Names In The News

Web site GOLFBUZZ.COM, an Internet community similar to MySpace.com, launched in January and allows golfers to “create a customized profile, add friends, keep track of their stats and plan rounds with other players.” Registration is free and the site has about 16,000 registered users. GolfBuzz CEO PATRICK COULSON said that he “expects the site to reach about 1 million users by the end of the year” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/23).

Catchings Weighs In On Lowering Of Title IX Standards

EQUAL RIGHTS: WNBA Fever F TAMIKA CATCHINGS pens an Op/Ed in USA TODAY on the U.S. Dept. of Education changing Title IX standards, in which she writes, “Every girl should be allowed to pursue her dream, whether it is to be a rocket scientist, a doctor or an NBA player. Title IX has enabled female athletes to do just that, and the next generation deserves no less” (USA TODAY, 6/23).

SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT: F1 driver JACQUES VILLENEUVE has released the debut track from his new rock album, but he said, “My job is still racing cars, my job is not music — that’s a hobby. As long as my job is still racing cars, I will concentrate on cars, so I don’t expect to be touring or anything because it takes too much time and I don’t have the time at the moment to prepare” (Montreal GAZETTE, 6/22)....In St. Petersburg, Tom Zucco reported Raiders DT WARREN SAPP has signed a development agreement with H3 ENTERPRISES to open “HipHopSodaShops” in central and north Florida. The store will “target teens and young adults by featuring hip-hop music, online sports games and healthy fast food.” Sapp will sign a franchise agreement for each store he opens (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 6/22)....NASCAR driver JEREMY MAYFIELD is filming a commercial for the Discovery Channel’s “BIKER BUILD-OFF” series (BOSTON HERALD, 6/23).