James ‘Art’ Dorrington Added to List of Inductees.
Sal Paolantonio
Media Contributor
Sal Paolantonio, National Correspondent for ESPN since 1995, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the Ramblewood Country Club in Mt. Laurel, NJ.
Sal Paolantonio, a national correspondent for ESPN since 1995, is the longest serving reporter at the network. He has been the host of the NFL Matchup Show for 20 years, currently the longest serving host of an NFL studio show at ESPN.
On the ESPN national radio network, Paolantonio calls NFL games as a booth analyst. He is a voting member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee in Canton, Ohio. In 2018, he was awarded the Jack Newfield Courage in Journalism Award given by the New York Daily News. Including his tenure at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Paolantonio has been a NFL reporter for 30 years.
Sal has been honored with seven Emmy’s for his contributions to SportsCenter (1996, 2003, 2005 and 2020-21) and Sunday NFL Countdown (2001, 2003 and 2006). Sal is the author of four books: Philly Special: The Inside Story of How the
Philadelphia Eagles Won Their First Super Bowl Championship (2018), How Football Explains America (2008) ; The Paolantonio Report: the Most Overrated and Underrated Players, Coaches, Teams and Moments in NFL History (2007) and Frank Rizzo: The Last Big Man in Big City America (1993), the all-time No. 1 local bestseller in the Philadelphia region and adapted for the stage by
playwright Bruce Graham, running for two years at the Suzanne Roberts Theater on the Avenue of the Arts.
From 1985 to 1995, Sal was a sportswriter and national political correspondent at the Philadelphia Inquirer, covering the 1988 and 1992 presidential campaigns, and the 1991 race for mayor of Philadelphia. In 1994, Philadelphia Magazine named him the best sportswriter in Philadelphia. In 1993, Philly Mag named Paolantonio the city’s top author. In 1985, while at the Albany Times Union, Paolantonio received an Associated Press Enterprise Reporting Award for his writing and photography of the
famine in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Paolantonio was a Surface Warfare Officer, serving as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific and Indian Oceans from 1978-83. In 1981, he was awarded the United Nations Meritorious Service Medal for his role in the rescue of Vietnamese refugees in the South China Sea.
Paolantonio has a bachelor’s degree in history from SUNY Oneonta, named one of the 100 most prestigious graduates for the college’s Centennial Celebration. He has a Master’s degree in journalism from NYU. In 2013, he received an honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from SUNY.
Sal has lived in South Jersey with his wife, Lynn, for 38 years. They have three married children and four grandchildren.
Presented by
The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey
March 11, 2023
L- R: Ron Jaworski, Mike Quick, Dick Vermeil, Sal Paolantonio, Harold Carmichael, Joe Decamara
The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey is proud to welcome Bridgeton native and St. Augustine Prep graduate, Mike Catalano, into its Hall of Fame.
Media
The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey is proud to welcome Bridgeton native and St. Augustine Prep graduate, Mike Catalano, into its Hall of Fame.
Mike is the News and Sports Director for 13WHAM TV in Rochester, NY.
Mike began his sportscasting career in Binghamton NY before moving to Channel 13 in 1987 where he was promoted to Sports Director 2 years later. The Ithaca College grad has covered Super Bowls, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, and the PGA Masters Tournaments. Also the sideline reporter for Buffalo Bills Television Network since 2000, Mike individually, and his staff collectively, has garnered numerous prestigious media awards for sportscasting excellence.
Mike is also an active member of the greater Rochester community serving as President of the American Heart Association, a board member of the Ronald McDonald House and further volunteers his time for the local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chapter and The School of the Holy Childhood.
Mike and his family reside in Rochester.
Growing up in South Jersey and playing and loving sports, Mike stated at his induction ceremony “that he knew
that sports would be a big part of my life and I’m honored to do the job I do now”.
Mike Catalano
Media
The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey is proud to welcome Bridgeton native and St. Augustine Prep graduate, Mike Catalano, into its Hall of Fame.
Mike is the News and Sports Director for 13WHAM TV in Rochester, NY.
Mike began his sportscasting career in Binghamton NY before moving to Channel 13 in 1987 where he was promoted to Sports Director 2 years later. The Ithaca College grad has covered Super Bowls, World Series, Stanley Cup Finals, and the PGA Masters Tournaments. Also the sideline reporter for Buffalo Bills Television Network since 2000, Mike individually, and his staff collectively, has garnered numerous prestigious media awards for sportscasting excellence.
Mike is also an active member of the greater Rochester community serving as President of the American Heart Association, a board member of the Ronald McDonald House and further volunteers his time for the local Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Chapter and The School of the Holy Childhood.
Mike and his family reside in Rochester.
Growing up in South Jersey and playing and loving sports, Mike stated at his induction ceremony “that he knew
that sports would be a big part of my life and I’m honored to do the job I do now”.
2022 All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey Inductees Greg Zyla and Lou Piccone
Greg Zyla (left) Lou Piccone (right)
Greg Zyla (left) Lou Piccone (right)
All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey to Induct ESPN National Correspondent Sal Paolantonio on March 11th
Bridgeton, NJ – The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey (ASMSNJ) today announced that ESPN national correspondent and longtime South Jersey resident Sal Paolantonio will be formally inducted into their Hall of Fame at an event at the Ramblewood Country Club in Mt. Laurel on Saturday March 11th.
“We are honored that Sal Pal has accepted our invitation to join the South Jersey sports hall of fame and we look forward to his induction on March 11th,” said Dom Valella, Chairman of the All Sports Museum of Southern NJ.
The induction will be hosted by Eagles legend Ron Jaworski. The emcee will be new WIP morning host Joe DeCamara. Previous inductees include; Charlie Manuel, Joe Frazier, Brian Propp, Greg Luzinski, Judy Dickinson, Larry Bowa and Tug McGraw. A complete list of inductees can be found at: www.allsportsmuseumofsnj.org
About the All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey: The mission statement of this organization is to collect, preserve, display and foster appreciation of sports represented by the historical artifacts associated with the 8 county area of southern New Jersey (Ocean and Burlington Counties south). Inductions into the Hall of Fame section are held for deserving individuals as determined by the Board of Directors.
About Sal Paolantonio: A national correspondent for ESPN since 1995, Paolantonio is currently the longest serving reporter at the network. He has been the host of the NFL Matchup Show for 20 years. On the ESPN national radio network, Paolantonio calls NFL games as a booth analyst. He is a voting member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee in Canton,Ohio. In 2018, he was awarded the Jack Newfield Courage in Journalism Award given by the New York Daily News. Including his tenure at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Paolantonio has been an NFL reporter for 30 years. From 1978-83, he served as a surface warfare officer in the U.S. Navy.
Lou Piccone
Athlete
Lou Piccone was born July 17, 1949 in Vineland, NJ. He played nine seasons in the NFL as a WR & KR for the NY Jets and Buffalo Bills. He played college football at West Liberty State College. Initially spurned by the pros due to his size, the 5-9, 175-pound speedster played two seasons of semipro ball before signing a free-agent contract with the NY Jets in 1974. He led the NFL in kickoff returns as a rookie, and spent three seasons with the Jets as their primary kick and punt returner. Piccone was traded to Buffalo in 1977. He had his best season as a receiver with the Bills in 1979 with 33 catches for 556 yards and two touchdowns. Piccone played in 118 games during his NFL career, caught 100 passes for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns, returned 111 kickoffs for 2,559 yards, and returned 73 punts for 482 yards and one touchdown. During his playing days, Piccone was a player representative for the NFL Players Association and an influential member of the NFLPA executive committee. Following his retirement, he served for many years on the NFLPA’s Steering Committee for Retired Players.
Greg Zyla
Athlete/Media
Greg Zyla was born in coal-mining Brady (Ranshaw), PA in 1949. From an early age, Greg was enthusiastic about old cars; namely, Packard, Henry-J, Kaiser, Frazer, Rambler, Willys, Studebaker and Tucker. In 1957 he moved with his family to Vineland, NJ, and immediately became a fan of the Vineland Speedway, which featured a quarter mile drag strip for stock car racing on many Fridays through Sundays during his youth. Greg became an instant subscriber to several car magazines; namely, Motor Trend, Car Life, Road & Track, Car Craft and National Speed Sport News. His enjoyment of those magazines eventually led to an interest in writing for several publications; namely, More Content Now, BestRide.com and other Gatehouse Media publications. Greg Zyla is a well-respected syndicated auto columnist who is an authority of collector cars, old-time racing and auto nostalgia.
“Bob” Surace
Athlete
“Bob” Surace was an outstanding scholar athlete at Millville High School where he graduated in 1986. He achieved five varsity letters during his high school career in football, baseball and track and field. He accomplished several first team recognitions by local/state media with additional honors by South Jersey All-1980’s Football Team, All Century Football Team of the Modern Era, and was selected to participate in the prestigious North-South Football Classic.
Anthony Wayne “Bubba” Green
Athlete
Anthony Wayne “Bubba” Green was born in Cape May, NJ, grew up in Woodbine, NJ and graduated from Millville High School in 1976 where he was a leader with the 1975 New Jersey Group IV Undefeated Thunderbolt Football Team. He lettered in football for four years at North Carolina State and was a member of the Baltimore Colts in the NFL.
Brian Surace
Athlete
Brian Surace was an outstanding scholar athlete at Millville High School where he graduated in 1991. He was a three year varsity football Thunderbolt and accomplished several 1st team recognitions by local media and was named the Thunderbolt Scholarship Winner for football and selected to play in the prestigious North-South All Star game.