In DC, Rick Maese profiles UFC VP/Athlete Health & Performance JEFF NOVITZKY, who "made his reputation as the nation’s so-called top steroid cop by shooting big stars out of the sky." His previous work "ruined the legacies of athletes" such as LANCE ARMSTRONG, MARION JONES and BARRY BONDS. Novitzky in his current role has "installed an anti-doping program that he thinks tops anything else in professional sports." The UFC brought Novitzky in "for a casual conversation about how the UFC might want to address doping." UFC co-Chair & CEO LORENZO FERTITTA said, "Right when he left the meeting, I was like, ‘We gotta hire this guy'" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/3).
TRUMP CARDS: Former college football coach LOU HOLTZ is "on the campaign trail for DONALD TRUMP, helping the Republican presidential candidate in Indiana by officially offering his endorsement via video message." Holtz is "seen wearing a Notre Dame pullover in the message that is intended to help Trump in the Indiana primary" (CBSSPORTS.com, 5/2). Meanwhile, former Indiana men's basketball coach BOB KNIGHT also endorsed Trump, and he has "finally found a politician whose basic appeal was essentially identical to Knight's persona as a basketball coach." Knight "found the perfect expression of his brand in a political campaign" (SI.com, 5/2). Comedy Central’s Trevor Noah said, “That endorsement makes perfect sense to me, because Bobby Knight is just like Donald Trump: He’s also obsessed with winning and also spends most of his time screaming at young minorities” (“The Daily Show,” Comedy Central, 5/2).
NAMES: The Orlando Business Journal named Orlando City SC VP/Community Relations KAY RAWLINS its '16 Businesswoman of the Year. Rawlins has been a "quiet force to be reckoned with," playing a critical role in making the club "an instant success" (ORLANDO BUSINESS JOURNAL, 4/29 issue)....PRINCE HARRY yesterday launched the official countdown to the '17 Invictus Games in Toronto. About 600 participants from 16 nations “are expected to compete in the event, which is the 31-year-old royal’s brainchild” (CP, 5/2)....Phillies 1B RYAN HOWARD will have a training center named after him. The Ryan Howard Training Center will be 7,500 square feet and have “four retractable batting cages lined with artificial turf.” It is being made as a place where “young baseball and softball players in the city can practice all year.” Sources said that Howard donated a “substantial amount” toward the $2.4M cost of the facility, and the training center is a part of the Phillies Urban Youth Academy (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 5/3)....Yankees DH ALEX RODRIGUEZ’ Coral Gables, Fla., house will be “featured on the cover of Architectural Digest’s Great Design Issue” (NEWSDAY, 5/3)....Model KATE UPTON is “engaged to longtime boyfriend” Tigers P JUSTIN VERLANDER. Upton showed off her engagement ring “on the red carpet” at the ‘16 Met Gala (EONLINE.com, 5/2).
