13 fascinating facts about Keith Murphy:
• I worked at Walt Disney World in High School.
• The first time I ever lost a foot race, it was to a girl. (I’m looking at you Blanche Wiggins.)
• I’ve read the sports section, while eating breakfast, with the paper propped between my cereal bowl and a gallon of milk for as long as I can remember.
• I’ve had neck, shoulder, knee, and nose surgery—all from sports related injuries.
• I moved to broadcasting after a bad concussion at college football practice my freshman year. Future NFL All-Pro Jessie Tuggle knocked the snot out of me. He’s a nice guy though, and I probably had it coming.
• I once had a fly land in my mouth during a sportscast. I coughed it up, and laughed so hard, we had to go to commercial. Fortunately there was no “You Tube” then.
• I once high jumped 6′ 4″. I also once threw two interceptions in a quarter.
• I worked at a movie theater for more than three years. My friends and I often stayed until sun-up watching films.
• I often drink a glass of half diet Pepsi/half milk. It tastes like a root beer float.
• I was “promoted” to news early in my career, but couldn’t get out fast enough after covering the Gainesville Ripper murders in 1990. I often get emails from viewers after they’ve seen old file footage of me on a national story about the killings. I’m the guy (with more hair) who looks like he should be doing sports.
• I’m actually shy. I’m an introvert who plays an extrovert on television.
• I was an Altar Boy who laughed too much, a Cub Scout who couldn’t tie knots, and a news anchor who loved sports.
• I was benched an entire game in the local Little League World Series for throwing my bat in anger after striking out. The following year I won the sportsmanship trophy. Thank you, coach Hutchinson.
Sports Director Keith Murphy joined the Channel 13 news team in 1996 and helped change what viewers expect from our local sports coverage. The old cliche is true, it’s not just scores and highlights with Keith. Sportscasts are often fun, almost always opinionated, and at times, thought-provoking. Murphy has won Iowa Sportscaster of the Year and anchored the Emmy, Associated Press, and IBNA choices for “Best Sportscast ” numerous times. He’s won Murrow and Sevareid awards for outstanding sports reporting. Keith also knows people don’t watch sportscasts because someone won awards, but he hopes it impresses old friends and classmates when they Google his name.
In addition to anchoring sports in the Channel 13 News at Six and Ten, Keith hosts Iowa’s most watched and talked about sports-based show, SoundOFF with Keith Murphy and Andy Fales, Sunday nights live at 10:35. SoundOFF is an interactive show where the fans have a voice, or at the least, a keyboard. SoundOFF, on a good night, is both informative and entertaining, even for non-sports enthusiasts. You never know what you’ll hear, or what will happen, and it usually goes beyond sports and ventures into entertainment and pop culture. SoundOFF recently celebrated its 800th show. SoundOFF is now in its 17th year, with more people watching than ever, and it keeps winning awards. We’re surprised too.
Before joining Channel 13, Murphy was Sports Director at WOI-TV in Des Moines, where in addition to anchoring sportscasts, he provided play-by-play for Cyclone basketball on ESPN and the Iowa – Iowa State football game on ABC regional television.
Keith married his best friend, Jenny. They blended families to create a modern day Brady Bunch, only with all boys and no Astro Turf, though Keith wishes he had it so he’d never have to mow. Who are we kidding… with six boys he won’t have to mow until he’s 60. When the Murphys aren’t mowing, they’re playing sports or video games, watching movies, and pulling pranks.
You can read Keith’s opinions on everything in and out of sports on his popular blog, Murphy’s Law. It’s updated at who13.com every night.
