Veteran sportswriter Tom Borrelli, a City of Tonawanda resident, was severely injured over the weekend while covering a high school football game at Buffalo’s All-High Stadium.
Borrelli, 51, fell down a long flight of stairs leading up to the press box. He was at All-High to cover the Harvard Cup title game between Buffalo high schools Riverside and McKinley for The Buffalo News, where he’s worked since 1989. In addition to his high school coverage, Borrelli serves as the beat writer for the National Lacrosse League’s Buffalo Bandits and writes a weekly column on fantasy sports.
Speaking by phone Monday evening, Steve Jones, sports editor for the Buffalo News, said Borrelli remains in the trauma/ICU unit at Erie County Medical Center, where he was taken after the fall, which occurred at 4:20 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re praying,” said Jones, who spoke with an optimistic tone. “He’ll be back. I’m convinced of that.”
In 2007, Borrelli was recognized by the NLL Hall of Fame, the first journalist to receive such an honor. In announcing his recognition, NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings said Borrelli had “set the standard for covering our sport.” Two years prior, the NLL established the “Tom Borrelli Award,” which is given annually to the league’s top writer.
When he’s not covering the Bandits for The Buffalo News, Borrelli can often be found at high school events.
“He’s at a game every week. That’s what he does,” Jones said. “He’s got a great love for high school football.”
That love has extended to The Buffalo News Web site, where Borrelli contributes to blogs on high school sports and fantasy news.
“He’s just starting to get used to the blog thing,” Jones said with a chuckle.
Journalism runs through the Borrelli bloodlines. Tom’s father, George, was formerly a columnist and political reporter for the Buffalo News.
Tom resides in the City of Tonawanda, with his wife, Karen.
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