Tom Goldman
Tom Goldman is NPR's sports correspondent. His reports can be heard throughout NPR's news programming, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, and on NPR.org.
With a beat covering the entire world of professional sports, both in and outside of the United States, Goldman reporting covers the broad spectrum of athletics from the people to the business of athletics.
During his nearly 30 years with NPR, Goldman has covered every major athletic competition including the Super Bowl, the World Series, the NBA Finals, golf and tennis championships, and the Olympic Games.
His pieces are diverse and include both perspective and context. Goldman often explores people's motivations for doing what they do, whether it's solo sailing around the world or pursuing a gold medal. In his reporting, Goldman searches for the stories about the inspirational and relatable amateur and professional athletes.
Goldman contributed to NPR's 2009 Edward R. Murrow award for his coverage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and to a 2010 Murrow Award for contribution to a series on high school football, "Friday Night Lives." Earlier in his career, Goldman's piece about Native American basketball players earned a 2004 Dick Schaap Excellence in Sports Journalism Award from the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University and a 2004 Unity Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association.
In January 1990, Goldman came to NPR to work as an associate producer for sports with Morning Edition. For the next seven years he reported, edited, and produced stories and programs. In June 1997, he became NPR's first full-time sports correspondent.
For five years before NPR, Goldman worked as a news reporter and then news director in local public radio. In 1984, he spent a year living on an Israeli kibbutz. Two years prior he took his first professional job in radio in Anchorage, Alaska, at the Alaska Public Radio Network.
-
Softball returns to the Olympics after a 13-year absence. But it won't be around for long. It's not on the schedule at the 2024 Games though athletes are hoping it'll make a return in 2028.
-
The Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks have hired new coaches with stellar records as players — but questionable off-court problems. The moves have roiled the typically progressive NBA.
-
Laws take effect this week in seven states that allow college athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness. It opens the door for collegians to make money off endorsement deals.
-
Nearly 20 states will soon allow NCAA athletes to accept cash for the use of their image, name and likeness. Many say the result will be unfair advantages for some schools unless Congress acts.
-
The NBA playoffs are in full swing — and some of the excitement has spilled over into ugly fan incidents directed at players. Several fans have been ejected and, in some cases, arrested.
-
It's the year of the no-hitter in the MLB. Pitchers are dominating the game and worrying officials about the lack of offensive excitement. How are the experts who train hitters fighting back?
-
The NFL Draft is in person again, and after last year's virtual event, the league wants it to represent a return to normal. But there will be plenty of reminders of a still present pandemic.
-
The game should be two complete, deep basketball teams going at each other. Fans hope that's how it turns out.
-
Despite a reduced audience due to the pandemic, excitement was in the air as "Play Ball!" was heard at all of Major League Baseball's stadiums yesterday.
-
After the coronavirus led to the cancellation of the NCAA Division 1 basketball tournaments last year, this year's games are on — but with changes including fewer fans, no bands or cheerleaders.