Bob Ryan
Robert P. Ryan (born February 21, 1946 in Trenton, New Jersey) is an American newspaper columnist. He is best known for his coverage of the NBA for the Boston Globe. Ryan joined the Globe in 1968 from Boston College. In 1997, Ryan won the Curt Gowdy Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame.
In recent years, Ryan has become a television personality on ESPN. He is a long time panelist on The Sports Reporters. He has also appeared on Around the Horn and is a frequent guest host on Pardon the Interruption.
Ryan faced controversy in May 2003 on a local Boston sportscast when he said that the wife of New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd needed someone to "smack" her for taking his young children to NBA playoff games where they could be taunted. Kidd had recently faced charges of domestic violence. When asked to retract his statement, Ryan refused. He was suspended from the paper and barred from television for one month. Ryan was later commended for his comments. Jason Kidd did in fact "smack" his wife for her decision to take the kids to the game.