ABC Wins Most Honors in Sports Emmy Awards

ABC, which ends its sports broadcasts with the tagline “Recognized around the world as the leader in sports television,” lived up to that boast at the 12th annual Sports Emmy Awards. In ceremonies Wednesday night in New York City, the network captured 12 awards, compared to seven for ESPN, six for CBS and one for NBC.

But ABC was shut out in both major announcing categories. NBC won its only Emmy when Dick Enberg was named outstanding sports personality/host for play-by-play, beating out ESPN’s Chris Berman, fellow NBC sportscaster Bob Costas, CBS’ Greg Gumble and ABC’s Jim McKay. It was the fifth Emmy for Enberg, who had won in the same category in ’81 and ’83.

CBS’ John Madden continued his dominance in the outstanding sports personality/analyst category with a seventh Emmy, extending his own record. Dan Dierdorf (ABC), Tim McCarver (CBS), Joe Theismann (ESPN) and Dick Vermeil (ABC) were the other nominees.

ABC also picked up Emmys for its coverage of the Indianapolis 500 as the best live sports special; for “Wide World of Sports” as outstanding edited sports series or anthology; for Jack Whitaker’s golf essays, in the writing category.

Among CBS’ wins was best live sports series for its coverage of the 1990 NCAA basketball tournament.

Film director Spike Lee’s Home Box Office profile of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was a co-winner in the category of program features, along with NFL Films’ look at Kansas City Chiefs running back Christian Okoye.

ABC Executive Producer Geoffrey Mason was the leading individual winner with six Emmys. Mason has won 13 Emmys over the past two years and 19 overall.

Lindsey Nelson was presented with the Lifetime Sports Achievement Award for his “outstanding work as an exemplary sportscaster who has brought both enrichment and enjoyment to the viewing public over many years.”

The winners:

* Live Sports Special: “The Indianapolis 500,” ABC.

* Live Sports Series: “NCAA Basketball Tournament,” CBS.

* Edited Sports Special: “Road to Super Bowl XXIV,” NFL Films.

* Edited Sports Series/Anthology: “ABC’s Wide World of Sports,” ABC.

* Sports Personality/Host (Play-by-Play): Dick Enberg, NBC.

* Sports Personality/Analyst (Commentary): John Madden, CBS.

* Special Class: Individual Achievement: Jimmy Roberts, David Brofsky, “Sports and the Prospect of War,” ESPN; Geoffrey Mason, Emilie Deutsch, Jim McKay, “Athletes and Addiction: It’s Not a Game,” ABC.

* Special Class: Program Achievement: “Let Me Be Brave,” CBS.

* Special Class: Innovative Technical Achievement: Underwater communications system, “Expedition Earth: Cocos--Treasure Island,” ESPN; Telemetry, “SpeedWorld,” ESPN.

Program Area: Promotions: “ABC Monday Night Football,” ABC.

* Program Area: Features: “Spike Lee Presents Mike Tyson,” HBO; “Christian Okoye: They Grow Pros,” NFL Films.

* Program Area: Open/Closes/Teases: “ABC’s Wide World of Sports: Preakness Stakes Opening,” ABC.

* Program Area: Sports Journalism: “Outside the Lines: Autograph Game,” ESPN.

* Program Area: Studio Show: “SportsCenter,” ESPN.

* Technical Team Remote: “Post Season Major League Baseball,” CBS; “ABC’s Wide World of Sports: The Kentucky Derby,” ABC.

* Technical Team Studio: “The NFL Today,” CBS.

* Film Cinematographers: “ESPN’s Expedition Earth,” ESPN; “Road to the Super Bowl,” NFL Films.

* Electronic Camerapersons: “Ironman Triathlon,” ABC; “ABC’s Wide World of Sports: Iditarod Sled Dog Race,” ABC.

* Film Editing: “Spike Lee Presents Mike Tyson,” HBO.

* Videotape Editing: “Athletes and Addiction: It’s Not a Game,” ABC.

* Graphic Design: “Super Bowl Today,” CBS; “ABC Sports NFL Graphics,” ABC.

* Music: “ABC’s Monday Night Football,” ABC.

* Audio: “Road to the Super Bowl,” NFL Films; “SpeedWorld,” ESPN.

* Writing: Jack Whitaker, “ABC Sports Essays: Golf Tour,” ABC.