This from today's NYP:Peter Vecsey, the ultimate NBA insider, is heading inside the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Vecsey, The Post's NBA columnist nationally renowned for his irreverent, always ahead-of-the-curve "Hoop Du Jour," will be inducted during festivities on Sept. 10-11 in Springfield, Mass., after receiving the Curt Gowdy Media Award.
The award is presented annually to distinguished members of the print and electronic media for outstanding contributions to basketball. TNT'S Doug Collins will receive the electronic media award.
The pair will join Michael Jordan, David Robinson, John Stockton and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer -- announced earlier this year -- in the Class of 2009.
The official announcement will come today, Hall of Fame officials said.
"To be inducted with these guys, it's quite an honor," Vecsey said. "To be recognized as one of the best makes it all worth the while.
"It's amazing. I thought it would never happen, because I'm so tough on people."
Known for his biting style, Vecsey has been breaking stories for The Post since 1977. A graduate of Archbishop Molloy High School, Vecsey attended Hofstra University and served as a sergeant with the U.S. Army's Green Beret Special Forces Unit from 1965-1967.
He also has done considerable work as a TV analyst. He is regarded as the nation's first NBA columnist, grabbing that title at The Post 32 years ago.
Vecsey is famous for the stinging nicknames he's attached to those he's criticized -- among them, Larry (Next Town) Brown; Rashweed Wallace; M(inor) L(eague) Carr; San Quintin Dailey; and Charles (Sir Cumference) Barkley.
Vecsey's wit has targeted entire teams, too -- just ask the New Jersey Nyets, the Cleveland Cadavers and the Los Angeles Paper Clips.
And the trades and other scoops you read about first in Vecsey's columns are too numerous to list.
This will be the fourth time Vecsey has been given Hall of Fame stature. He already has membership to the Molloy Hall of Fame, the Rucker Hall of Fame and the New York City Hall of Fame.
"Doug Collins and Peter Vecsey have dedicated much of their professional careers to report on the game of basketball while they entertain and educate millions of fans, readers and television viewers around the world," said John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame President & CEO.
"The Basketball Hall of Fame is very proud to recognize their extraordinary efforts."
Vecsey, Jordan and the other members of the Class of 2009 will give their formal acceptance speeches in front of a star-studded audience, including over 70 returning Hall of Famers.
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