Univ. of South Carolina President HARRIS PASTIDES this week was selected as Chair of the NCAA D-I BOD, "putting him out front of an organization in the midst of historic change." Pastides said, "I am going to be very active. I think it’s good for USC to be on the map at a very important time.” Pastides plans to "spend much of his time selling the merits of the Power Five’s new financial package for athletes and asking for time to allow the new order in the NCAA to shake out" (Columbia STATE, 1/23).
BEYOND HOPE? U.S. women's national team G HOPE SOLO's husband, former NFLer JERRAMY STEVENS, "was reportedly driving a U.S. Soccer team van when he was arrested for a DUI" in California on Monday morning. TMZ reports that Solo "allowed her husband ... to drive the team van" (OREGONLIVE.com, 1/22). In N.Y., Filip Bondy writes Solo’s "self-destructive behavior has become a great concern to everyone who knows her -- including teammates, U.S. officials and coaches." There is "no denying the escalating problems, many of them apparently alcohol-related" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/23).
NAMES: PRESIDENT OBAMA on Thursday met with the Kansas men's basketball team to "pose for photos" and "shake some hands." The mood was "comfortable and cordial." KU coach BILL SELF: "He basically said he gave the game up" (K.C. STAR, 1/23)....Brewers C JONATHAN LUCROY attended Tuesday's State of the Union address "at the invitation" of U.S. Sen. RON JOHNSON (R-Wisc.) (MLB.com, 1/21)....The Univ. of Minnesota on Thursday announced that late UM regent DAVID LARSON and his wife, JANIS, have given $15M to the athletic department "for the new football performance center, which will house football offices, locker rooms, training areas and workout facilities." The $15M is part of the $65M the university has raised for the new center (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/23)....Charlotte Motor Speedway was recognized Wednesday by the North Carolina Motorsports Association for contributions to the community through its science, technology, engineering and math-based educational field trip program. CMS President & GM MARCUS SMITH accepted the award (CMS)....Browns Owner JIMMY HASLAM III “was in attendance at Thursday’s Greater Cleveland Sports Awards held at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel” (CLEVELAND.com, 1/22)....Rapper NICKI MINAJ “will headline" the musical performances at the X Games in Austin in June (THEWRAP.com, 1/20).
