The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced during NBA All-Star Weekend longtime photographer Andy Bernstein and ESPN basketball analyst Doris Burke as the 2018 Curt Gowdy Media Award recipients. The two will be acknowledged for their contributions to basketball media during the Hall of Fame Enshrinement events from Sept. 6-8, in Springfield, Mass.
The Award is named in honor of the late Curt Gowdy, a legendary sports broadcaster and former Hall of Fame board member and president. It’s presented annually to members of the electronic and print media whose longtime efforts have made a significant contribution to basketball.
Chick Hearn won the award in 1992.
Bernstein has become synonymous with NBA photography, particularly memorable career highlights for Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, and several of the Los Angeles Lakers’ championships.
Bernstein’s first opportunity with the NBA at the 1983 All-Star Game at The Forum. Bernstein has worked as the official photographer of the Clippers, Dodgers, Kings and Lakers during his illustrious 35-year career.
Included in that was documenting Bryant’s rise to prominence and farewell tour. Bernstein recalled some of his favorite memories with and photographs of the five-time champion in an exclusive interview with LakersNation.com.
Burke spent two seasons as an assistant coach before transitioning to her current role. She was named a full-time ESPN NBA game analyst prior to the 2017-18 agency, becoming the first women to hold that honor.
From 1990-2000, Burke worked as an analyst on regional coverage of BIG EAST and Atlantic-10 women’s basketball on the New England Sports Network (NESN). She simultaneously worked as a play-by-play commentator for Providence College women’s basketball on WICE/WNPW Radio (1990-97) and Providence College men’s basketball with WPRO Radio (1992-95).
Burke is also recognized as the first woman to call a BIG EAST men’s basketball game on television and a New York Knicks radio and television broadcast (2000). Last year, she was named the recipient of the 2017 WISE Women of the Year Award.
The annual honor is given to women who have made a significant impact on the business of sports as decided by Women in Sports and Events.
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