| Ray Didinger | |
|---|---|
 Ray Didinger (right) on 610 WIP with Bernie Parent |
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| Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Alma mater | Temple University |
| Occupation | Sportswriter, Sportscaster |
| Employer | Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia |
| Television | Eagles Post Game Live |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Gallagher |
| Children | David, Kathleen |
| Awards | Awards |
Ray Didinger (born September 18, 1946 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an award-winning American sportswriter, author, film writer, radio host, TV commentator, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Writer's Honor Roll).[1]
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Early life and career [edit]
Born to Raymond and Marie Didinger, and raised in Folsom, Pennsylvania, Didinger graduated from St. James High School in 1964. He received a B.S. in Communications from Temple University in 1968. His nickname was Nauga, after the animated character used in commercials for Naugahyde. Ray spent four years doing sports radio for WRTI and served as the station's Sports Director.[2]
Author [edit]
In 1990, Didinger wrote The Super Bowl: Celebrating a Quarter-Century of America's Greatest Game. He co-authored Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion along with Don Shula in 1996 and co-wrote The Eagles Encyclopedia with Robert S. Lyons in 2005. Didinger also co-wrote The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies with Philadelphia radio personality Glen Macnow in 2009.
Radio [edit]
Ray Didinger co-hosts a popular radio show every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WIP-AM in Philadelphia. Up until 2011, he could be heard on the airwaves with co-host Glen Macnow. The show featured Didinger and Macnow discussing all aspects of what is going on in Philadelphia sports at the current time. It was also common to hear the two talk about movies, since both are avid movie fans. Didinger and Glen Macnow co-wrote a book entitled "The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies", featuring what they both considered the all time best in cinema sports dramas, published and released in 2009.
In 2011, WIP began simulcasting its programming on FM frequency 94.1, the Philadelphia radio station formerly know as WYSP. WIP's debut on the FM airwaves also brought changes to its host line ups and programming time slots. While some well known hosts have left WIP and new hosts have joined, Ray can still be heard on Saturday mornings from 10 AM until 1 PM with his new and current co-host, Rob Ellis.
Sportswriter [edit]
Didinger covered the National Football League for the The Philadelphia Bulletin and The Philadelphia Daily News for more than 25 years.[3] He was named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. In 1995, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award for long and distinguished coverage of pro football, and his name was added to the writers' honor roll in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
Television [edit]
Didinger is currently a full-time member of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, writing articles and appearing on-air in a variety of roles, most prominently in Eagles Post Game Live. Previously, Didigner was a senior producer with NFL Films in Mount Laurel, New Jersey until he was bought out of his contract in February 2009. He has won four Emmy Awards for his work as a writer and producer on the weekly series NFL Films Presents and the Turner Network documentary Football America.[2]
Personal [edit]
Didinger is married to Philadelphia magazine restaurant critic Maria Gallagher and has two children David and Kathleen.[3] He also has an English Bulldog named Mack.[3]
Awards and honors [edit]
- Dick McCann Memorial Award, 1995.[1]
- Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year. 5-time winner.[4]
- Keystone Press Award, 6-time winner.
- Associated Press award for column writing, 3-time winner.
- Pro Football Writers of America award for outstanding feature story, 1991.
- Inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, 2005.
Bibliography [edit]
- The Super Bowl: Celebrating a Quarter-Century of America's Greatest Game (1990). Simon & Schuster ISBN 0-671-72798-2
- Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion with Phil Barber and Don Shula (1996). Turner Publishing ISBN 1-57036-297-1
- Game Plans For Success (1996). McGraw-Hill ISBN 0-8092-3171-9
- The Eagles Encyclopedia with Robert S. Lyons (2005). Temple University Press ISBN 1-59213-449-1
- One Last Read: The Collected Works of the World's Slowest Sportswriter (2007). Temple University Press ISBN 1-59213-600-1
- The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies with Glen Macnow (2009). Running Press ISBN 0-7624-3548-8
See also [edit]
Footnotes [edit]
- ^ a b "McCann Award Winners, 1969-2010". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ^ a b "The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia". Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ^ a b c "CSNPhilly Eagles Insider Ray Didinger". Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
- ^ "Pennsylvania - NSSA Hall of Fame General". National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
External links [edit]
- Ray Didinger at the Internet Movie Database
- Ray Didinger Interview
- Broadcast Pioneers Profile
- More information on Ray Didinger
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