In N.Y., Michael Shear notes ESPN's "C'mon, man!" segment on "Monday Night Countdown" has become PRESIDENT OBAMA's "signature phrase on the campaign trail." One "easy explanation" for how Obama picked up the phrase is his "well-known ESPN habit." ESPN Senior Coordinating Producer SETH MARKMAN said that the link was "clear as day when he and others at the network first heard" Obama use the phrase. Markman: "We immediately said he's watching our show" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/4).
PRINCE CHARMING: In Charlotte, Scott Fowler writes NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON is a "great example" of how to use Twitter as an athlete. Johnson, often "thought of as too corporate and too robotic in his early days," has "grasped early on the possibilities of social media." Johnson has used Twitter "time and again to show his sense of humor and to post self-deprecating pictures, including one on Monday night when he dressed as a prince at the behest of his two young daughters, who were princesses" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/4).
NAMES: Former MLBer JOHNNY DAMON and his wife MICHELLE were at a "campaign event this week in Florida" for presidential nominee DONALD TRUMP. They were in the "front row waving a 'Make America Great Again' poster. Damon "got to know Trump while appearing on 'CELEBRITY APPRENTICE'" in '15 (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/4)....Sharks GM DOUG WILSON was inducted into the San Jose Sports HOF on Wednesday night at SAP Center (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/4)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. diver GREG LOUGANIS was "named Grand Marshal" for the 128th Rose Parade along with Gold Medal-winning swimmer JANET EVANS and runner ALLYSON FELIX (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/4)....Top Rank Chair BOB ARUM announced on Wednesday that boxer GABRIEL FLORES JR., a 16-year-old junior lightweight with a "strong amateur background and gripping backstory, will turn pro after signing a promotional contract" with Top Rank (ESPN.com, 11/3).
RUNNER'S WORLD: Are you or someone you know in the sports business industry running in Sunday's TCS N.Y. Marathon? If so, contact Alex Silverman at asilverman@sportsbusinessdaily.com and let him know. After the race, send him your time, a photo and a quick note about the experience to share with our readers.
