Award-winning sports writer and commentator Frank Deford has died. He was 78.
Award-winning sports writer and commentator Frank Deford has died. He was 78.
His family said he died Sunday in Key West, Fla.
Deford was a six-time Sports Writer of the Year and a member of the National Assn. of Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame. He wrote with a lyrical elegance and was best known for his work at Sports Illustrated and on National Public Radio. He retired this month from NPR’s « Morning Edition » after 37 years as a contributor.
« Frank was dealing with an audience that doesn’t turn to the sports pages first thing, » said Tom Goldman, an NPR sports correspondent who recently spent time with Deford in Key West. « And he was proudest of the many comments he got over the years from people saying, ‘I don’t really like sports, but I like what you did, and you made me more interested in it.' »
He was the first sports writer awarded the National Humanities Medal. In 2013, President Obama honored him for « transforming how we think about sports. »
« A dedicated writer and storyteller, Mr. Deford has offered a consistent, compelling voice in print and on radio, reaching beyond scores and statistics to reveal the humanity woven into the games we love, » Obama said at the time.
Deford called the award the one he is most proud of.
His long profiles, covering all corners of sports, were for years a showcase in Sports Illustrated.
« He could watch the grittiest game and zoom in on the moment that made it important, » Associated Press national sports columnist Jim Litke said. « Nobody was better at connecting sports to the culture at large. He dressed up every event he attended. »
Deford also was a prolific book author and contributed to HBO’s « Real Sports » program.
« In addition to being an immense talent, he was a consummate gentleman, a dear friend and a beloved, original member of our ‘Real Sports’ family, ” said Bryant Gumbel, the show’s host. “Frank was a giant in the world of sports. His loss is immeasurable. »
Deford joined HBO Sports in 1995 and his first report chronicled life in Augusta, Ga., outside of the Masters. It was called « The American Singapore. » He delivered 119 segments for the show and was a feature reporter at Wimbledon in the 1990s. Deford also hosted HBO documentaries.
UPDATES:
1: 25 p.m.: This article was updated with more details about Deford’s life.
This article was originally published at 11: 45 a.m.
