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Dick Schaap

Richard Jay "Dick" Schaap (September 27, 1934 – December 21, 2001) was an American sportswriter, broadcaster, and author renowned for his versatile and influential career in that spanned more than 50 years. Born in , , and raised in , [Long Island](/page/Long Island), Schaap began his professional writing at age 15 for local newspapers before earning a degree from in 1955 and attending Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism on a Memorial Fellowship. Schaap's career highlights included stints as a reporter and sports editor at Newsweek starting in 1959, city editor and columnist for the New York Herald Tribune in 1964, and editor of Sport magazine from 1973 to 1977. He transitioned to broadcasting as a correspondent for NBC's Nightly News and The Today Show from 1971 to 1980, and later for ABC's 20/20 and World News Tonight starting in 1980, while also serving as ABC's theater critic. At ESPN, he hosted the acclaimed roundtable discussion show The Sports Reporters from 1988 until his death in 2001 and co-hosted the radio program The Sporting Life with his son Jeremy, earning a reputation for insightful essays, profiles, and interviews with sports legends. A prolific author, Schaap wrote or co-authored 33 books, including the bestselling Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer (1968) and its sequels, as well as autobiographies like Bo Knows Bo (1990) and his own memoir Flashing Before My Eyes (2001), which referenced over 500 notable figures from his career. His work extended to coining the slogan "Fun City" for New York in the 1960s and contributing to Parade magazine as sports editor. Schaap received six —three from and three from , including one in 1984 for an interview with —and a for best commentator/analyst, along with honors from the Women's Sports Foundation. He was inducted into the National Sports Media Association in 2015. In his personal life, Schaap was married to Trish Schaap and had six children, including ESPN journalist ; he died in from postoperative complications following surgery, complicated by a respiratory infection.

Early life and education

Early life

Richard Jay Schaap was born on September 27, 1934, in , , to a Jewish family. His father was a who had studied under the notable Joseph during law school. Schaap and his family relocated to on , where he spent much of his childhood and developed a strong interest in , including playing —a popular activity in the area. During high school, he demonstrated an early passion for writing by contributing a weekly column to the local newspaper. At age 14, Schaap began writing "Scanning the Sports Scene," a column for the weekly Freeport Leader. By age 15, Schaap had launched his formal career, penning sports articles for local publications such as The Nassau Daily Review-Star, where he earned $1 per hour under the guidance of night editor , with whom he formed a lifelong friendship. These initial experiences in solidified his enthusiasm for , paving the way for his pursuits at .

Education

Schaap attended Cornell University from 1951 to 1955, where he majored in government and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation. During his time at Cornell, Schaap immersed himself in campus journalism and athletics, serving as editor-in-chief of The Cornell Daily Sun in his senior year of 1954–1955. In this role, he oversaw the student newspaper's operations and gained hands-on experience in editing and reporting, including a notable prank where he and colleagues produced a fake edition of Syracuse University's student paper to retaliate in a rivalry. Additionally, Schaap played lacrosse as a goaltender, earning numerals with the freshman team in 1952 and lettering as a starter on the varsity squad in 1955; he was later inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1985 for his contributions to the sport. Following his undergraduate graduation, Schaap received the prestigious Memorial Fellowship and enrolled at University's Graduate School of Journalism, completing the program in 1956. His leadership in The Cornell Daily Sun and exposure through the journalism fellowship fostered key professional networks among peers and mentors, which directly facilitated his entry into the field, including his initial editorial positions after graduate school.

Career

Journalism

Schaap began his professional journalism career at Newsweek in 1959, where he served as a sports editor and reporter until 1963, covering a range of athletic events and building early connections with figures like a young Cassius Clay. During this period, he also contributed as an editor to Parade magazine, focusing on feature stories that blended sports with broader cultural insights. In 1964, Schaap joined the as city editor, overseeing a team that included prominent writers like and , before transitioning to a columnist role in 1966 amid the paper's closure. His columns during this time often delved into urban and sports narratives, coining phrases like "Fun City" to capture City's vibrant yet chaotic spirit. Later, Schaap contributed columns to the and features to , maintaining his emphasis on insightful sports reporting across print outlets. As editor of SPORT magazine from 1973 to 1977, Schaap revitalized the publication with innovative content, including the creation of the Media Day concept in 1973; he assigned NFL players and to interview reporters in a satirical twist, transforming the event into a more accessible and entertaining platform for athlete-media interactions that persists today. His features and columns throughout his print prioritized behind-the-scenes stories, such as intimate profiles of athletes' personal struggles and triumphs, exemplified by his work on Muhammad Ali's early and team dynamics in , which humanized the games beyond mere statistics. Schaap's print work occasionally overlapped with broadcasting, as he began contributing to ABC's Wide World of Sports in 1961, bridging his reporting skills to on-air narration.

Broadcasting

Schaap entered broadcasting in the early as a reporter for ABC's Wide World of Sports, where his journalism background honed an incisive interviewing style that emphasized personal narratives over rote play-by-play. In the 1970s, he joined NBC as a correspondent for NBC Nightly News and the Today show, contributing sports segments and general reporting from 1971 to 1980. During this period, he also served as editor of Sport magazine while expanding his on-air presence. Schaap transitioned to ABC in the 1980s, producing features for 20/20 and World News Tonight that blended sports with cultural insights, such as a 1984 profile of comedian that earned him an Emmy. He continued contributing to ABC through the 1990s, including a 1986 Emmy-winning series of four sports reports on World News Tonight and a 1988 Emmy for a profile of athlete on 20/20. From 1987 to 2001, Schaap hosted ESPN's The Sports Reporters, a Sunday morning panel discussion program that gathered newspaper columnists to debate current events in sports, often featuring his son Jeremy as a correspondent in later years. The show exemplified his role as a moderator who facilitated lively, informed exchanges without dominating the conversation. He also hosted Schaap One on One on ESPN Classic and co-hosted The Sporting Life on ESPN Radio with Jeremy. Earlier in his NBC tenure, Schaap worked as a writer and producer for the network's coverage, contributing scripts and segments that enhanced the event's narrative depth. He later wrote for NBC's 1996 Summer Olympics daytime broadcast, hosted by . Schaap's broadcasting achievements garnered six , including three for ESPN productions and two for writing contributions to ESPN's Sporting Life series in 1991 and 1994. These honors recognized his versatility across reporting, hosting, and production in elevating on television and radio.

Authorship

Dick Schaap authored or co-authored 33 books over his career, spanning sports memoirs, autobiographies, and profiles of athletes and events. Among his most notable collaborations were Instant Replay: The Green Bay Diary of Jerry Kramer (1968), which chronicled the ' season from offensive lineman 's perspective, and I Can't Wait Until Tomorrow ... 'Cause I Get Better Looking Every Day (1969), in which pitcher shared his experiences and frustrations in the sport. These works exemplified Schaap's skill in capturing intimate, unfiltered narratives from prominent figures in . Other key titles included The Perfect Game: Tom Seaver and the Mets (1970), focusing on pitcher 's role in the ' victory, and Green Bay Replay: The Packers' Return to Glory (1998), a follow-up to his earlier Packers book that profiled the team's resurgence. His 2001 autobiography, Flashing Before My Eyes: 50 Years of Headlines, Deadlines, and Punch Lines, provided personal reflections on his extensive career in . Schaap's books often explored themes of behind-the-scenes athlete stories, the humor inherent in culture, and introspective accounts of personal and professional triumphs and challenges. A dozen of his works were autobiographies "as told to Dick Schaap," highlighting his role as a collaborative who elicited candid insights from stars like , , and . Some of these projects drew inspiration from his journalism columns, adapting shorter pieces into fuller literary explorations. He received two for outstanding writing in 1991 and 1994 for his contributions to ESPN's Sporting Life series, recognizing his excellence in media writing.

Personal life

Marriages and family

Schaap was married three times. His second marriage was to Madeleine Gottlieb, with whom he had two sons, Jeremy and . The couple divorced in 1981. In 1981, Schaap married Trish McLeod, his third wife, and remained married to her until his death. McLeod brought two daughters into the blended family, giving Schaap six children in total. The family lived in during Schaap's career, where he raised his blended family. Several family members were involved in journalism, notably son Jeremy, who became an ESPN reporter and co-hosted shows with his father. He was survived by his six children: sons Jeremy and David; daughters Michelle, Joanna Rose, Kari Schaap, and Renée Levin. By the time of Schaap's death, he had five grandchildren.

Friendships and interests

Schaap developed a close friendship with chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer in the 1950s, when Fischer was a teenage prodigy navigating New York's chess scene. While covering chess for Parade magazine, Schaap assisted the isolated young Fischer by helping him travel home to Brooklyn, as the prodigy was uncomfortable riding the subway alone. This early bond evolved into a trusting relationship, with Schaap interviewing Fischer numerous times over the years. Schaap also wrote personal features on , capturing the grandmaster's complexities and triumphs. The friendship ignited Schaap's personal interest in chess, which he occasionally explored through media coverage of significant tournaments beyond his professional obligations. Schaap's broader social circle thrived within New York's interconnected media and sports worlds, where he cultivated enduring personal ties with influential figures. He shared camaraderie with writer and columnist during their overlapping time at the , part of the city's dynamic journalistic milieu. His knack for "collecting people" extended to icons like , with whom he maintained a 41-year friendship, and comedian . In his leisure time, Schaap relished attending live sports events, drawn to the energy and unpredictability of competitions like the and the Ice Bowl. He cultivated a humorous public persona characterized by affable wit and sharp, affectionate anecdotes that endeared him to friends and audiences alike. Born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, Schaap's cultural heritage subtly shaped his interests, fostering an appreciation for New York's Jewish comedic and intellectual traditions without formal religious observance. He often referenced his background playfully, quipping that he was Jewish "by birth and by ."

Death and legacy

Death

On September 19, 2001, Dick Schaap underwent elective surgery at in . Following the procedure, he developed a and other postoperative complications that prevented his . Schaap remained hospitalized for several months as his condition deteriorated, ultimately succumbing to on December 21, 2001, at the age of 67. His wife, Trish, and family provided support during his extended stay. News of Schaap's death prompted widespread tributes from the sports world, reflecting his profound influence as a and broadcaster. ESPN President George Bodenheimer described him as a compassionate figure whose work transcended sports to touch broader culture. Similarly, athlete called Schaap one of his closest media confidants, emphasizing the trust he inspired among sports figures.

Honors

Throughout his career, Dick Schaap received six from the of Television Arts and Sciences, recognizing his excellence in sports broadcasting and writing. These included awards in for a profile of athlete , in 1984 for a profile of entertainer , in 1986 for sports reporting on ABC's World News Tonight, and in 1991 and 1994 for outstanding writing. One of these Emmys specifically honored his contributions to sports writing, highlighting his skill in crafting compelling narratives for television audiences. Following his death, several honors were established or bestowed in Schaap's name to commemorate his impact on . In 2002, the New York Chapter of the of Television Arts and Sciences created the Dick Schaap Award for Excellence in , an annual recognition for journalists exemplifying his principles and talents in the field. That same year, he was posthumously awarded the Red Smith Award by the Sports Editors for major contributions to . Additionally, he received a posthumous Sports Emmy in April 2002 for outstanding writing for his Flashing Before My Eyes, and the Sports Emmy writing category was renamed the Dick Schaap Outstanding Writing Award to honor his legacy. Schaap's broader contributions were further acknowledged through inductions into prestigious halls of fame. He was inducted into the International Jewish Hall of Fame in 2004 for his celebrated career as a sportswriter, broadcaster, and author spanning over 50 years. In 2015, he received posthumous induction into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame, celebrating his multifaceted work in media. Other lifetime achievement recognitions included his 1999 Northeastern Award for Excellence in Broadcast and being the first inducted into the True Heroes of Sport Hall of Fame by Northeastern University's Center for the Study of Sport in Society.

Legacy

Dick Schaap's pioneering role in emphasized accessible and humorous interviewing styles that humanized athletes through behind-the-scenes narratives, setting a standard for engaging storytelling that influenced generations of reporters. His brutally honest yet lighthearted approach, often featuring pointed quips and amusing anecdotes, made complex sports figures relatable and earned him widespread respect over his career. By focusing on authentic locker-room perspectives rather than mere game recaps, Schaap bridged the gap between fans and professionals, popularizing a narrative-driven style that prioritized personal stories. One of Schaap's most enduring innovations was his contribution to the format of Super Bowl Media Day, where in 1975, as editor of Sport magazine, he assigned Los Angeles Rams players Lance Rentzel and Fred Dryer to cover the event as parody journalists, complete with fake credentials and absurd questions that highlighted the event's theatrical absurdity. This stunt disrupted the NFL's formal press plans and inspired the eccentric, informal interviewing traditions that define modern Super Bowl Media Days, transforming them into high-profile entertainment spectacles. In broadcasting, Schaap shaped the panel discussion format through his 13-year hosting of ESPN's The Sports Reporters from 1988 to 2001, where he moderated civil, insightful debates among journalists, elevating Sunday morning sports talk into a respected institution. Schaap's broader cultural legacy as a ubiquitous figure in American sports media spanned over 50 years, marked by his authorship of 33 books that played a pivotal role in popularizing athlete stories through authentic autobiographies "as told to" him, such as Instant Replay with and Bo Knows Bo with . These works set new standards for sports biographies by offering raw, insider insights that enhanced public understanding of athletes' lives and bridged sports with mainstream . His family legacy continues through his son , who has been an journalist since 1994, hosting E60 and The Sports Reporters while authoring books and earning multiple Emmys, thus extending the Schaap tradition in sports media. In 2005, Schaap's family was awarded $1.95 million by a jury in a lawsuit against three doctors at , who were found negligent for failing to prevent complications from a routine hip surgery that contributed to his . This underscored broader issues of medical in high-profile cases, highlighting the consequences of substandard post-operative care.

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