Bruins Owner and Delaware North Chair JEREMY JACOBS said that the word "retired" has come up "way too much for his liking" in recent weeks since relinquishing his CEO title to his three sons. NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN: "Anyone who even thought that just doesn't know Jeremy Jacobs. ... People don't understand that he is involved in this business on so many different levels. His expertise is unparalleled" Bettman added, "He is a great sounding board. You always know that Jeremy Jacobs' business judgment is going to be consistently sound." Jacobs said, "My kids may think they own the team, but they know I really do" (BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST, 3/13).
PAUL'S CALLS: In Nashville, Dave Ammenheuser profiles Predators PA announcer PAUL MCCANN, who "serves many purposes on game nights." Whether it is "delivering the starting lineups or announcing the goal scorers, he's the game host." He "uses his voice to make the fans feel like they are at a major social event, not just another game." From his "signature, 'Powerballllllllllll Power Play' call each time a penalty is called on an opponent to his closing 'Good Night, Good Hockey' at the game's conclusion, McCann has a unique relationship with the crowd." When he "announces that there's a minute left in the period, the crowd responds, in unison, 'Thanks, Paul.'" McCann said he, Predators Dir of Event Presentation BRIAN CAMPBELL and the rest of the gameday operations team "are here to have fun." He added, "We are here to entertain, but we are not here to get in the way of the game" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 3/17).
NAMES: In his sixth season as the "spitfire keyboardist/organist for the Hawks," FOSTER CARSON has seen his popularity and national profile grow as the team "dominates the NBA Eastern Conference" (AJC.com, 3/17)....DC-based FiscalNote, which “uses data-mining software and artificial intelligence to predict the outcome of legislation and regulations,” has pulled in $19.4M in capital since its ‘13 start from “big-name investors” including Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN (WASHINGTON POST, 3/13)....The Charlotte Business Journal named Triple-A Int'l League Charlotte Knights Dir of Ticket Sales & Hospitality SEAN OWENS and Hornets Senior VP/Partnership Marketing & Ticketing FLAVIL HAMPSTEN to its ’15 “40 Under 40” list (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 3/13 issue)....Cardinals WR LARRY FITZGERALD, 49ers QB COLIN KAEPERNICK and Saints QB DREW BREES “were featured speakers at the ‘Visa & The NFL: Bringing Innovation to an Iconic Brand’ panel at SXSW this weekend.” NFL Senior VP/Sponsorship & Partnership Marketing RENIE ANDERSON, Visa Chief Brand Officer ANTONIO LUCIO and 49ers President PARAAG MARATHE also were on the panel (ADWEEK.com, 3/15)....Former Republican presidential candidate MITT ROMNEY and former boxer EVANDER HOLYFIELD “will go head-to-head … for a charity event” May 15 at the Rail Event Center in Salt Lake City, with proceeds going to the non-profit Charity Vision (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/17).
