Graney state’s top sports writer for third year in row

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney has been chosen Nevada Sportswriter of the Year for 2011, the third straight year he has been honored by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.

Graney, 45, has worked at the Review-Journal since May 2006. Before that, he spent 20 years at the San Diego Union-Tribune as a sports writer and columnist.

A native of Laguna Beach, Calif., Graney is a voter in The Associated Press Top 25 men's college basketball poll and is a past winner of Top 10 recognition for sports columns by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

He lives in Summerlin with his wife and two children.

Las Vegas 51s announcer Russ Langer, 50, was named Nevada Sportscaster of the Year for the fourth straight year and sixth time in the past eight years.

The NSSA's annual awards program and Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be June 9 to 11 in Salisbury, N.C.