Former Orioles GM HANK PETERS, the "architect of the last Orioles team to win a World Series, died Sunday morning of complications from a recent stroke" in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 90. Peters in December '75 "took over a team with a storied past and, for much of the next 12 years, sustained that success." Longtime Baltimore-based agent RON SHAPIRO said of Peters, "Nobody in baseball taught me more than Hank did. Through negotiations, he taught me the value of listening and of keeping one's perspective and balance in relationship with the other side." Peters was "fired" in '87 before being hired by the Indians "that same year." He served as GM "until his retirement" in '92 (Baltimore SUN, 1/5). Shapiro: "Rather than getting sucked into the agent-owner disengagement, Hank had the ability to neutralize emotions." Peters "was twice honored as The Sporting News Major League Executive of the Year." Former Rockies GM DAN O'DOWD said, "He was so low-key" (MLB.com, 1/4).
INFLUENCE RISING: The NFL Cardinals "have grown into a consistent contender," and the profile of team President MICHAEL BIDWILL "is sure to rise." NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL last month "appointed him to lead a committee of nine owners that will oversee the NFL's enhanced personal conduct policy, a prominent role given the scope of the domestic violence crisis that engulfed the league this season. SportsCorp President MARC GANIS said of the Cardinals, "They’re more of an up-and-comer. They are not there yet, but they are moving up on the field, as a business operation and Michael’s influence in the NFL" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/3). Meanwhile, the WALL STREET JOURNAL named NCAA President MARK EMMERT to its list of "People To Watch In 2015." College sports "are under pressure to give athletes a cut of the hundreds of millions of dollars they generate each year." Emmert "has made it his mission to fend off such actions, calling the move to pay players an 'existential threat' to college programs" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/2).
FORE TO THE CHIEF: Data kept by CBS News' MARK KNOLLER shows that PRESIDENT OBAMA has "spent roughly 1,000 hours playing 214 rounds since he was elected" in '08. Still, "little is known about the state of his game." Obama "counts all of his strokes and does not like to talk about politics." He "has played for money." Obama for much of his presidency "routinely shot in the 90s and low 100s" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/4).
NAMES: Charlotte firefighters "battled a two-alarm fire" early this morning at the home of Panthers coach RON RIVERA. There was "significant damage to the roof and attic of the home," but a dollar amount for the damage was not released. The fire was reported "just after" 4:00am ET (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 1/5)....New Jersey Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE last night sat in Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES’ box during the team's NFC Wild Card win over the Lions. Other notable attendees at the game included Baseball HOFer TOMMY LASORDA, former Cowboys coach DAVE CAMPO, Texas Gov. RICK PERRY and Michigan Gov. RICK SNYDER (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/4)....NFL Exec VP & General Counsel JEFF PASH was spotted in Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON's suite during Saturday's NFC Wild Card game versus the Cardinals (THE DAILY)....U.S. women’s national soccer team F ALEX MORGAN last week married Dynamo MF SERVANDO CARRASCO at Rancho Dos Pueblos in Santa Barbara, Calif. (ESPNW.com, 1/2)....Orioles CF ADAM JONES last week married AUDIE FUGETT in Scottsdale, Ariz., (Baltimore SUN, 1/2).
IN MEMORY: JOE ATTANASIO, the father of Brewers Owner MARK ATTANASIO, died on Friday at 89 in his L.A. home, “surrounded by family.” Joe “was a fixture during pre-game ceremonies before openers at Miller Park, singing the national anthem in quick-paced and authoritative fashion” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/5).
