L.A. Times NFL columnist SAM FARMER has been named the winner of the '19 Dick McCann Award. The honor is given by the Professional Football Writers of America to a reporter who has made a long and distinguished contribution to pro football through coverage. Farmer will be honored during the Pro Football HOF's Enshrinement Week and will be recognized at the Enshrinees' Gold Jacket Dinner in downtown Canton on Aug. 2. Farmer has been with the L.A. Times since '00 (Pro Football HOF). Farmer said of receiving the award, "It's surreal. I always wondered, when somebody said, 'I'm humbled by this,' what does that really mean? Now I completely understand." Farmer was voted as the winner from a group of nominees that included USA Today's JARRETT BELL, the Bergen Record's VINNY DITRANI (retired), Talk of Fame Network's CLARK JUDGE, ESPN.com's JEFF LEGWOLD and The Athletic's GARY MYERS (L.A. TIMES, 6/6).
GETTING THE CALL: Houston Chronicle NFL reporter JOHN MCCLAIN on Tuesday was selected by his colleagues for induction into the Texas Sports HOF. He is "among eight writers and broadcasters who will be honored later this year" by the HOF. The eight honorees are the "first media representatives selected for induction" since '04. McClain "will be honored with a group" that includes Pro Football Talk's CHAREAN WILLIAMS. Other honorees include former writer RANDY GALLOWAY, longtime Texas sports editor for the AP DENNE FREEMAN, Cowboys radio play-by-play announcer BRAD SHAM, Rangers radio play-by-play announcer ERIC NADEL, former Cowboys radio voice BILL MERCER and the late FRANK GLIEBER (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6/6).
BAYOU BIG SHOTS: Former NFLers REGGIE BUSH and MARQUES COLSTON and former Louisiana Gov. KATHLEEN BLANCO will be inducted into the Saints HOF. Blanco, who was "instrumental in fast-tracking extensive Superdome renovations completed less than a year" after Hurricane Katrina, is being honored with the Joe Gemelli Fleur de Lis Award for her "off-field contributions to the club" (AP, 6/5).
