In Tampa, Robert Trigaux profiled 20 local "business people to watch for the rest of 2015," with the No. 1 slot going to Lightning CEO STEVE GRIGGS, who succeeded TOD LEIWEKE. Griggs "was singled out for superior leadership by his own employees in this year's Tampa Bay Times 'Top Workplace' survey." Leiweke "served as right hand man" to team Owner JEFF VINIK and "his massive real estate development planned just south of downtown Tampa." But Griggs "is expected to stay more focused on the Lightning ... while Vinik looks elsewhere to augment his real estate team" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/15).
BOY NAMED SUH: In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde examined Dolphins DT NDAMUKONG SUH's numerous friendships with high-profile businessmen, including Berkshire Hathaway CEO WARREN BUFFETT, TD Ameritrade Chair and Coastal Carolina football coach JOE MOGLIA and outgoing TD Ameritrade CFO BILL GERBER. In his spare time, Suh also "has sought business advice from former athletes" like Pro Football HOFer ROGER STAUBACH, former NBAer JUNIOR BRIDGEMAN and Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON. Suh: "The last few years, I've tried to steadily grow in my understanding of business so I'll gradually ramp up what I want to do after football." Hyde wrote of Suh, "He has sat in Berkshire Hathaway meetings. He has met with Buffett for lunch. He mock-arm-wrestled Buffett for charity once and on the business channel CNBC a second time, losing both times" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 8/16).
RAM TOUGH: Colorado State AD JOE PARKER "can earn plenty of incentives for the success of his department," as his contract has a bonus structure "focused around both athletics and academics that will reward him for achievements through the agreement’s end date of April 5, 2020." A series of 10 bonuses of $5,000 or $10,000 "would reward Parker for CSU athletics success on the field and in the classroom, along with success in increasing athletics ticket sales and fundraising." In addition to a base salary of $325,000, Parker "can earn bonuses of up to $60,000 per year, pushing his potential annual earnings to $385,000." Former CSU AD JACK GRAHAM "had a base salary of $260,000 and a maximum of $700 in bonuses" (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN 8/15).
YOUR HONORS, SIR: While on vacation in Martha's Vineyard, PRESIDENT OBAMA and BILL CLINTON played golf together on Saturday "ahead of an evening birthday celebration for Washington power broker and mutual friend VERNON JORDAN." Obama and Clinton "have golfed together at least three times since the current president entered office" (REUTERS, 8/15). Obama on Friday golfed with Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY. Curry's dad, former NBAer DELL CURRY, and NBA free agent RAY ALLEN also joined the group. It was the "second round of the week for Allen with the president, who played Wednesday" with Basketball HOFer ALONZO MOURNING (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/15).
NAMES: In a letter that appeared in a full-page ad in Sunday's Jackson Clarion-Ledger, former NFLer ARCHIE MANNING and Basketball HOFer BAILEY HOWELL were among a group that called "for removal of the Confederate emblem from Mississippi's state flag" (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 8/16). Also among the group were Ole Miss football coach HUGH FREEZE and Mississippi State coach DAN MULLEN (ESPN.com, 8/16)....Court documents show that former Nike exec PAUL RIVERA, whose Roll With the Winners sports marketing company is “frequently touted by stars” including Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES, is “more than $60,000 behind in child-support payments” (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 8/16)....Yankees Vice Chair JESSICA STEINBRENNER “has served divorce papers” to her third husband, Yankees Exec VP & Chief Int'l Officer FELIX LOPEZ. Their divorce “follows five months of rumblings" that Lopez, 61 was "already out the franchise door” (NYPOST.com, 8/16)....Triple-A PCL Round Rock Express Owner & CFO REESE RYAN will be the “new baseball coach” at Regents School of Austin. Last season, he served as a “volunteer pitching coach” for the private school. Ryan “just bought a house adjacent to Regents’ campus,” and his daughters “attend the school” (MYSTATESMAN.com, 8/14)....Pro Football HOFer LYNN SWANN “is coming under fire for being a celebrity director of bankrupt Ceasars Entertainment and is being charged personally along with his fellow directors for fraud in an investor suit” (N.Y. POST, 8/16).
