Eight Writers From Times Cited for Work by APSE

Sportswriter Earl Gustkey of The Times and seven other Times sports staff writers received mentions for their work in this year’s Associated Press Sports Editors writing and section contest.

Gustkey received a fifth place in the large paper category/news writing contest for his story revealing that boxer Sugar Ray Leonard had a drug problem and had abused his wife before their divorce. Other Times writers given honorable mention in various categories were John Cherwa, Lonnie White, Elliott Almond and Jerry Crowe in investigative reporting; Mike Downey and John Lynch in feature writing, and Julie Cart in newswriting.

Other Southern California writers receiving honorable mention in the large paper category were, from the Los Angeles Daily News, Ron Rapoport and Kevin Modesti for separate entries and the team entry of Jesse Barkin, Paola Boivin, Kevin Dale, Ken Daley, Johannes Tesselaar, Tom Timmermann and Modesti. From the Orange County Register, the team entry receiving honorable mention included John Strege, Dave Strege, Tracy Dodds, Earl Bloom, Matt McHale, Kelly Carter, Don Seeholzer, Art Thompson III, James Grimaldi, Donna Wares, Janis Carr and David Lynch.

The highest writing honor among Southern California sportswriters was the second place in Sports Event Stories/small paper category, by Rick Kaplan of the Palm Springs Desert Sun.

The best section showing among Southern California papers was by the Orange County Register, which was placed in the top 10 in both large paper Sunday and daily contests. The Daily News was in the large paper second 10 (honorable mention) in Sunday, daily and special sections, and The Times was in the second 10 in Sunday and daily.

The only large papers placing in the top 10 in all three categories of Sunday, daily and special sections were the Dallas Morning News and the Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Sun Sentinel.