NFL agent LEIGH STEINBERG was profiled on NBC's "Today" this morning, with NBC's Matt Lauer noting the report "takes us behind one of sports' biggest agents and his fall from grace." NBC's Andrea Canning said after dealing with his alcoholism and getting his life in order, Steinberg is "attempting a comeback" and will be "working the rooms at this year's Super Bowl in New York." Steinberg said athletes should trust him to be their agent because "I'm probably the only certifiably sober agent in sports." Canning noted there is "no official word" if Steinberg has signed any clients as of yet, "but he has a Super Bowl party this weekend and he's working the room" ("Today," NBC, 1/28).
SCREEN GRABS: Metan Development Group has "secured distribution rights for theatrical, TV and online" in China for the documentary "LINSANITY," which tells the life story of Rockets G JEREMY LIN (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/27)....Jazz CEO GREG MILLER will appear on CBS' "UNDERCOVER BOSS" on Feb. 28. The net said Miller will "attempt to make halftime history" as he works with the Jazz dunk team (DESERET NEWS, 1/27).
CHARITY STRIPE: The families of NFL Giants Treasurer JONATHAN TISCH, President & CEO JOHN MARA and Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON are each donating $1M to "an independent charitable arm of the N.Y./N.J. Super Bowl Host Committee for playgrounds and youth centers in both states" (AP, 1/27)....MLB Giants 3B coach TIM FLANNERY and his band, LUNATIC FRINGE, raised $96,000 "during four nights of concerts in Northern California over the weekend" to support the recovery of BRYAN STOW, the fan injured in a beating outside Dodger Stadium in '11. Giants P JEREMY AFFELDT "contributed $25,000 to match Flannery's initial total," while former MLBer WILL CLARK "wrote a $10,000 check" (MLB.com, 1/27)....Heat players last night "took center stage" at the Fillmore Miami Beach for Battioke, a "charity/karaoke benefit for the Take Charge Foundation." The outing was organized by Heat F SHANE BATTIER and his wife, HEIDI (SOUTHFLORIDA.com, 1/27).
AWARDS & HONORS: The National Motorsports Press Association awarded Talladega Superspeedway Chair GRANT LYNCH with its Joe Littlejohn Award, "given out each year in recognition of outstanding service to NMPA" (AL.com, 1/27). The NMPA also named late Atlanta Motor Speedway PR Dir MARCY SCOTT recipient of the Ken Patterson Helping Others Award and the NMPA Spirit Award. The Patterson award is given to a representative who "exhibited the kind and generous qualities" for which Patterson was known (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 1/27).
NAMES: Chicago-based TIP Solutions has partnered with TNT NBA analyst SHAQUILLE O'NEAL on a "free Android app CallSnap, which allows users to decline calls by sending a picture, clip-art image or recorded video message in return." O'Neal also "has a stake in the company" and will promote it "online and at tech conferences" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 1/27)....Broncos CB CHAMP BAILEY is “the new voice on the trains” at Denver Int’l Airport (DENVERPOST.com, 1/25)….CLAY PELL, husband of former Olympic figure skater MICHELLE KWAN, yesterday announced his bid to become the governor of Rhode Island (AP, 1/27)….Figure skater EVAN LYSACEK “has paid $850,000 for a two-bedroom, 1,600-square-foot” condo “on the 45th floor of a high-rise building” in Chicago (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 1/27)….Culpepper's Orlando, a restaurant owned by former NFLer and UCF alum DAUNTE CULPEPPER near the campus of his alma mater, “has closed” (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 1/27)….Broncos DEs JEREMY MINCEY and MALIK JACKSON, CB KAYVON WEBSTER, DT SYLVESTER WILLIAMS and LB STEVEN JOHNSON “partied at hot spot VIP Room” on Sunday night in N.Y. (N.Y. POST, 1/28)….Actress MERYL STREEP “found herself in the front row” at Lakers-Knicks on Sunday next to rapper 50 CENT (LATIMES.com, 1/27).
