Murray Wins State Honor

Los Angeles Times sports columnist Jim Murray, named national sportswriter of the year 13 times in 16 years by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Assn., this year has been named California sportswriter of the year.

Times columnist Scott Ostler had won the state award the past five years.

Winning the national honor this year is Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated.

ABC’s Al Michaels was named national sportscaster of the year and Laker announcer Chick Hearn was named California sportscaster of the year.

The awards will be presented at a dinner here April 7. Also at the dinner, Jim McKay of ABC and Will Grimsley of the Associated Press will be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.