Times’ Plaschke Wins National Headliner Award

Times columnist Bill Plaschke won top honors for sportswriting in the 65th annual National Headliner Awards announced Tuesday. Plaschke, who won the prestigious award in 1996 and was second in 1997, was one of three Times staff members to be honored.

Alex Raksin was a second-place winner for editorial writing and Alan Hagman a third-place winner in the spot news photography category.

Plaschke’s entries ranged from coverage of dramatic, high-profile events such as Mark McGwire’s record-breaking 62nd home run to the more obscure story of a white teenager nicknamed “Milk” who plays basketball for predominantly African American Crenshaw High.

He told the story of Doug Williams, a former Super Bowl most valuable player who had been all but forgotten by the NFL, and took a critical look at USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett and the Trojan athletic program.

The National Headliner Awards program, founded by the Press Club of Atlantic City, N.J., is one of the oldest and largest annual contests in the nation recognizing journalistic excellence.