In Daytona Beach, Brent Woronoff notes the six-episode "What Would RYAN LOCHTE Do?" reality show will debut April 21 on E! Lochte said of the filming, "I didn't think it was going to be this tiring. It is, it's draining. I have to shoot every day, eight hours a day. It's just a constant thing. I don't really get a break.'' Lochte said that he is "glad he took on the project." It is part of his "personal mission to use himself as a conduit to promote the sport of swimming." Lochte: "It gets frustrating at times, because you've got to do retakes a lot. ... It's not like a scripted thing. It's not like a TV show where you have lines. It's pretty much you be yourself" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/15).
HEADING TO THE POLLS: Chicago Magazine's Power 100 includes Bulls and White Sox Chair JERRY REINSDORF, Blackhawks Owner ROCKY WIRTZ, Big Ten Commissioner JIM DELANY, Cubs Chair TOM RICKETTS, Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN and Bears President & CEO TED PHILLIPS (CHICAGO MAGAZINE, 3/'13 issue).
TIME TO INNOVATE: FAST COMPANY magazine released its top 10 most innovative companies in sports list. Nike ranked No. 1 for "changing the game with FuelBand and Flyknit footwear," while the NBA ranked second for its "slam-dunk strategy to draw fans to its digital products." The NBA has "thrived in the new world of sports leagues-as-content producers." Dynamic ticket pricing firm Qcue ranked third for "using data to bridge the gap between fans and teams, with a system that adjusts ticket prices according to many factors" (FAST COMPANY, 3/ '13 issue).
A CINDERELLA STORY: Model KATHERINE WEBB, who is dating Alabama QB A.J. MCCARRON, appears in this year's SI Swimsuit issue after she was featured prominently during the Alabama-Notre Dame BCS Championship game. HLN's A.J. Hammer said, “You get super-famous for going to a football game essentially … and then you have all these opportunities.” Webb said it has been a “whirlwind” and “my life completely changed” since the game. Webb: “It’s been difficult, though, because it’s been so quick.” Webb said she was “completely amazed” when SI wanted to do a photo shoot with her “because every model dreams of being in Sports Illustrated” ("Showbiz Tonight," HLN, 2/13).
AWARDS & HONORS: ESPN NFL analyst LOMAS BROWN will be inducted into the Michigan Sports HOF on Monday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Other inductees include former NBAers MATEEN CLEAVES and STEVE SMITH, NBC's TONY DUNGY and former NFLer TYRONE WHEATLEY (ESPN)....The Communitas Awards on Wednesday announced the NHL as winner of the ’13 Leadership in Ethical & Environmental Responsibility category for the league’s NHL Green initiative (NHL)
NAMES: FS Midwest’s KAYLA KNIERIM, along with Baseball HOFers WADE BOGGS and ROLLIE FINGERS, last week traveled to an army garrison in Grafenwoehr, Germany (STLTODAY.com, 2/14)….Open-wheel driver CONOR DALY and his management team have hired The KINC agency for global representation (THE DAILY)….Canadiens D P.K. SUBBAN will offer instructional tips in the second episode of Disney XD Canada’s “Drop In” series featuring snowboarder COULTON CONWAY (THE DAILY)….Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI will serve as the Oscars Red Carpet correspondent for NFL.com’s “Rich Eisen Podcast” (ESPN.com, 2/14)….Hockey HOFer WAYNE GRETZKY and his daughter PAULINA were in golfer DUSTIN JOHNSON’s gallery on Thursday at the PGA Tour Northern Trust Open (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/15).
