Names In the News

Bobinski sees as many games as time allows

In Cincinnati, Shannon Russell profiles Xavier AD and NCAA D-1 Men's Basketball Committee Chair MIKE BOBINSKI, who is "in the midst of a prestigious journey" as tournament chair. Bobinski’s duties include "managing committee meetings, setting the agendas and making sure the group covers necessary ground." He is the spokesperson for the committee "all year, not just on Selection Sunday, and must have knowledge of the entire field instead of the specific conferences he was assigned as a committee member." Bobinski "jots down thoughts in a notebook each night while watching games." He "checks scores and stats daily and tries to see as many teams in person as his schedule allows." Bobinski in November and the first half of December "watched about 30 teams play in seven cities" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/28).

CHARITY STRIPE: Several lacrosse players held a youth clinic Thursday in Newtown, Conn., including HOFer MARK MILLON, MLL Charlotte Hounds F ERIC LUSBY, Ohio Machine D KYLE HARTZELL, Chesapeake Bayhawks MF STEVEN BROOKS, Denver Outlaws D MATT BOCKLET and MF JEREMY SIEVERTS (BALTIMORESUN.com, 12/27).

NAMES: Comcast Chair & CEO BRIAN ROBERTS last week "sold 317,200 Comcast shares ... for almost $11.6 million" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/26)....Bronze Medal-winning U.S. boxer ANTHONY OGOGO has signed his first pro contract with Golden Boy Promotions (PA, 12/27)....Retired pro wrestler RIC FLAIR visited the Heat locker room during Wednesday's game against the Bobcats in Charlotte. Heat F LEBRON JAMES said, "I mean, when I was a kid, I loved wrestling. He was one of the guys I loved, too" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/28)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer MISSY FRANKLIN will serve as the grand marshal for Saturday's Fiesta Bowl parade (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/28)....Former NBAer KENYON MARTIN has put his Dalworthington, Texas, mansion “on the market for a cool $5 million.” The home “comes equipped with a nine-car garage, multiple wet bars and a pecan orchard” (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 12/26).

IN MEMORY: Former Navy AD J.O. “BO” COPPEDGE died Wednesday night at the age of 88. Coppedge “ran Navy’s athletic department from 1968 until his retirement in 1988.” His son, JOHN, said that a “memorial service will be held at the academy chapel” (Baltimore SUN, 12/28).