SALT LAKE CITY -- The recipients of the 2023 Naismith Hall of Fame Curt Gowdy Media Award, Andscape's Marc J. Spears (print) and ESPN's Holly Rowe (electronic), didn't know each other well before sharing the stage at Vivint Arena on Friday afternoon. But through their decades of stellar coverage of basketball, they've been united in their consistent insistence on shining a light on topics outside the spotlight.
For Spears, it has been telling stories from behind the scenes and away from the court, as well as pushing to increase diversity in hiring practices for teams. For Rowe, it has been keeping a spotlight on women's sports -- even as she was told, at different times, to consider giving them up to focus on higher-profile men's sports instead.