Best Sports Bar Press Box Approximately 1 billion people around the globe watched at least part of the World Cup on television in 2010. That record is expected to be broken during this year’s soccer tournament—and chances are pretty good that if you’re catching some of that action in Missoula, you’re doing it at the reigning champion of this category. The Press Box is located just a chip shot from Washington-Grizzly Stadium and always fills up on UM game days. But it’s also a destination for every other televised sport you can think of, from breakfast spreads during English Premier League games to wall-to-wall crowds for UFC title matches. Toss in the white towel, empty the benches and warm up the bus, folks. We have a unanimous decision (and a few mixed metaphors) when it comes to choosing where you like to root on your favorite team. Press Box: 835 E. Broadway St, 721-1212, pressboxsportsbar.com Finalists, Best Sports Bar 2. Tamarack Brewing Company: 231 W. Front St, 830-3113, tamarackbrewing.com 3. Desperado Sports Tavern: 3101 S. Russell St, 549-9651, facebook.com/pages/ Desperado-Sports-Tavern
PEOPLE & MEDIA
People and media Best Politicianest Politician Mayor John Engen John Engen has set his sights on some ambitious goals for Missoula: Fighting to secure public ownership of the Mountain Water Company. Pushing to make the Mountain Line bus system fare-free. Working to review how city agencies handle sexual assault cases. The list goes on. But it takes more than ambition, brains and voter confidence to make a good leader. One of Engen’s strongest assets is his compassion for all things Missoula. Whether teaching school kids to pick up after their dogs or offering stirring eulogies for civic stalwarts like Pat and Don Simmons, Engen wears his love for the city on his sleeve. While local politics can be a dry and thankless slog, we can’t recall a moment when his enthusiasm for the job has waned. Finalists, Best Politician 2. Ellie Hill 3. Jon Tester
Best Athlete
406-542-2167 130 S. 6th E. • Missoula holyspiritmissoula.org [54] Missoula Independent • Best of Missoula 2014
Jordan Johnson and Jordan Tripp (tie) In Missoula, no sports team ranks higher in popularity than the University of Montana football squad. But outside the cozy confines of Washington-Grizzly Stadium, our Griz are actually wee cubs in the greater sporting landscape. That’s why it was pretty cool to see standout linebacker Jordan Tripp receive national attention leading up to this year’s NFL draft. The freakish athlete was a favorite of experts looking for an under-the-radar selection who could make an impact at the next level. The Miami Dolphins finally jumped at the chance and selected Tripp in the fifth round. While Tripp tries to make it as a pro, former teammate Jordan Johnson will try to continue UM’s winning ways. The starting quarterback, who has garnered as many headlines for his off-the-field trials (literally) as his on-field accolades, returns for his senior season and one last chance to win a Football Championship Subdivision title.
Finalists, Best Athlete 2. Mike Foote 3. Kareem Jamar
Best Journalist Erika Fredrickson, Missoula Independent About a year ago, the Indy newsroom received a frantic phone call from its seasoned and usually unflappable arts editor. She called from a remote Montana ranch where she was on assignment at a Girl Hunter weekend, and where a reporter from The New York Times was apparently trying to bigtime her and claim he had an exclusive. She might have to leave. She might lose the story. Pissed off and frustrated, but calmer than before, the phone call ended with Fredrickson saying she was going to tell the Times reporter to, shall we say, back off. The end result was a first-person account of the ridiculous-sounding weekend, complete with a journalistic standoff that Fredrickson ended up winning. The story made national news, landing on Jim Romenesko’s popular journalism blog and earning Fredrickson accolades for both her writing and her moxie. That’s just one of her memorable stories over the last year, during which she’s profiled a prominent local artist and his efforts to reconcile the tragic death of his artist son, captured the mounting success and real-life challenges of muralist Hadley Ferguson, and brilliantly imagined the effects of our state’s gun laws by applying the castle doctrine to classic literature. We’ve long treasured Fredrickson’s weekly contributions to the Indy and couldn’t be prouder of our readers choosing her for this year’s honor. Finalists, Best Journalist 2. Jill Valley, KPAX 3. TIE: Alex Sakariassen, Missoula Independent Jenna Cederberg, Missoulian
Best Newscast KPAX
Best TV Personality Jill Valley, KPAX After more than 20 years in broadcasting, KPAX news anchor Jill Valley still loves her job. “Every day is different,” Valley says. “Every day presents a whole new set of challenges.” When asked why she thinks she’s been voted Missoula’s favorite TV Personality since Best of Missoula’s inception 20 years ago, Valley expresses a humbleness some might find unusual for a woman who’s recognized everywhere she goes. “I guess me and Missoula are a good match,” Valley says. Indy readers see the entire KPAX news crew as a good match, too, as year after year the station wins this category. The praise is deserved, of course, as the KPAX team consistently provides thorough and accurate reporting, and is kind enough to deliver it straight to the comfort of our living rooms. Jill Valley, KPAX: kpax.com Finalists, Best TV Newscast 2. KECI: nbcmontana.com/keci 3. ABC FOX: abcfoxmontana.com Finalists, Best TV Personality 2. Heidi Meili, KECI: nbcmontana.com/keci 3. Mark Heyka, KECI: nbcmontana.com/keci