Names In The News

NFL Panthers DE MIKE RUCKER, Bears DT TOMMIE HARRIS, Chargers DE LUIS CASTILLO and SI's PETER KING were among a group that visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan as part of a 10-day NFL-USO trip. USA TODAY's Sean Leahy reports the group heard "firsthand tales of wartime perils -- snipers, improvised explosive devices, roadside mines and grenades landing near soldiers' feet." Harris: "You don't want to talk. You just want to be there for them ... let them vent and ask questions" (USA TODAY, 3/11). King described the trip as the "greatest field trip of all time" (SI.com, 3/10).

WHAT A PEARL: Last night's edition of HBO's "Real Sports" profiled Univ. of Tennessee (UT) men’s basketball coach BRUCE PEARL. Pearl has appeared in public in a sumo wrestling suit and painted his chest for a women’s game in '07. Pearl said he does these things “so people see a face to the program.” UT women's basketball coach PAT SUMMITT: “Bruce has had an influence on people buying tickets to the women’s game just because he’s been so involved and it’s an atmosphere for both men’s and women’s basketball that I never thought I would live to see” ("Real Sports," HBO, 3/10).

OWNERS IN THE NEWS: Bills Owner RALPH WILSON Friday at the Maxwell Club's 71st annual awards dinner in New Jersey was awarded the Francis J. Bagnell Award for contributions to football. Meanwhile, Wilson, Titans Owner BUD ADAMS and former Chargers Owner BARRON HILTON on Saturday were awarded the inaugural Lamar Hunt Award for "visionary leadership in professional football" (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/9)....Former Vikings and Spurs Owner RED MCCOMBS and Rockets Owner LESLIE ALEXANDER formed Rocket Capital Investment Group I to invest $100M in Brilliance China Automotive Holdings (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 3/11).

NAMES: Actor LOUIS GOSSETT JR. has signed as Exec Producer and narrator of the documentary "THE UNTOLD TRUTH" about the Negro Baseball Leagues. Gossett is partnering with L.A.-based Wrapped Productions Principals JOHN RITTENOUR, GREGG CHAMPION and GARY BALLEN, who also will serve as the documentary's exec producers. The film is scheduled to be released during the '08 World Series (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/11)....Penguins C SIDNEY CROSBY Saturday at the Pittsburgh American Ireland Fund (AIF) dinner became the first athlete recipient of the AIF Chairman's Award, which recognizes leadership in community and charitable activities. Steelers Chair DAN ROONEY and Penguins President DAVID MOREHOUSE served as co-Chairs of the dinner (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/8)....Celebrity chef BOBBY FLAY will serve as host and spokesperson for Kentucky Derby Party, a new program launched by Churchill Downs Inc. (Kentucky Derby).