Jets CB DARRELLE REVIS "has parted ways" with his long-time agents NEIL SCHWARTZ and JONATHAN FEINSOD and their eponymous firm. The two had represented Revis "for his entire professional career" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/20). Schwartz and Feinsod "were a thorn in the side of the Jets' front office for many years, battling" former GM MIKE TANNENBAUM over contracts. The move is "shocking because the agents and player always seemed to be a solid team, particularly when it came time to negotiate" (N.Y. POST, 5/20).
SWEET CHIN MUSIC: Former WWE wrestler SHAWN MICHAELS was "extended an invitation to attend" Sunday's Game 5 of the Penguins-Lightning Eastern Conference Finals at Consol Energy Center "as the Penguins' guest." Michaels, known as "The Heartbreak Kid" or "HBK," recently noticed the hashtag #HBKLine on Twitter. The hashtag is in reference to the Penguins' line of LW CARL HAGELIN, C NICK BONINO and RW PHIL KESSEL. Michaels is expected to "be there Sunday night when the Penguins could be positioned to clinch a spot in the Stanley Cup Final" (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 5/20).
THE GOOD STUFF: Hendrick Motorsports Owner RICK HENDRICK and his wife LINDA “have formed a new not-for-profit charity called the Hendrick Family Foundation.” The new charity “consolidates the philanthropic efforts of the Hendrik organization, including Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Automotive Group.” It will also “absorb the Hendrick Marrow Program,” founded in ’97 shortly after Rick Hendrick “was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia.” The new foundation’s first fundraising event, set for Sunday in Charlotte, is already sold out (NBCSPORTS.com, 5/19).
TECH CRUNCH: Former NFLer PATRICK WILLIS retired more than a year ago and is now "thriving as a professional in California's famed Silicon Valley." Willis has "joined forces" with tech savant EREN NIAZI to lead infrastructure solutions company Open Source Storage. Willis serves as Exec VP/Partnerships, and he "played a big role in the advancement of the startup" (SPORTSNAUT.com, 5/18).
WHAT'S YOUR STORY? In Pittsburgh, Mike White profiles NBA D-League Greensboro Swarm President STEVE SWETOHA, who "never played high school or college basketball." But that "hasn't stopped him from making a living with front office jobs in pro basketball." Swetoha's story is "one of a Pittsburgh kid done good in the world of pro basketball." Swetoha: "I realized quite early that, as much as I wanted to play high school and college, it was not going to happen. So I decided to try the other route and focus on the business piece of the sports industry" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/20).
NAMES: Boxer MANNY PACQUIAO on Thursday "was proclaimed" as a winner of a Philippine Senate seat, "bringing him closer to a possible crack at the presidency" (AP, 5/19)....Red Sox President & CEO Emeritus LARRY LUCCHINO is going into the team's HOF this week alongside former Sox players JASON VARITEK, TIM WAKEFIELD and the late IRA FLAGSTEAD (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/20)....NFL Senior VP/Broadcasting & Media Operations COO HOWARD KATZ on Tuesday was "honored at UJA-Federation of New York's Sports for Youth Luncheon in Manhattan" (NEWSDAY, 5/19)....The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, along with the NBA, "dedicated an official historic marker" for late 76ers Dir of Statistical Information HARVEY POLLACK. The plaque "led by describing Pollack as 'Innovator of basketball statistics and player evaluation'" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/20)....Celtics G and Flint, Mich., native JAMES YOUNG earlier this week "teamed up with the American Red Cross to deliver clean water to local residents in the midst of the water crisis" (MLIVE.com, 5/19)....Actor CHRIS PINE "will serve as honorary starter" for the 100th Indianapolis 500 on May 29 (INDYSTAR.com, 5/19)....WWE wrestler JOHN CENA "has been tapped to host" the '16 ESPYs, which ABC "will broadcast live on Wednesday, July 13" (DEADLINE.COM, 5/19).
