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Names In The News

A source said that retiring USC AD PAT HADEN yesterday "was hospitalized" and is scheduled to "undergo an unspecified procedure in the next few days." A USC spokesperson said that Haden was "walking to Heritage Hall after attending a meeting elsewhere on campus when he felt light-headed." Haden "has a pacemaker and required medical attention several times in the past 18 months" (L.A. TIMES, 2/11).

FORE SCORE: In San Diego, Tod Leonard profiles USGA President DIANA MURPHY, who is the organization's first female president "in two decades" and only the second in its 121-year existence. Murphy was "officially elected president on Saturday evening at the USGA’s annual meeting." Golf is "trying harder than ever to portray itself as inclusive, not exclusive, and the rise of a true West Virginia coal miner’s daughter to such a powerful position in the game is probably not a bad way to hammer home that message." Outgoing USGA President TOM O'TOOLE JR. said, "The nominating committee deliberated about the direction we’re going strategically. And they chose the best person to lead the organization. She happens to be female. I guess there are some nice synergies there" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/11).

WATER WORKS: Michigan State basketball players yesterday "volunteered to join" coach TOM IZZO at the Boys & Girls Club of Flint. The team "surprised local club members, ages 7-17, for a water bottle recycling project." Izzo said that he has been "getting calls from many of the top coaches around the country" such as North Carolina's ROY WILLIAMS, Tennessee's RICK BARNES and Kentucky's JOHN CALIPARI. Izzo: "Everybody's trying to figure out what we can do and how we can do it" (MLIVE.com, 2/10).

TAKE THIS ROSE: Pacers F PAUL GEORGE will appear on Monday's episode of "THE BACHELOR" "along with teammate GEORGE HILL, coach FRANK VOGEL and Pacers mascot Boomer." The show airs 8:00pm ET on ABC. Pacers Senior VP and Chief Sales & Marketing Officer TODD TAYLOR said, "We do participate in the date. I guess you could say we crashed it, but it's not the intimate setting you might imagine" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/11). The newest episode of the show will "feature BEN HIGGINS taking a date to Wrigley Field." Higgins, who is a Cubs fan, "brings contestant JOELLE 'JOJO' FLETCHER with him to Chicago." The would-be-couple wears "matching 'Higgins' jerseys" (SUNTIMES.com, 2/10).

NAMES
: A second lawsuit “has been filed on behalf of holders of Rams personal seat licenses -- this time in federal court.” The suit claims that PSLs were “supposed to allow owners to buy season tickets through” the ‘24 season. But the Rams’ relocation to L.A. “rendered the licenses worthless.” The suit “seeks reimbursement of the remaining value of the licenses as well as damages for RONALD MCALLISTER of St. Louis County” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/11)....Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK is investing in Maryland-based luxury watchmaker Towson Watch Co. "through his Sagamore Ventures,” taking a 25% stake in the company. Terms of the deal “were not disclosed, but Sagamore said it has an option to purchase the company over time” (BALTIMORESUN.com, 2/10)....An investment group which includes Golf HOFer GREG NORMAN has “purchased Laser Pegs Ventures LLC, a Sarasota-based toy company” (BUSINESSOBSERVERFL.com, 2/10)....The Univ. of Georgia “had to buy out” former football coach MARK RICHT’s contract for $4M, and the school still has an additional six assistant coaches under Richt to whom it owes more than $2.2M (DAWGNATION.com, 2/10)....Pro Football HOFer JEROME BETTIS will “throw out the first pitch” during the Double-A Eastern League Richmond Flying Squirrels' Opening Night festivities on April 14 (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 2/11).

IN MEMORY: MLB.com Pirates reporter TOM SINGER, who covered the team the past four years, “died suddenly” Monday at his Scottsdale, Ariz., home. He was 67. Singer in ’01 “was one of the first writers hired by MLB.com” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/11)....INGRID WILLIAMS, the wife of Thunder assistant coach MONTY WILLIAMS, yesterday “died from injuries suffered in a car crash.” Oklahoma City police said that she passed away at a hospital after her SUV “was struck Tuesday night just outside of downtown Oklahoma City when an oncoming car crossed the center line” (AP, 2/10).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

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On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

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SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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