In DC, Rick Maese profiles ESPN's JAY BILAS and writes the college basketball analyst "never intended to lead this crusade" against the NCAA to pay student-athletes. But by "virtue of his platform, his background and his research, knowledge and delivery of the subject, he has become the grand marshal of a movement to upend the way college sports operates: Accept that it’s big business, do away with the notion of amateurism, pay college athletes." Bilas has gone from being a "backseat driver to someone who has a hand on the steering wheel." Bilas said that there was not one moment when he "decided he had to speak up" against the NCAA. He said that it was a "slow evolution." Bilas "doesn't harp on these issues during games but won’t bite his tongue during studio appearances, and his Twitter feed is like a firehouse." His voice has "only grown louder in recent years" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/13).
GET WELL SOON: IndyCar team owner A.J. FOYT "is in stable condition at a Houston hospital following triple bypass surgery on his heart" yesterday. He was admitted Monday "after complaining of intermittent chest pains," and doctors "found blockages in three arteries" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/13)....After the diagnosis of throat cancer earlier this year, Twins GM TERRY RYAN said he is "doing well." Ryan: "I'm done with radiation. All I'm responsible for now is my appointments every three months for a number of years. For the most part, things are good. The only thing I really haven't done is gain the weight back, which really isn't all that bad" (MLB.com, 11/13).
THE OLD COLLEGE TRY: In Oklahoma City, Jenni Carlson writes CONDOLEEZZA RICE "shouldn't be" on the CFP Selection Committee because she "should probably be leading the SEC. Or the NCAA. Or the NFL." With SEC Commissioner MIKE SLIVE retiring, Rice "has been floated as a candidate." Rice "may actually be in line for a job that doesn't even exist yet -- Power Five president." With all of the "upheaval in college sports, it only feels like a matter of time before the top five leagues decide to govern themselves, secede from the NCAA and form their own organization" (OKLAHOMAN, 11/13).
LETTER OF THE LAW: U.S. Representative BILL PASCRELL JR. (D-N.J.) sent a letter yesterday to NCAA President MARK EMMERT "urging the association to create mandatory guidelines about how to care for concussions." Pascrell previously wrote to Big Ten Commissioner JIM DELANY asking the conference to "investigate Michigan's mishandling" of QB SHANE MORRIS' concussion and to "assess penalties for violating" its concussion protocol. Pascrell is co-Founder & co-Chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/12).
AWARDS & HONORS: Broncos Owner PAT BOWLEN was selected to the Colorado Business HOF (Broncos)....The “marquee name” for this year’s Musial Awards next Saturday at St. Louis’ Peabody Opera House is MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations JOE TORRE (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/13)....Two Minneapolis City Council members “want to rename a block” near the new Vikings stadium in honor of former Vikings coach BUD GRANT (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/12).
NAMES: Nike Football VP & Creative Dir MARTIN LOTTI was profiled in the Wall Street Journal's "20 Odd Questions" feature. Lotti said the company is "not good when we chase trends -- we are much better when we set them" (WSJ.com, 11/12)....San Diego-based Alesmith Brewing Company “will release its first six packs of its TONY GWYNN commemorative .394 Pale Ale” on Sunday. The name of the beer references the Padres' "highest single season batting average," set by the late Baseball HOFer in ’94 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/12)....The sweater vest and turtleneck worn by Auburn football coach GUS MALZAHN during last year’s Iron Bowl “will be sold by SCP Auctions on Dec. 6” (ESPN.com, 11/12)....Clippers F BLAKE GRIFFIN “has been charged with one count of misdemeanor battery in conjunction with an incident last month” at the Venetian in Las Vegas. The case “alleges Griffin squeezed the hand and shoulder and/or slapped DANIEL SCHUMAN" (L.A. TIMES, 11/13)....Packers QB AARON RODGERS and actress OLIVIA MUNN, who "have been dating since April," attended last night’s Thunder-Bucks game (SUNTIMES.com, 11/12)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY and wife GISELE BUNDCHEN put their $14M, 3,300-square-foot N.Y. apartment “on the rental block” for $40,000 per month (BOSTONHERALD.com, 11/12).
