Morrissey named top Illinois sportswriter

Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Morrissey was named 2018 Illinois Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association on Monday.

Morrissey, who is from Oak Park, said he was honored to receive the recognition.

“I’ve always felt lucky to be able to cover sports in this town, and to be able to do it with my talented colleagues at the Sun-Times makes it more special,” said Morrissey, a first-time recipient. “Where did Telander finish in the voting?”

Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander has won the award nine times.

A graduate of Fenwick High School and Northwestern University, Morrissey has covered major sporting events from the Olympics to Super Bowls. He worked at the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News in Denver and the Chicago Tribune before joining the Sun-Times in December 2009.