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
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”.
Greg Zyla (left) Lou Piccone (right)
The handshakes, hugs and smiles were evident at the Induction of Jim McCormick, Anthony “Bubba” Green, Brian and Bob Surace into The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey as well as the Recognition of the 1975 Millville High School Undefeated New Jersey Group IV Thunderbolt Football Team, Saturday, March 12th at the New Jersey Motor Sports Park.
Although the weather outside was horrific, the atmosphere inside was warm and congenial. All 117 who attended were pleased to reminisce with one another after almost 47 years.
Pictured is the 1975 Millville High School Football team (players, coaches and teammates (or representatives).
And from Left to Right are Inductees Jim McCormick, Millville’s Mayor Lisa Ornsdorf, Bob Surace, Coach Tony Surace (representing his inducted son, Brian), and Nancy Green (representing her inducted husband, Bubba Green, posthumously).
Phillie Phanatic’s shoes are now on display at the ASMofSNJ.
On Wednesday, October 20, 2021 “a blockbuster induction” was held by the South Jersey Baseball Oldtimers in association with The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey and the Phillies Welcome Staff at Auletto Caterers in Almonesson, NJ. Special Music was offered by Vanessa deJean, currently a senior at Holy Spirit HS and sang a wonderful rendition of “Didn’t We Almost Have It All?” by Whitney Houston. “A History of The All Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey” was delivered by Joe DeLuca, vice chairman of the Museum.
G.O.A.T. Recognitions ( Greatest of All Time) were given in honor and memory of Jack Scott to Woodbury’s Dave Budd, Bridgeton’s Ben Lynch and Ron Marino, Newfield’s Tom McCarville, and the Phillie Phanatic’s “Best Friend,” Tom Burgoyne
A Scholarship and Donation were given to Vanessa deJean for pursuing a college eduation in voice and Willie Bly, a resident from Mullica Hill, NJ who’s home was damaged by the recent Tornado in August, 2021.
Dan Baker, approaching his 50th Year as Phillies PA Announcer, served as Emcee for introducing the following inductees:
Larry Bowa – Presenter – Dom Valella
Tug McGraw ( posthumously and represented by his wife, Diane) – Presenter – John Casarow, Jr.
Dickie Noles – Presenter – Kevin Danna
Milt Thompson – Presenter – Joe DeLuca
and Adam Taliaferro – Presenter – Frank Hoerst, Jr.
Special guest, Joe Blanton, Phillies starting pitcher, ’08 World Series, attended.
Appreciation and special thanks were offered to the banquet’s sponsors: Paul Ritter of Cumberland Insurance, Debby and Bruce Riley of UltraClean Technologies, Michael Stern of Stern Capital Group, Curtis Edwards of Community Health Network, Raymond N. Beebe, Esq., Frank Hoerst, III Esq., Ed Salmon of Salmon Ventures, LTD and Jim Quinn of Quinn Broadcasting.