Ray Didinger (born September 18, 1946 in Philadelphia) is an American retired sportswriter, radio personality, sports commentator author and screenwriter. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Writer's Honor Roll.[1]
Born to Raymond and Marie Didinger, and raised in Folsom, Pennsylvania, Didinger graduated from St. James High School in 1964. He received a B.S. in Communications from Temple University in 1968. His nickname was Nauga,[citation needed] after the animated character used in commercials for Naugahyde. Didinger spent four years doing sports radio for WRTI, a public radio station owned by Temple, and served as the station's Sports Director.[2]
Career
Author
In 1990, Didinger wrote The Super Bowl: Celebrating a Quarter-Century of America's Greatest Game. He co-authored Football America: Celebrating Our National Passion along with Don Shula in 1996 and co-wrote The Eagles Encyclopedia with Robert S. Lyons in 2005. Didinger also co-wrote The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies with fellow-Philadelphia radio personality Glen Macnow in 2009. He wrote his memoir, Finished Business: My Fifty Years of Headlines, Heroes, and Heartaches Hardcover in 2021.
Radio
Didinger co-hosted a popular radio show every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WIP-FM in Philadelphia with co-host Glen Macnow. The show featured Didinger and Macnow discussing aspects of Philadelphia sports. It was also common to hear the two talk about movies, since both are avid movie fans. Didinger and Macnow co-wrote a book entitled The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies, featuring what they both considered the all-time best in cinema sports dramas, published and released in 2009.
On May 8, 2022, during his radio show, Didinger announced his retirement effective May 29, 2022. Saying he was in good health and was not being pushed out the door, he would work until the end of his contract and then retire from radio and television. Didinger said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and family.[3]
Didinger served as a full-time member of NBC Sports Philadelphia, writing articles and appearing on-air in a variety of roles, most prominently in Eagles Pre Game Live and Eagles Post Game Live. In 2022, he retired from his on-air role at NBC Sports. Didinger was a senior producer with NFL Films in Mount Laurel, New Jersey until he was bought out of his contract in February 2009. He has won four Emmy Awards for his work as a writer and producer on the weekly series NFL Films Presents and the Turner Network documentary Football America.[2]
Playwright
Didinger wrote a 75-minute play, "Tommy and Me", about his fight to get childhood hero, Tommy McDonald into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a child, Didinger spent a lot of time with McDonald at Eagles training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The play "Portrays key moments in his friendship with McDonald."[6]
Personal
Didinger is married to Philadelphia magazine restaurant critic Maria Gallagher and has two children, David and Kathleen.[4] He also has an English Bulldog named Mack.[4] Ray and his wife are active with HeavenSent Bulldog Rescue (“HeavenSent”) a New Jersey non-profit corporation, dedicated to the rescue and placement for adoption of Bulldogs.
Radio interview with Ray Didinger on Fresh Air (38 mins.; 2014)
Behavioral Corner Podcast interview with Ray Didinger(37:40 mins.; 2020)
January 07, 2023
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Ray Didinger born September 18 1946 in Philadelphia is an American retired sportswriter radio personality sports commentator author and screenwriter He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Writer s Honor Roll 1 Ray DidingerRay Didinger right on 610 WIP with Bernie ParentBorn 1946 09 18 September 18 1946 age 76 Philadelphia PennsylvaniaAlma materTemple UniversityOccupation s Sportswriter Sports commentatorEmployerNBC Sports PhiladelphiaTelevisionEagles Pre and Post Game LiveSpouseMaria GallagherChildrenDavid KathleenAwardsAwards Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Author 2 2 Radio 2 3 Sportswriter 2 4 Television 2 5 Playwright 3 Personal 4 Awards and honors 5 Bibliography 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksEarly life EditBorn to Raymond and Marie Didinger and raised in Folsom Pennsylvania Didinger graduated from St James High School in 1964 He received a B S in Communications from Temple University in 1968 His nickname was Nauga citation needed after the animated character used in commercials for Naugahyde Didinger spent four years doing sports radio for WRTI a public radio station owned by Temple and served as the station s Sports Director 2 Career EditAuthor Edit In 1990 Didinger wrote The Super Bowl Celebrating a Quarter Century of America s Greatest Game He co authored Football America Celebrating Our National Passion along with Don Shula in 1996 and co wrote The Eagles Encyclopedia with Robert S Lyons in 2005 Didinger also co wrote The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies with fellow Philadelphia radio personality Glen Macnow in 2009 He wrote his memoir Finished Business My Fifty Years of Headlines Heroes and Heartaches Hardcover in 2021 Radio Edit Didinger co hosted a popular radio show every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a m to 1 p m on WIP FM in Philadelphia with co host Glen Macnow The show featured Didinger and Macnow discussing aspects of Philadelphia sports It was also common to hear the two talk about movies since both are avid movie fans Didinger and Macnow co wrote a book entitled The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies featuring what they both considered the all time best in cinema sports dramas published and released in 2009 On May 8 2022 during his radio show Didinger announced his retirement effective May 29 2022 Saying he was in good health and was not being pushed out the door he would work until the end of his contract and then retire from radio and television Didinger said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and family 3 Sportswriter Edit Didinger covered the National Football League for The Philadelphia Bulletin and The Philadelphia Daily News for more than 25 years 4 He was named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association In 1995 he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award 5 for long and distinguished coverage of pro football and his name was added to the writers honor roll in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio Television Edit Didinger served as a full time member of NBC Sports Philadelphia writing articles and appearing on air in a variety of roles most prominently in Eagles Pre Game Live and Eagles Post Game Live In 2022 he retired from his on air role at NBC Sports Didinger was a senior producer with NFL Films in Mount Laurel New Jersey until he was bought out of his contract in February 2009 He has won four Emmy Awards for his work as a writer and producer on the weekly series NFL Films Presents and the Turner Network documentary Football America 2 Playwright Edit Didinger wrote a 75 minute play Tommy and Me about his fight to get childhood hero Tommy McDonald into the Pro Football Hall of Fame As a child Didinger spent a lot of time with McDonald at Eagles training camp in Hershey Pennsylvania The play Portrays key moments in his friendship with McDonald 6 Personal EditDidinger is married to Philadelphia magazine restaurant critic Maria Gallagher and has two children David and Kathleen 4 He also has an English Bulldog named Mack 4 Ray and his wife are active with HeavenSent Bulldog Rescue HeavenSent a New Jersey non profit corporation dedicated to the rescue and placement for adoption of Bulldogs Awards and honors EditDick McCann Memorial Award 1995 1 Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year 5 time winner 7 Keystone Press Awards 6 time winner Associated Press Award for Column Writing 3 time winner Pro Football Writers of America Award for Outstanding Feature Story 1991 Member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame 2005 Reds Bagnell Award Maxwell Football Club 2022 NFL Hall of Fame Bill Nunn Memorial Award Professional Football Writers of America 1995 Bibliography EditThe Super Bowl Celebrating a Quarter Century of America s Greatest Game 1990 Simon amp Schuster ISBN 0 671 72798 2 Football America Celebrating Our National Passion with Phil Barber and Don Shula 1996 Turner Publishing ISBN 1 57036 297 1 Game Plans For Success 1996 McGraw Hill ISBN 0 8092 3171 9 The Eagles Encyclopedia with Robert S Lyons 2005 Temple University Press ISBN 1 59213 449 1 One Last Read The Collected Works of the World s Slowest Sportswriter 2007 Temple University Press ISBN 1 59213 600 1 The Ultimate Book of Sports Movies with Glen Macnow 2009 Running Press ISBN 0 7624 3548 8 Finished Business My Fifty Years of Headlines Heroes and Heartaches Hardcover 2021 Temple University Press ISBN 1 43992060 5See also EditPhiladelphia Eagles NBC Sports PhiladelphiaReferences Edit a b McCann Award Winners 1969 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Retrieved 29 December 2010 permanent dead link a b The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Retrieved 29 December 2010 Santoliquito Joseph May 26 2022 Ray Didinger the prince of the city calls it quits after 53 years PhillyVoice a b c CSNPhilly Eagles Insider Ray Didinger Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia Archived from the original on 2010 01 05 Retrieved 29 December 2010 MCCANN AWARD WINNERS Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro Football Hall of Fame Retrieved 18 September 2017 Ray Didinger s play Tommy and Me coming to Hershey Theater ABC 27 News Retrieved 25 August 2022 Pennsylvania NSSA Hall of Fame General National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Archived from the original on 28 April 2010 Retrieved 29 December 2010 External links EditRay Didinger at IMDb Ray Didinger interview Broadcast Pioneers Profile More information on Ray Didinger Radio interview with Ray Didinger on Fresh Air 38 mins 2014 Behavioral Corner Podcast interview with Ray Didinger 37 40 mins 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ray Didinger amp oldid 1127261592, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
