Dick Schaap 

About Dick Schaap 

At the moment, Dick Schaap is sports correspondent for ABC News World News Tonight, host of ESPN's The Sports Reporters, daily commentator for ESPN Radio, sports editor of Parade Magazine, and just published his 32nd book, Flashing Before My Eyes.

Schaap keeps busy. He always has.

Dick's profiles of four diverse men -- Sid Caesar, the comedian who fought back from drug and alcohol addiction, Bobby McLaughlin, a young man convicted of a murder he did not commit, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's most durable superstar and Tom Waddell, an Olympic athlete who died of AIDS, -- profiles reported, written and narrated for ABC's 20/20 - hint at his versatility, the range of his interests and abilities.  

His study of Sid Caesar won an Emmy for cultural reporting in 1983. His study of Tom Waddell won an Emmy for individual achievement in 1988. Four of his sports features for ABC's World News Tonight combined to win an Emmy for sports reporting in 1986. He won a fourth Emmy in 1992 and a fifth in 1994, both for writing. Schaap also won the Northeastern Award for Excellence in Broadcast Sports Journalism in 1986 and the Women's Sports Foundation Award for Excellence in covering Women in Sports in 1984. “Hooked for Good,” his examination of fly-fishing for 20/20, was named the best fishing story of 1987 by the Michigan Outdoor Writers Association. 

His report on the heroes of Super Bowls past was hailed by USA Today as the best pre-game feature on the 1985 Super Bowl telecast, and his coverage of the Olympic Games--in 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992--has earned him critical praise in Sports lllustrated, The New York Times, Newsday and The San Diego Union, among many publications. Newsday said Schaap deserved two gold medals in 1984--for his reports both from Sarajevo and Los Angeles. 

Schaap's weekly shows on ESPN, The Sports Reporters, in which he orchestrates a round-table discussion among sportswriters, and Schaap Talk, in which he interviews one guest and integrates phone calls from viewers, have both become favorites among sports fans, athletes and coaches. Regular viewers range from Magic Johnson to Ann Margaret to Skitch Henderson. 

Schaap's background helps to explain his versatility: He has been city editor of The New York Herald Tribune, senior editor of Newsweek, editor of Sport Magazine, correspondent for NBC News and co-host of The Joe Namath Show, in addition to his present duties. He has been a guest on Today, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Phil Donahue and Late Night with David Letterman. 

One of the most recent books, Bo Knows Bo, a collaboration with athlete Bo Jackson, is the best-selling sports autobiography ever. It ranked as high as #2 on The New York Times best-seller list. It was the second Schaap book to reach #2 on that list. The first, Instant Replay, a collaboration with Jerry Kramer of the Green Bay Packers, was #2 in 1968; it was then the best-selling sports book ever.

Schaap's Topics:

Name Droppings

From Ali to Bo to Cosell, Schaap Spins stories about the people he has met in three decades of covering sports - and covering show business and politics, riots and murders. He has interviewed Malcolm X and Brigitte Bardot, Yogi Berra and George Bush. He may be the only man who could have written books (and did) about Joe Namath, Billy Crystal, Bobby Kennedy and the Son of Sam. In this talk, the emphasis is on humor and inside glimpses of Dick Schaap's friends.

The Thin Line

If you prefer a motivational point of view, Schaap examines the thin line between champions and also-rans, between fame and obscurity, between steak and hamburger. One stroke each six holes is the difference between winning a million dollars a year on the pro golf tour and winning expenses. A fraction of a second is the difference between an Olympic gold medal and coming in eighth. Schaap explains what puts the champions on the right side of the thin line.

Author:

KEYNOTE FEE CATEGORY:  $12,500 - $15,000 *