A veteran of a legendary career in sports journalism that has spanned more than 55 years, Santa Barbara Independent Sports Writer John Zant is being inducted into the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table (SBART) Hall of Fame on Monday, September 18. Zant has covered many of the most acclaimed sporting events of the 20th century, from the Rose Bowl to the Olympics, and was a pioneer in covering women’s sports, among many other accomplishments.
To those of us who are captivated by the excellence of human endeavors, Zant has lived a dream that will echo into the future. He shares some of his favorite moments, memories, stories, and relationships from a lifetime in sports.
What is your favorite event you ever attended as a reporter? Game one of the 1988 World Series has to be near the top. I still guess it’s number one in the L.A. Times poll of what is the signature event in L.A. sports history with Kirk Gibson’s home run.