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, though back then I was looking at the bottom of your track cleats.)
• 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 surgeries—all from sports-related injuries.
• I moved to broadcasting after a bad concussion at college football practice my freshman year. I think future NFL All-Pro linebacker Jessie Tuggle knocked the snot out of me, but it’s all a little fuzzy. Regardless, Jessie’s a nice guy, 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 still LOVE movies.
• 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 still occasionally 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.
Keith Murphy is Sports Director at WHO-TV.
Murphy has won Iowa Sportscaster of the Year, anchored Emmy, Associated Press, and IBNA choices for “Best Sportscast” numerous times, and been voted by Cityview readers Des Moines’ favorite sports commentator or columnist for more than two decades. Murphy also won Murrow and Sevareid awards for outstanding sports reporting. He also knows no one watches a sportscast because someone won awards, but he hopes it will impress old high school classmates who Google his name. (It probably won’t.)
In addition to anchoring sports in the Channel 13 News weeknights at 6 PM & 10 PM, Murphy hosts Iowa’s most watched sports and pop culture show, SoundOFF. SoundOFF is now in its 24th year and nearing 1,300 live broadcasts.
On 1460 KXNO, The Murph & Andy Show airs weekdays from 2 to 4 PM. The Murph & Andy Show has been voted Des Moines’ top radio show by Cityview readers several times.
Before joining Channel 13, Murphy was Sports Director at WOI-TV for six years. In addition to anchoring sportscasts, he provided play-by-play for Cyclone basketball on ESPN Plus, as well as 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 real grass instead of artificial turf. Murphy Manor is down to three people and two dogs, but the whole crew still gets together for vacations, holidays, family dinners, and ridiculous debates.
Keith also tweets: @MurphyKeith, is on Instagram: @MurphyKeith, Facebook “Keith Murphy”, and welcomes story ideas: keith.murphy@who13.com.
