Names In The News

Irsay (c) Has Turned Colts Into "One Of League's Gold Standards"

In Indianapolis, Mike Chappell profiled Colts Owner JIM IRSAY, who "brought so much of what had been lacking" in the organization when he took over control of the NFL team in '97 and turned the Colts into "one of the league's gold standards." The 50-year-old owner is "all business when the situation warrants," yet there is an "idiosyncratic side to him" as well. Irsay in conversation likes to "sprinkle in lyrics from songs composed by BOB DYLAN, JOHN LENNON or STING" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 1/31). CBSSPORTS.com's Clark Judge wrote under the header, "Irsay's Indy Super Move: Nabbing Architect Polian." Irsay hired BILL POLIAN from the Panthers in '98 to serve as team President and charged him with "rebuilding the Colts" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/1).

HOW FAR WE'VE COME: HBO aired the latest episode of "24/7 Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona," where NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON reflected on winning his fourth straight Sprint Cup Championship last year. Johnson: "I'm kind of in a state of disbelief. Yes, I'm trying to set my marks high and my goals high and dream big and all those things you hear. But I've blown through every high mark I've set." The broadcast showed the effort involved in building each car Johnson uses and how the paint scheme is put on the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy. Johnson's crew chief, CHAD KNAUS, said of the finished painted car, "Having a car that looks nice is important to everybody" ("24/7 Jimmie Johnson: Race to Daytona," HBO, 2/2).

REMEMBER YOUR ROOTS: MLB VP/Baseball Operations Jimmie Lee Solomon spoke to his alma mater Lamar Consolidated High School outside Houston yesterday as part of its Career Day. Solomon noted how he enrolled in Harvard Law School after failing to catch on with NFL team, and spent 10 years at a law firm before leaving for MLB. Solomon yesterday said of his career in law, "I hated every second." He added, "There is no right or wrong path. You'll change in five years. Be passionate about what you do" (MLB.com, 2/2).

CHARITY STRIPE: Dodgers 3B CASEY BLAKE and his wife ABBIE Monday donated $1M to the Indianola Community School District in Iowa. The donation was given to “stimulate a dollar-for-dollar matching gift program designed to generate funds from the community.” The goal is to reach at least $2M for additional athletic facilities (INDIANOLA RECORD-HERALD, 2/2)….World Cup Alpine skiers have “raised more than $90,000 for Haitian earthquake relief with an online auction of autographed race bibs from the most storied races on the World Cup circuit” (NYTIMES.com, 2/2).

NAMES: Outgoing IMG Canada Senior VP & Managing Dir BRAD PELLETIER, who announced earlier this month he was resigning after 12 years to move to B.C., has been “flattered by the offers that have emerged.” But he said, “I really feel good about my decision. … You never know what you’re worth until you become a free agent. I have not decided what I’m going to do, but I am committed to shifting my focus” (Vancouver PROVINCE, 2/3)….Steelers Chair Emeritus DAN ROONEY will attend Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/3)….Patriots TE Benjamin WATSON has signed agent DREW ROSENHAUS for representation. Watson was previously repped by PAT DYE JR. (ESPNBOSTON.com, 2/2)....Former Dodgers CEO JAMIE MCCOURT next month is scheduled to give the keynote address at an Orange County luncheon celebrating Jewish philanthropy (LATIMES.com, 2/2)....Dodgers manager JOE TORRE will play himself in next Monday's "Castle" on ABC and on the March 11 episode of CBS' "Gary Unmarried" (LATIMES.com, 2/2)....PGA Tour Exec VP/Communications & Int’l Affairs Ty Votaw and golfer SOPHIE GUSTAFSON have divorced after less than four years of marriage (AP, 2/2).