Three people who gained high visibility around the area and then became well-known nationally, along with two honorary recipients, comprise the 2026 class of the Hampton Roads Sports Media Hall of Fame.
The trio of recipients:
**Ahmed Fareed, a Syracuse University graduate who became known for covering sports on local TV at NBC affiliate WAVY and its Fox partner WVBT, now works for NBC Sports and its family (such as Peacock and USA Network) nationally as a host. He also worked for MLB Network.
**Joe Moore, a Vietnam War veteran who had been working in local TV in Hampton and producing a motorsports show called “Raceline,” became an instrumental part of Motor Racing Network as a play-by-play voice and analyst. He was a leader on national/worldwide NASCAR broadcasts alongside such colleagues as Eli Gold, Barney Hall and Winston Kelley.
**Stan Verrett, a Louisiana aficionado and Howard University graduate whom local viewers saw with ABC affiliate WVEC and WAVY and heard as a DJ on WOWI 103 Jamz, moved to ESPN and was a frequent “SportsCenter” host for more than two decades. Late this year, he joined FanDuel Sports Network SoCal as part of pre- and post-game Los Angeles Clippers coverage, and he has been hosting a national sports news program on FanDuel Sports Network for more than two months. He also has worked with former ESPN partner Neil Everett on Twitch and with NFL Saints coverage.
The honorary recipients:
**Jack Ankerson, a Wisconsin native, has been a Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame member since 2010. Into his 80s, he has been an area fixture since his days in the 1970s with the American Basketball Association’s Virginia Squires, worked at WTAR radio and has been a longtime public-address announcer for the Norfolk Tides and the Old Dominion football and basketball teams. He also has performed myriad other duties in the area.
**Chip Tarkenton, who grew up from his hometown University of Georgia in Athens, often has done play-by-play for various ODU games on ESPN+ in recent years. He has been a broadcaster for ABC Sports nationally and for WRIC, the ABC affiliate in Richmond. He also has worked in various media in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Birmingham, Alabama, and Asheville, North Carolina.
For more on this class and past honorees, go to HRSMHOF.com.
What’s coming up
Wednesday: Virginia Wesleyan’s women’s basketball squad takes on Lynchburg at 5 p.m. at TowneBank Arena. … The Christopher Newport men’s basketball team, looking to get back in the NCAA Division III rankings, plays host to No. 22 Johns Hopkins at 7 p.m. at Freeman Center.
Thursday: The Norfolk State women’s basketball team plays its MEAC opener at 6 p.m. at Echols Hall against Maryland Eastern Shore.
Friday: The 45th edition of Virginia Duals wrestling begins in the morning at Hampton Coliseum, featuring high schools and colleges. … The Hampton Virginia Aquaplex hosts a swimming meet among Old Dominion, William & Mary, East Carolina and Richmond at 4 p.m. … The Virginia Beach Sports Center is the venue for the VCU Rams Indoor Invitational track and field meet. … The Tribe women’s basketball team hosts the College of Charleston at 7 p.m. at Kaplan Arena.
