Ray Didinger
Encyclopedia
Ray Didinger is an award-winning American sportswriter, author
, film writer, radio host, TV
commentator
, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
(Writer's Honor Roll).
, 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, after the animated character used in commercials for Naugahyde
. Ray spent four years doing sports radio for WRTI
and served as the station's Sports Director.
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 Philadelphia radio personality Glen Macnow in 2009.
) a popular radio show every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WIP-AM
in Philadelphia. The show has Didinger and Macnow discuss all aspects of what is going on in Philadelphia sports at the current time. It is also common to hear the two talk about movies, since both are avid movie fans.
for the The Philadelphia Bulletin and The Philadelphia Daily News for more than 25 years. 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
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
.
. Previously, Didigner 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.
restaurant critic Maria Gallagher and has two children David and Kathleen. He also has an English Bulldog named Mack.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, film writer, radio host, TV
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
commentator
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...
, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
(Writer's Honor Roll).
Early life and career
Born to Raymond and Marie Didinger, and raised in Folsom, PennsylvaniaFolsom, Pennsylvania
Folsom is a census-designated place in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of Ridley Township, Pennsylvania. The population was 8,072 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Folsom is located at ....
, Didinger graduated from St. James High School in 1964. He received a B.S. in Communications from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 1968. His nickname was Nauga, after the animated character used in commercials for Naugahyde
Naugahyde
Naugahyde is an American brand of artificial leather . Naugahyde is a composite of a knit fabric backing and polyvinyl chloride plastic coating. It was developed by United States Rubber Company, and is now manufactured and sold by the Uniroyal Engineered Products division of Michelin...
. Ray spent four years doing sports radio for WRTI
WRTI
WRTI is a public radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a service of Temple University.WRTI began in 1948 as an AM carrier current station. It was founded by John Roberts, professor emeritus of communications at Temple and long-time anchorman at WFIL-TV . He'd helped found the School...
and served as the station's Sports Director.
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 ShulaDon Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
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 Philadelphia radio personality Glen Macnow in 2009.
Radio
Ray Didinger co-hosts (with Glen MacnowGlen Macnow
Glen Harry Macnow is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania sports talk radio host on 610 WIP.-Background:Macnow was born in New York City, and raised in Buffalo, New York...
) a popular radio show every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on WIP-AM
WIP-AM
WIP is a Philadelphia radio station with an all-sports format. Located at 610 AM, the station adopted its current all-sports format in 1986, making it the first all-sports radio station in the United States...
in Philadelphia. The show has Didinger and Macnow discuss all aspects of what is going on in Philadelphia sports at the current time. It is also common to hear the two talk about movies, since both are avid movie fans.
Sportswriter
Didinger covered the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the The Philadelphia Bulletin and The Philadelphia Daily News for more than 25 years. He was named Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year five times by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association
The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association, or NSSA, is an organization of sports media members in the United States. It constitutes the American chapter of the International Sports Press Association ....
. In 1995, he won the Dick McCann Memorial Award
Dick McCann Memorial Award
The Dick McCann Memorial Award is bestowed annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame "for long and distinguished reporting on professional football". The award was created in 1969 and is named for Dick McCann, who was the first director of the Hall of Fame...
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
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in Canton, Ohio
Canton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
Television
Didinger is currently a full-time member of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, writing articles and appearing on-air in a variety of roles, most prominently in Eagles Post Game LiveEagles Post Game Live
Eagles Post Game Live airs after each Philadelphia Eagles game on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia . The program features the team's post game press conference, interviews, and game analysis...
. Previously, Didigner was a senior producer with NFL Films
NFL Films
NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
in Mount Laurel, New Jersey until he was bought out of his contract in February 2009. He has won four Emmy Awards
Sports Emmy Awards
The Sports Emmy Awards are presented by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in recognition of excellence in American sports television programming, including sports-related series, live coverage of sporting events, and best sports announcers...
for his work as a writer and producer on the weekly series NFL Films Presents
NFL Films
NFL Films is a Mount Laurel, New Jersey-based company devoted to producing commercials, television programs, feature films, and documentaries on the National Football League, as well as other unrelated major events and awards shows...
and the Turner Network documentary Football America.
Personal
Didinger is married to Philadelphia magazinePhiladelphia (magazine)
Philadelphia is a regional monthly magazine published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Metrocorp....
restaurant critic Maria Gallagher and has two children David and Kathleen. He also has an English Bulldog named Mack.
Awards and honors
- Dick McCann Memorial AwardDick McCann Memorial AwardThe Dick McCann Memorial Award is bestowed annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame "for long and distinguished reporting on professional football". The award was created in 1969 and is named for Dick McCann, who was the first director of the Hall of Fame...
, 1995. - Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year. 5-time winner.
- Keystone Press Award, 6-time winner.
- Associated PressAssociated PressThe 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...
award for column writing, 3-time winner. - Pro Football Writers of AmericaPro Football Writers AssociationTechnically known as the Pro Football Writers of America, this organization purports to be "The official voice of pro football writers, promoting and fighting for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public." Goals of the organization include improving access to practices and locker rooms,...
award for outstanding feature story, 1991. - Inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of FamePhiladelphia Sports Hall of FameThe Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., that was established in May 2002, to honor individuals and groups who are either area natives who became prominent in the field of sports or who became prominent in the field of sports in the...
, 2005.