“What’s black & white and red all over?” asks the familiar elementary school riddle.
The ‘newspaper’ answer to the question provided the driving impetus for the recent announcement that longtime Williamsport Sun-Gazette sports reporter Chris Masse is among 11 new members of the West Branch Valley Sports Hall of Fame, who will be formally inducted on November 10.
The Penn State graduate began his employment with the local daily just days after receiving his diploma, and area sports fans have been informed and entertained, reading his accounts of sporting events for the past quarter century.
“Being selected for the Hall of Fame means the world to me,” shared Masse. “I don’t write for awards, but it’s always a thrill to be recognized. To be included with the amazing members inducted in the past and to go in with this incredible class is such an honor. When I first started working here, I remember reading about the new class going in back in 1999. I thought about how exciting that must be. Experiencing that feeling now is really special. Never in my life did I think I would be a Hall of Famer in anything, so this is truly a Bucket List moment.”
Chosen for his talents as a sports contributor, Masse is among a gifted class that includes Madina Ali (basketball), Jen Allen (coaching), Gary Cook (wrestling), Alan Eck (officiating/football), Tom Gravish (coaching), Bobby Lynn (football/officiating), Maria Morgan (basketball), Gabe Sinicropi (contributor) and Biff Walizer (wrestling). Roger Cook, deceased, was also selected for his accomplishments in wrestling and coaching.
Like many young people, Masse had a passion for sports during his high school days, participating in cross country, football, basketball, baseball, and track and field. Along the way, a talent reality hit, and he realized the only way he would continue his sports involvement would be through writing or broadcasting. He began writing for the Garnet Valley High School paper and culminated that training by studying journalism in Happy Valley.
Since his arrival in Williamsport, Masse has covered a variety of high school, collegiate, and youth sports, including the annual Little League Baseball World Series. He has won numerous Keystone Press Awards and been honored by the Associated Press Managing Editors for his excellence in sports writing. His expertise has also helped the Sun Gazette’s sports staff be named among the country’s top ten on several occasions.
His high school memories have been a driving force in the writing style he commands.
“I remember how thrilling it was to see my name and my teammate’s names in the paper, and I take that with me when I write. Having gone through the experiences of the athletes I cover, I know how hard it can be, and as much as I love writing stories, I enjoy trying to give the athletes something to be positive about. It’s not just about the scoreboard but about the work, effort, and sacrifice, and I enjoy trying to highlight all of that and take the readers beyond the stats. I work hard at the job, but it doesn’t feel like work because I love it so much, and for that, I feel tremendously blessed.”
In the infancy of his Sun-Gazette job, Masse viewed his work as a potential steppingstone to covering his beloved Baltimore Orioles or working for Sports Illustrated.
“After a few years, I realized how much I was falling in love with this area. It gave me a sense of community, and I enjoyed being a part of it. The realization hit me that success isn’t about how high you go in a given field but about doing what makes you happy. I have always been happy here and can’t imagine working anywhere else. I met my wife here, have raised a daughter here, and have loved the ride I have been on.”
While I doubt Dean Martin’s 1955 hit song “Memories Are Made of This” is on Masse’s playlist, he shares the crooner’s reminiscences about what he has experienced.
“I’ve had so many great memories. At 25 years into the job, I still get such a charge from covering games and seeing new things unfold. The state championship runs teams have made in various sports are always exciting, and it’s a thrill seeing the joy on the faces of the players, coaches, and families during those runs.
“Covering St. John Neumann’s Alize Johnson’s draft experience to the NBA is one of my favorites. There was a lot of excitement in that room that night, and it was surreal seeing a player who I had covered when he was a 5’9 point guard become a 6’9 forward selected to play in the NBA.”
For reasons I am unaware of, Masse has earned the nickname “Doc ” in some circles. Perhaps it is due to his prescribed practice of delivering healing descriptions to those reading his works.
“I try and humanize my stories and do my best to highlight not just what the players, teams, and coaches do, but how they do it and what has helped them achieve what they have.”
Indeed, “Doc” Masse has made plenty of house calls. But the one he has been summoned to on November 10 will be one he never saw coming — but will cherish forever.
