Dale Hansen
Encyclopedia
Dale Hansen is an American sportscaster
, currently the weeknight sports anchor during the 6 pm and 10 pm newscasts on ABC
's Dallas affiliate WFAA-TV
. He also hosts Dale Hansen's Sports Special on Sundays at 10:20 pm, consistently one of the highest-rated local programs in Dallas-Fort Worth. His segment each night garners an audience of over 300,000 people. He is a self-admitted "smart alec" and is widely considered controversial for constantly berating the Dallas Cowboys
. Hansen is thought to be the most watched and most talked about sportscaster in the history of the Dallas television market. He serves as the station's Sports Director.
as a radio disc jockey and operations manager at KCOB, covering the Newton Cardinals. He then moved to Omaha, Nebraska
to take a job as a sports reporter at KMTV
. Hansen then took his first job in Dallas at KDFW-TV, which at the time was CBS
's Dallas affiliate. He left KDFW and joined WFAA-TV in 1983. Hansen was at 10 pm, and legendary anchor Verne Lundquist
was at 6 pm, so WFAA had claimed them to be "Texas' Best Sportcasters."
Hansen made his reputation in 1986 when he and his producer, John Sparks, broke a story about a massive scandal
involving payments to players on Southern Methodist University
's football team. Hansen's reporting ultimately led to the NCAA canceling the Mustangs' 1987 season—the so-called "death penalty." His reporting of the scandal garnered him a Peabody Award
for distinguished journalism, a duPont-Columbia Award
, and several death threats.
. The segment is usually among the most-watched television segments of the year in the Dallas-Fort Worth Nielsen market.
then donates $250 (formerly $100) to the school in honor of the student.
contributed to the split. Babe Laufenberg
took over his spot.
Hansen joined KTCK
1310 AM ("The Ticket") in 1999 as a regular on its Dallas Cowboys post-game report
after the games were broadcast on KLUV 98.7 FM. He also hosted a show from noon to 1 pm year-round, every Monday and another one-hour show on Fridays during the NFL season.
In May 2006, Hansen moved to KESN
103.3 FM (ESPN Radio
's Dallas affiliate) from The Ticket, just as KTCK was named the new Dallas Cowboys flagship
radio station. At KESN, he is currently the host of "The Hour of Hansen" weekday nights from 6–7 pm and also contributes to other programming, including the station's Cowboys pre and post-game shows.
, three-time Texas Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, Best Sportscaster by the United Press International
and Dallas Press Club, TV Personality of the Year by American Women in Radio and Television, and Best Investigative Reporter by the Iowa
Associated Press.
In 1990, Hansen joined with the Dallas Can! schools. However, he and his The Hansen Foundation recently split from the 16-year partnership, as a result of lawsuits against each side totaling almost $700,000.
Starting in 2007–2008, The Hansen Foundation will sponsor $100,000 of scholarships for University of North Texas
students, with the money coming from the annual Dale Hansen Golf Classic.
On July 10, 2010 Dale Hansen is bringing back his legendary backyard party to benefit Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research. www.DallasALS.org
. He now lives in Waxahachie, Texas
. He has a son, Eric, and a daughter, Terre.
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
, currently the weeknight sports anchor during the 6 pm and 10 pm newscasts on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Dallas affiliate WFAA-TV
WFAA-TV
WFAA, channel 8, is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex, one of the top ten media markets in North America. The station is the flagship of Belo Corporation and the largest ABC affiliate not owned and operated by the network...
. He also hosts Dale Hansen's Sports Special on Sundays at 10:20 pm, consistently one of the highest-rated local programs in Dallas-Fort Worth. His segment each night garners an audience of over 300,000 people. He is a self-admitted "smart alec" and is widely considered controversial for constantly berating the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Hansen is thought to be the most watched and most talked about sportscaster in the history of the Dallas television market. He serves as the station's Sports Director.
Television
Hansen began his career in Newton, IowaNewton, Iowa
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Iowa, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 15,254. It is the home of Maytag Dairy Farms and was formerly home to the Maytag Corporation's corporate headquarters until the Whirlpool Corporation acquired it in 2006...
as a radio disc jockey and operations manager at KCOB, covering the Newton Cardinals. He then moved to Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
to take a job as a sports reporter at KMTV
KMTV
KMTV-TV is the CBS television station in Omaha, Nebraska. Owned by the Journal Broadcast Group, it broadcasts a digital television signal on UHF channel 45, which remaps to former analog channel 3 via PSIP.-History:...
. Hansen then took his first job in Dallas at KDFW-TV, which at the time was CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Dallas affiliate. He left KDFW and joined WFAA-TV in 1983. Hansen was at 10 pm, and legendary anchor Verne Lundquist
Verne Lundquist
Merton Laverne "Verne" Lundquist, Jr. is an American sportscaster, currently employed by CBS Sports television.-Early life and career:Lundquist was born in Duluth, Minnesota...
was at 6 pm, so WFAA had claimed them to be "Texas' Best Sportcasters."
Hansen made his reputation in 1986 when he and his producer, John Sparks, broke a story about a massive scandal
Southern Methodist University football scandal
The Southern Methodist University football scandal was an incident in which the football program at Southern Methodist University was investigated and punished for massive violations of NCAA rules and regulations. The most serious violation was the maintenance of a slush fund used for "under the...
involving payments to players on Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
's football team. Hansen's reporting ultimately led to the NCAA canceling the Mustangs' 1987 season—the so-called "death penalty." His reporting of the scandal garnered him a Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
for distinguished journalism, a duPont-Columbia Award
DuPont-Columbia Award
The Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award is an American award that honors excellence in broadcast journalism. The awards, administered since 1968 by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City, are considered a broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, another...
, and several death threats.
Thank God for Kids
Since 1983, Hansen has had a segment during "Sports Special", the Sunday of the week before Christmas. He always has a tragic story of a child's death in the past year, and talks about it before playing a video of clips from the 1980s of kids in Dallas. At the end is young Hansen with his own children. The video is played to "Thank God for Kids" by The Oak Ridge BoysThe Oak Ridge Boys
The Oak Ridge Boys are an American country and gospel vocal quartet.The group was founded in the 1940s as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They became popular in southern gospel during the 1950s...
. The segment is usually among the most-watched television segments of the year in the Dallas-Fort Worth Nielsen market.
Scholar-Athlete of the Week
Each week since 1988, Hansen introduces his scholar-athlete of the week, a high school senior or recent high school graduate who excels in sports as well as in the classroom. McDonald'sMcDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
then donates $250 (formerly $100) to the school in honor of the student.
Radio
Dale Hansen started in sports radio at KRLD 1080 AM in 1985 as the Dallas Cowboys color analyst, with Brad Sham as the play-by-play announcer. He served in this role until two games remained in the 1996 NFL season. A heated on-camera argument with coach Barry Switzer during 1994 training camp and subsequent friction between Hansen, Switzer and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry JonesJerry Jones
Jerral "Jerry" Wayne Jones is the owner and general manager of the NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys.-Early life:Jones was born in Los Angeles, California. His family moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when he was an infant. Jones was a star running back at North Little Rock High School...
contributed to the split. Babe Laufenberg
Babe Laufenberg
Brandon Hugh 'Babe' Laufenberg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and the Kansas City Chiefs...
took over his spot.
Hansen joined KTCK
KTCK
KTCK , is a sports talk radio station based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The station, currently owned by Cumulus Media, has been made popular by the incorporation of humor alongside the sports talk....
1310 AM ("The Ticket") in 1999 as a regular on its Dallas Cowboys post-game report
Post-game show
A post-game show or postgame show is a TV or radio presentation that occurs immediately after the live broadcast of a major sporting event.Contents may include:* replays of key moments in the game.* interviews with players, coaches and managers....
after the games were broadcast on KLUV 98.7 FM. He also hosted a show from noon to 1 pm year-round, every Monday and another one-hour show on Fridays during the NFL season.
In May 2006, Hansen moved to KESN
KESN
KESN is a Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas based sports talk radio station. It is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company as an ESPN Radio affiliate.-History:...
103.3 FM (ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
's Dallas affiliate) from The Ticket, just as KTCK was named the new Dallas Cowboys flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
radio station. At KESN, he is currently the host of "The Hour of Hansen" weekday nights from 6–7 pm and also contributes to other programming, including the station's Cowboys pre and post-game shows.
Awards
Hansen has won many awards in his career including: two-time Sportscaster of the Year by the Associated PressAssociated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, three-time Texas Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, Best Sportscaster by the United Press International
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
and Dallas Press Club, TV Personality of the Year by American Women in Radio and Television, and Best Investigative Reporter by the Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
Associated Press.
Charity
Since 1989, Hansen has been in charge of the Dale Hansen Golf Classic, which benefits the Texas Can! schools.In 1990, Hansen joined with the Dallas Can! schools. However, he and his The Hansen Foundation recently split from the 16-year partnership, as a result of lawsuits against each side totaling almost $700,000.
Starting in 2007–2008, The Hansen Foundation will sponsor $100,000 of scholarships for University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
students, with the money coming from the annual Dale Hansen Golf Classic.
On July 10, 2010 Dale Hansen is bringing back his legendary backyard party to benefit Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) Research. www.DallasALS.org
Personal
Hansen was born in Logan, IowaLogan, Iowa
Logan is a city in Harrison County, Iowa, United States, along the Boyer River. The population was 1,545 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Harrison County. Henry Reel founded Logan in 1867, naming it in honor of General John A. Logan, a favorite army officer.-Geography:Logan's longitude...
. He now lives in Waxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie, Texas
Waxahachie is a city in Ellis County, Texas, United States, and a southern suburb of Dallas. The population was 21,426 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ellis County....
. He has a son, Eric, and a daughter, Terre.