Names In The News

Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo has Facebook and Twitter feed

In Louisville, Jennie Rees notes Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo is a “social media savant.” The horse's owner, Glaceau co-Founder MIKE REPOLE, and marketing rep KELLY WIETSMA “actually do the Twitter and Facebook postings, which started in earnest after Mo won Belmont’s Grade I Champagne before his romping victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs.” Repole said that he “was frustrated at the inability to find out more information about the great horses of the day.” He said that he “loved the public access and social networking surrounding Horse of the Year Zenyatta.” When Repole and Wietsma went to start an Uncle Mo Facebook page, they “found one already existed, started several weeks earlier” by 13-year-old BECCA CASE. Repole and Wietsma “teamed with the teen, who remains a page administrator and often posts photos” (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 2/4).

MAKING A CLEAN BREAK: In Buffalo, John Vogl reports when LARRY QUINN's minority ownership of the Sabres "is sold in the next couple of weeks, he will relinquish his role" as Vice Chair of Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. as well. Quinn, who was appointed to the agency in '05, said that he is "tired of the 'screwed-up' politics of the community." He added, "I'm going to finish up here, and I'm going to kind of cut off my involvements with other things in Buffalo for now" (BUFFALO NEWS, 2/4).

NAMES: F1 driver LEWIS HAMILTON "expects to name his new manager in the next two weeks with SIMON FULLER's 19 Entertainment company understood to be in the pole position" (London TELEGRAPH, 2/3)....Suns G STEVE NASH has launched a mobile giving campaign to benefit Educare Arizona, a platform of his foundation. The Suns have designated Friday, when the team plays host to the Thunder, "Educare -- Early Learning Night at the Phoenix Suns" (Suns)....The White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks are teaming to host the inaugural "Home Team Charity Run" on Sunday, April 3. A portion of the proceeds from the race, a 10K that starts at United Center and ends at U.S. Cellular Field, will be split among the teams' charities (White Sox)....ANDY RODDICK will miss next week's ATP World Tour SAP Open "for the first time" since '03 in order to accompany his wife, model BROOKLYN DECKER, to appearances for SI's Swimsuit Issue and her feature film debut, "JUST GO WITH IT" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 2/4)....Roark Capital has added Fox NFL analyst TROY AIKMAN to the Wingstop BOD. Aikman has been a national spokesperson for the restaurant chain since '03 (Wingstop).