RIP Ronnie Christ

[We Are . . .]

Ronnie Christ, longtime Penn State beat writer, beat the competition with calm and class
Updated 5:33 AM; Posted 4:43 AM
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By David Jones

djones@pennlive.com

Ronnie Christ had Penn State football wired.

The longtime Patriot-News/PennLive sportswriter was the premier reporter covering Penn State football for 34 seasons as the program grew into a national powerhouse.

Christ was decades ahead of the curve in covering recruiting before anyone did, often raising the ire of Joe Paterno himself. He had moles all over the practice fields and training rooms, knowing when injuries occurred and how, what moves were being made on the roster and why, printing it all.

Ron died on Tuesday at the Messiah Lifeways retirement home in Mechanicsburg at age 82 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Pat, his wife of 59 years, was by his side when he passed.

Link to complete article here.

 

[Air Force 1]

I remember reading his article every Sunday after church. Hadn't thought about him since I left PA 35 years ago thank for posting.

 

[Nittanyfarmer]

Loved reading his articles. He was a writer who didn't write sports articles, "just to crank out some fluff". His articles had meat to them and were always worthwhile reading.

 

[Delco Lion]

I was a paper boy for the Evening News in the late 60's. The Patriot News and Evening News were pretty good newspapers back in the day, and in his prime, Ronnie was quite a good writer.

 

[BBrown]

Ronnie Christ, longtime Penn State beat writer, beat the competition with calm and class
Updated 5:33 AM; Posted 4:43 AM
0 shares
By David Jones

djones@pennlive.com

Ronnie Christ had Penn State football wired.

The longtime Patriot-News/PennLive sportswriter was the premier reporter covering Penn State football for 34 seasons as the program grew into a national powerhouse.

Christ was decades ahead of the curve in covering recruiting before anyone did, often raising the ire of Joe Paterno himself. He had moles all over the practice fields and training rooms, knowing when injuries occurred and how, what moves were being made on the roster and why, printing it all.

Ron died on Tuesday at the Messiah Lifeways retirement home in Mechanicsburg at age 82 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Pat, his wife of 59 years, was by his side when he passed.

Link to complete article here.

Wow thats too bad.
He was a great writer, certainly the last with any substance at the Patriot News.
I pretty much stopped reading that rag after he retired.

 

[BBrown]

Loved reading his articles. He was a writer who didn't write sports articles, "just to crank out some fluff". His articles had meat to them and were always worthwhile reading.

He also didn't write them just for "shock" value like the current crop of pus at penn live.

 

[BBrown]

Loved reading his articles. He was a writer who didn't write sports articles, "just to crank out some fluff". His articles had meat to them and were always worthwhile reading.

I still remember one his articles and the headline after we decimated OSU in 94. Goodbye Columbus. LOL.

 

[OldTiredLion]

Ronnie was a sportswriter who didn't insert his opinions into the story, unlike so many do in this day and age. The guy actually was principled, unlike Mr. Jones who demonstrated his ethics when O'Brien departed to the Texans.

 

[Bob78]

Wow thats too bad.
He was a great writer, certainly the last with any substance at the Patriot News.
I pretty much stopped reading that rag after he retired.

Ronnie Christ and John Travers - back in the day - were outstanding sports journalists who covered PSU with objectivity, smart writing, and who understood their audience. It is hard to fathom that their successors were Hick Norvath and then Davey Jones.

We took quality articles from Christ and Travers for granted; now, we have to preface anything semi-worthwhile from Jones with a "I know it's Davey Jones, but...." to let each other know it's not just another fish-wrap worthy waste of time and space. That happens what, two or three times a year, and usually about basketball?

RIP Ronnie. And thanks for bringing PSU football into our homes and helping us all to 'get it.'

 

[fairgambit]

I was saddened to hear of Ronnie's passing. During my season ticket holder years I read his columns whenever I could and always enjoyed them. He was a professional in the best sense of the word. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. May he Rest in Peace.

 

[Diego Badman]

Growing up, I remember those Sunday Newspapers. Ron also had a "Coal Cracker" column which covered sports in the coal regions.

Yes, he did raise the ire of Joe from time-to-time, but, when Ron retired, Joe made a point of honoring him.

Hard to fathom that this newspaper has lost its standing. But, what can you say when you have a John Micek, Charles S. Thompson, Dave Jones, and former "star" Sara Ganim?

 

[psu_1989]

Sad news. I still think John Kunda of the Morning Call was the best of the best for PSU football and golf coverage. But be it Kunda, Christ or Travers, we won’t see coverage like that again, regardless of how much our society needs guys like that now.
RIP.

 

[butchnitt]

I remember reading his article every Sunday after church. Hadn't thought about him since I left PA 35 years ago thank for posting.

Ronnie was an annual guest of the Carbon County Club in February to discuss recruiting and always packed the house.

 

[PSU Mike]

I grew up reading his stuff at my grandparents’ house on Sundays. R.I.P., Mr. Christ.

 

[WTNuke]

When did he stop writing?

 

[Diego Badman]

Sad news. I still think John Kunda of the Morning Call was the best of the best for PSU football and golf coverage. But be it Kunda, Christ or Travers, we won’t see coverage like that again, regardless of how much our society needs guys like that now.
RIP.

And, don't forget Bob Hafer's weekly bowling coverage.

 

[doc69]

Ron made me a PSU fan.

 

[Roar Lions Roar]

Sad news. He was an excellent writer. RIP, Sir. Job well done.

 

[creamery freak]

Growing up, I remember those Sunday Newspapers. Ron also had a "Coal Cracker" column which covered sports in the coal regions.

Yes, he did raise the ire of Joe from time-to-time, but, when Ron retired, Joe made a point of honoring him.

Hard to fathom that this newspaper has lost its standing. But, what can you say when you have a John Micek, Charles S. Thompson, Dave Jones, and former "star" Sara Ganim?

Ron was one of the better speakers that the Williamsport Area Nittany Lion booster club would get every year in the fall. I remember how bad I felt when you could see the visible effects of his failing health.
The one story that Ron told about Joe was that he called him Joe Paternover during a season that PSU was having a hard time not fumbling the football. He said Joe wasn't too fond of it but I think they respected each other and Ron knew he could rib Joe and Joe would give it right back.
Rest in peace Ron, and thank you for a lot of great memories and stories.

 

[Norm Petersin]

RIP Ronnie. Always enjoyed the recruiting articles

 

[The Song Remains the Same]

I moved to Arizona in 1979, and was able to maintain tabs on PSU football as my Mom religiously would cut out and mail me, several times per month, all of Ronnie's columns. In the years before the internet, that became my pipeline for PSU news. I'm forever grateful to both my Mom and to Ronnie, neither of whom ever knew how important those columns were to me. Especially the recruiting articles...they were manna from Heaven.

 

[We Are . . .]

Did Ronnie write for the old Catch Lions Fever newsletter?

 

[john4psu]

I found a book I had copyright 1988 on The Sporting News 25 greatest college football teams all-time. Ron did the write-up for Penn State '68-69 at #15

.

 

[BBrown]

When did he stop writing?

I think it was around 2001. The start of the "dark years" it was also the start of the "lets bash PSU and Joe all we can" By the ass hat triumvirate of Flounders, Jones and Horvath. Puke.

 

[LafayetteBear]

And, don't forget Bob Hafer's weekly bowling coverage.

No risk of that happening...