I don't think I've been the subject of an Associated Press story before ...

Walsh wins top ASWA writing award

TROY, ALA. — Christopher Walsh received the Alabama Sports Writers Association's highest writing award at the association's 43rd annual convention Sunday.

Walsh, who won two awards at this year's convention for his work with 247Sports, won the Herby Kirby Award for his story "Their place in history: A look at Alabama's, Nick Saban's and AJ McCarron's place in college football lore." The story also won Best Enterprise Story.

The award was 247Sports' first overall Herby Kirby Award and the second for Walsh.

The Herby Kirby Award is given in memory of longtime Birmingham Post-Herald sports writer Herby Kirby, who died in the press box after covering Notre Dame's 24-23 national football championship win over Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl.


... Credit John Zenor from the Associated Press for that story. 

First off, I'm honored, humbled and truly thrilled. I want to thank everyone not only in the ASWA, but also BamaOnline and 247Sports. 

In order to be up for the Herby Kirby one has to place first in a category (best football story, investigative piece, etc.). I finished second to Mike Szvetitz of The Opelika-Auburn News in column writing, a category I couldn't enter last year because online was considered a separate division. 

So this was the first time an online submission/site won the HK, and I'm pretty sure I'm the first multiple winner from different news organizations (which is kind of fitting since Saban was the first coach in the modern era to win national championships with two different schools). 

One thing I was sad about at the banquet was when legendary Huntsville Times journalist John Pruett asked for previous winners of the Herby Kirby to be recognized, only two other people in the room stood. So I want to dedicate this to the other former winners and all of my other colleagues over the years who are no longer in the industry. You are missed my friends. 

P.S. A special shout-out to my former associates at the Tuscaloosa News. After cleaning house at the recent Associated Press Sports Editors awards the staff took home a convention-high seven honors to cap an outstanding year. Congrats.