Bruins D ZDENO CHARA has been "selected to carry the Slovakian flag" during the Feb. 7 Opening Ceremony at the Sochi Games. The Bruins play the Blues in St. Louis on Feb. 6, then play "their final pre-break game at home" against the Senators on Feb. 8. It is "likely that Chara will miss both games." Bruins coach CLAUDE JULIEN said, "When you look at what Z has done for this club, I think it's an easy decision to make. You're carrying your country's flag at the Olympics. Even if he misses a game and maybe two, I think that's the least we can do for a guy who's given us so much since he's been here" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/17).
REBEL YELL: UNLV football coach BOBBY HAUCK's new three-year contract, which is pending approval by the Nevada Board of Regents, "will pay him $700,000 annually." The new salary is "$200,000 higher than the previous deal, which included an annual salary of $350,000 with a yearly retention bonus of $150,000." Hauck also "receives a one-time payment of $150,000 on the new agreement on July 1, which he would have received under the prior arrangement" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/17).
NAMES: The Pro Football Writers of America named Chiefs GM JOHN DORSEY NFL Exec of the Year. Dorsey in '13 was in his first season in the role "after spending 21 of the previous 22 years" with the Packers (K.C. STAR, 1/17)....MLS named Timbers COO MIKE GOLUB the Doug Hamilton Exec of the Year (MLS)....Japan Prime Minister SHINZO ABE reportedly is "planning to attend" the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi Games "despite calls for a boycott over Russia's anti-gay laws" (AFP, 1/17)....Yahoo Sports' DAN WETZEL and ESPN Dir of Communications DAVID SCOTT are the co-writers with director JAKE GOLDBERGER of the new film, "LIFE OF A KING." Actor CUBA GOODING JR. plays EUGENE BROWN, a DC resident who "after serving 18 years in prison went on to use chess as a means to keep inner-city kids off the streets" (SHERMANREPORT.com, 1/16)....Lakers G KOBE BRYANT, who currently is in Boston for the team’s Friday game against the Celtics, on Thursday “dropped by the campus of Boston College and checked in on a few business classes” (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 1/16)....Hampton Roads Daily Press columnist DAVID TEEL will be part of the '14 induction class of the Virginia Sports HOF (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 1/17)....Broncos WR ERIC DECKER and his wife, JESSIE JAMES, appear in the "Love Sex & Madness issue of GQ," which hits newsstands Jan. 28 (DENVERPOST.com, 1/16)....Browns QB BRANDON WEEDEN and his wife, MELANIE, are expecting their first child in July (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 1/17).
IN MEMORY: WBC President JOSE SULAIMAN died on Thursday at the age of 82 after "a long battle with heart problems" (London TELEGRAPH, 1/17).
