Doug Buffone

Doug Buffone, the former Chicago Bears linebacker who became a beloved broadcaster for WSCR AM 670, will be honored posthumously this spring with a Ring Lardner Award for Excellence in Sports Journalism.

Also named recipients of the prestigious award Wednesday were veteran sportswriter Ron Rapoport and Chicago Blackhawks announcer Eddie Olczyk.

Ron Rapoport

The awards will be presented April 4 at Union League Club of Chicago, 65 West Jackson Boulevard. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs.

Following his legendary career with the Bears, Buffone turned to sports broadcasting, most notably on the CBS Radio sports/talk station. His longtime partnership with former Bears teammate Ed O'Bradovich after every game became “must-listen radio” for Bears fans on The Score. Buffone died last April at 70.

Rapoport, prolific sportswriter and author, was sports columnist for the Sun-Times and the Los Angeles Daily News and sports commentator for NPR’s "Weekend Edition Saturday."

Eddie Olczyk

Olczyk, a center in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons, is in his 10th season as color analyst for Blackhawks hockey on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9. He also is the lead hockey analyst for the NHL on NBC.

The awards, founded in 2002 by the Chicago Athletic Association, honor broadcasters and writers who “exemplify the wit and warmth of Ring Lardner’s writing.” A world famous sportswriter, humorist and satirist, Lardner wrote for The Sporting News, the Saturday Evening Post and the Chicago Tribune’s “In the Wake of the News” column.

For tickets call (312) 765-0405 or see ulbgc.org/events/ring-lardner-awards-dinner-2016/