RTD: Woody wins third place for story on Skins' assistant

[bubba9497]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&%09s=1045855935462&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833881113&path=%21sports%21redskins

Woody wins third place for story on Skins' assistant

Richmond Times-Dispatch staff writer Paul Woody has won a third-place award in the Dick Connor writing contest held by the Pro Football Writers of America.

Woody's award was in the feature writing category. His story chronicled the lifelong battle Washington Redskins strength coach John Hastings had endured with liver disease before his life was saved by a liver transplant. The contest covered stories from the 2004 NFL season.

First place in the feature writing category went to Paul Attner from The Sporting News. Second place was awarded to Chris Colston from USA Today Sports Weekly.

Woody, 52, is in his 26th year with Richmond Newspapers and just completed his 26th season covering the Redskins.

:applause: Way to go Woody!.... who says we always knock sportswriters?

[McMetal]

As a longtime Richmond resident and subscriber to the Times-Disgrace, this news brings mixed feelings. A little pride, a little bewilderment, a little ennui.

His beat coverage, game recaps and offseason analysis are very pedestrian and fail to ever disclose anything insightful whatsoever. I have never learned anything from a Woody article that was not already discussed here on this board, and more thoroughly at that. Where he shines are in his human interest pieces like the one referenced here. It's almost as if he has access to all the press releases, publicity info, and biographical data, but sits at home and writes everything from his living room. It's impossible to say, judging from his articles, if the guy has ever even been to Redskins Park (though I'm sure he has).

Whatever...at least he's not Sally Jenkins.