Names In The News

SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL’s Liz Mullen reports William Morris Agency has signed PELE for representation and “will begin by working to develop a future film on the story of his life.” The agency also will look at book deals and global corporate partnerships, and it will work with Sao Paulo-based Prime Licensing, which holds the exclusive worldwide licensing rights to the Pele brand. WMA VP/Global Sports & Entertainment PHILIP BUTTON will serve as Pele’s main rep (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/26 issue).

JAMES GANG: Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES, through his King James Inc. investment company, has acquired an undisclosed ownership stake in Cannondale Bicycle Corp (Cavs). During ESPN’s broadcast of Nuggets-Cavaliers last night, Jim Gray interviewed Berkshire Hathaway Chair WARREN BUFFETT, who has become friends with James. Buffett wore a Nike “Witness” T-shirt and sat next to James’ agent, MAVERICK CARTER. Buffett said of James, “He is a plenty smart guy on finance. If he ever wants to talk to me about anything, I’m always available. But he can hold his own.” Buffett said athletes are “a lot smarter now than they were thirty years ago. They really put the money aside, and they do plenty of safe investments” (ESPN, 3/25).

Writer Calls Ronaldinho “One- Man Endorsement Machine”

PITCH MEN: The N.Y. TIMES’ Jack Bell profiles Barcelona MF RONALDINHO under the header, “Ronaldinho Becoming The Face Of Soccer.” He is a “one-man endorsement machine,” whose face is “ubiquitous” around Barcelona (N.Y. TIMES, 3/26)....MLS co-Founder, former U.S. Soccer Federation President and ’94 FIFA World Cup Chair ALAN ROTHENBERG will be inducted into the National Soccer HOF as a builder. Rothenberg will be inducted on August 26 with former women’s national team members MIA HAMM and JULIE FOUDY (AP, 3/24).

SPRING CLEANING: MLB forced Astros 2B CRAIG BIGGIO to remove a pin promoting the nonprofit SUNSHINE KIDS group from his cap during Spring Training games. Biggio has helped raise over $1.8M for the group, which helps cancer-stricken youth, and he has “always shown his support and raised awareness” for the group by wearing the pin during pregame warmups and Spring Training games (ESPN.com, 3/23)....Red Sox P CURT SCHILLING apologized for leaking the news of P JONATHAN PAPELBON’s move back to the bullpen on his blog before the team officially made the announcement (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/24)....SI’s TOM VERDUCCI served as an umpire during the Orioles-Red Sox Spring Training game Friday with MLB’s permission. He is working on a story about umpires (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/24).

IN MEMORY: NHRA driver ERIC MEDLEN died Friday from a head injury incurred when his Funny Car crashed while testing March 19 at Gainesville Raceway. He was 33 years old. This weekend’s O’Reilly Spring Nationals will include “several individual tributes to Medlen,” who drove for John Force Racing and was “considered one of drag racing’s most popular drivers.” He was also honored with a moment of silence before yesterday’s NASCAR Nextel Cup Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Funeral services will be held Wednesday in Indiana (USA TODAY, 3/26)....Former WPIX-CW sportscaster JERRY GIRARD died yesterday from cancer at the age of 74 (N.Y. POST, 3/26)....Nielsen Business Media CEO ROBERT KRAKOFF died Thursday of natural causes at the age of 71 (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/26).