyJack writes:
Amazing how many of you guys let this guy get your goat. Amazing.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Hey, Walt, no one asks Adams to be a friend of the UT program, just not to be an enemy of it. I don't think its unreasonable at all to ask for neutral objectivity, which he did NOT show in his contorted and selective picking of "facts" in his infamous ripping of Fulmer and follow-up with Finebaum.
Tommyjack, who can in good conscience smile and nod meekly at a situation when someone is paid big bucks, given a perch of a public forum and gilded fake accolades for being basically dishonest? We are having trouble stopping it, but we don't have to quit saying its wrong. I'm too much of an Irish scorpio to hush and my ancestors fought at King's Mountain, too.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Hey guys, I brought up the "hater" term the other day, and probably should not have, but I absolutely did NOT apply it to you guys who constructively criticize the program on specifics. But there are other people who come to this site who consistently wish ill to the UT football program. What is a better concise one-word term for those folks?
orangebloodgmc writes:
Where did y'all go?
gnm53108 writes:
Question.Who will still have their job ten years from now,CPF or Adams?
CPF pretty much has a lifetime contract.How long is your contract John?
gnm53108 writes:
orangebloodgmc..1102..All depends on who you're talking about.Some of these posters actually are Vols fans and would like to see the Vols succeed.We just cant seem to agree on who should lead us to the promise land.CPF is the man.
VolMoment writes:
This is a joke! It is judged by the same people!
Why not have the readers judge it. Adams is a joke and thank gooodness we have an A.D. that said this is a joke and called his hand. Now the same sick sport writers try to give him credit. Well we don't buy it and never will. Quit insulting our intelligence!
TommyJack writes:
orangeblood: I hear you brother. Just to me, a little over the top. But hey, we can disagree.
I appreciate your passion nonetheless.
orangebloodgmc writes:
"orangebloodgmc..1102..All depends on who you're talking about.Some of these posters actually are Vols fans and would like to see the Vols succeed."
Exactly, gnm, I was never calling those who offer specific constructive criticism to program haters. My point was that there are fans of rival schools who wish nothing but ill for the UT program and one or two others who seem to be so eat up with hate for Fulmer that they put a negative spin on EVERY good news item about UT football. I don't have to call these folks "haters" but what is a better one-word term about those who consistently wish ill for the Tennessee football program? I am asking.
gnm53108 writes:
Jealous?
orangebloodgmc writes:
Its all good, Tommyjack. Maybe its the spicy food we eat down here in LA that gets us all revved up.
cdmav08 writes:
A columnists job is not to write an article in which the readers will agree. I columnist has the job of writing articles of opinion to get people to buy the papers. That being said, are we not here still debating after an article wrote many months ago, was there not a load of comments on the articles, when they were posted on here... was there not an entire section of the sunday paper with letters to the editor on Mr. Adam's article. John Adams may not write articles that you agree with, you may even think he is a complete idiot, but as a columnist, he does his job, and he does it well.
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