On stages and pages, Sam Adams displays unique talents as an entertainer, public speaker and journalist.
Sam’s laid-back style of storytelling makes him a popular and requested comedian on the corporate event circuit.
Sam is the only dual prize winner in the history of the Great American Comedy Festival. In 2009, Sam won the festival’s amateur competition. He was asked to compete against the professionals, and took second place — providing an impetus for him to pursue a professional career in stand-up comedy at age 49.
During the summer of 2018, the “True Color” video clip from Sam’s Dry Bar Comedy special ‘Incoherently True’ received a remarkable 10 million Facebook views in less than 72 hours. Since, the “True Color” video has amassed nearly 40 million social media views worldwide.
Prior to establishing his career as an entertainer, Sam spent three decades as an award-winning newspaper sports journalist. His experiences working as a reporter for major daily newspapers began with The Denver Post in 1986, included a stint with The Charlotte Observer (1995-96) and finished with 13 years (1996-2009) at the Rocky Mountain News.
Sam also has three decades worth of experience in television. He’s provided sports commentaries for Denver’s CBS and NBC affiliates, with appearances on Fox Sports Net, ESPN and NFL Network.
In 2003 Sam’s media peers elected him Colorado’s Print Journalist of the Year. In 2019 he was honored by the prestigious Denver Press Club with induction to its Hall of Fame. He is the first African-American sports journalist to be inducted in the club’s 150-plus year history.
Sam’s coverage for many of the world’s most celebrated sporting events helped him gain serious and humorous perspectives for his book. ‘If You Don’t Believe Me: Lessons Learned from Listening To The Greats’ was released in April, 2013.
Sam offers two vibrant keynote presentations. The first is titled, ‘Going Up: Taking Steps To Elevate Your Levels Of Success.’ It offers sound advice for success based on Sam’s career endeavors. The second is titled, ‘Race To A Finish Line.’ Sam advances his novel perspectives on the topic of race relations.
Both presentations offer insightful, impactful and humorous references from Sam’s careers in journalism and entertainment, and feature riveting anecdotes taken from his personal and professional encounters with well-known sports figures and entertainers.
