Red Smith (sportswriter)
Encyclopedia
For other uses, see: Red Smith (disambiguation)
Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith (September 25, 1905 in Green Bay, Wisconsin
– January 15, 1982 in Stamford, Connecticut
) was an American
sportswriter who rose to become one of America's most widely read sports columnists.
, site of Packers
home games until 1957, Smith moved on to the University of Notre Dame
. After graduation, he worked for the Milwaukee Sentinel, St. Louis Journal, and Philadelphia Record.
After 18 years, Smith joined the New York Herald Tribune
. He cemented his reputation with the Herald-Trib, as his column was widely read and often syndicated. When the paper folded in 1966, he became a freelance writer. He joined the New York Times in 1971 as a contract writer. By this time, his reputation was secured as one of the foremost sportswriters in America.
During his time with the Times, Smith garnered many awards. In 1976, he was the first sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
. He also received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. Furthermore, the Associated Press
awarded him the first Red Smith Award
for "outstanding contributions to sports journalism."
boxing
champion Muhammad Ali
throughout Ali's career. When Ali refused to serve during the Vietnam War
, claiming his case as a conscientious objector
, Smith wrote: "Squealing over the possibility that the military may call him up, Cassius makes himself as sorry a spectacle as those unwashed punks who picket and demonstrate against the war", and berated Ali for being a "draft dodger" and a "slacker".
Later Smith famously commented on Ali's first professional defeat in 32 bouts against Joe Frazier
: "If they fought a dozen times, Joe Frazier would whip Muhammad Ali a dozen times; and it would get easier as it went along". Ali went on to fight Frazier twice more, winning both times, once by unanimous decision and once by TKO
.
, a race for Thoroughbred
horses run at Belmont Park
on Long Island, New York.
Red's son, Terence Smith, went on to be a journalist at The New York Times, CBS News, PBS, and NPR.
Smith is buried in Stamford's Long Ridge Union Cemetery.
Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith (September 25, 1905 in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
– January 15, 1982 in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportswriter who rose to become one of America's most widely read sports columnists.
Career
After graduating from Green Bay East High SchoolGreen Bay East High School
Green Bay East High School is a public high school in the Green Bay Area Public School District serving Green Bay, Wisconsin and its surrounding communities . The school's street address is 1415 East Walnut Street.-History:East High School has been located in three buildings over its 150-year history...
, site of Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
home games until 1957, Smith moved on to the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
. After graduation, he worked for the Milwaukee Sentinel, St. Louis Journal, and Philadelphia Record.
After 18 years, Smith joined the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
. He cemented his reputation with the Herald-Trib, as his column was widely read and often syndicated. When the paper folded in 1966, he became a freelance writer. He joined the New York Times in 1971 as a contract writer. By this time, his reputation was secured as one of the foremost sportswriters in America.
During his time with the Times, Smith garnered many awards. In 1976, he was the first sportswriter to win the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary has been awarded since 1970. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their official citations:...
. He also received the J. G. Taylor Spink Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. Furthermore, the Associated Press
Associated 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...
awarded him the first Red Smith Award
Red Smith Award
The Red Smith Award is awarded by the Associated Press Sports Editors for outstanding contributions to sports journalism. It has been awarded annually at the APSE convention since 1981...
for "outstanding contributions to sports journalism."
Criticism of Muhammad Ali
Smith was a strong critic of former world heavyweightHeavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
throughout Ali's career. When Ali refused to serve during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, claiming his case as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
, Smith wrote: "Squealing over the possibility that the military may call him up, Cassius makes himself as sorry a spectacle as those unwashed punks who picket and demonstrate against the war", and berated Ali for being a "draft dodger" and a "slacker".
Later Smith famously commented on Ali's first professional defeat in 32 bouts against Joe Frazier
Joe Frazier
Joseph William "Joe" Frazier , also known as Smokin' Joe, was an Olympic and Undisputed World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a one-fight comeback in 1981....
: "If they fought a dozen times, Joe Frazier would whip Muhammad Ali a dozen times; and it would get easier as it went along". Ali went on to fight Frazier twice more, winning both times, once by unanimous decision and once by TKO
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
.
Later Life and Family
Smith died at the age 76 of heart failure. Red Smith School (4K through 8th grades) in Green Bay, Wisconsin is named in his honor. Also named in his honor is the Red Smith HandicapRed Smith Handicap
The Red Smith Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. A race on turf open to horses age three and older, it is run in the first week of November over a distance of 1⅜ miles ....
, a race for Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
horses run at Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
on Long Island, New York.
Red's son, Terence Smith, went on to be a journalist at The New York Times, CBS News, PBS, and NPR.
Smith is buried in Stamford's Long Ridge Union Cemetery.
Works
- The Best of Red Smith
- Red Smith's Sports Annual
- Views of Sport
- Out of the Red