ESPN's ANDY KATZ on Wednesday "visited Capitol Hill" and had four senators and three congressmen fill out NCAA Tournament brackets after PRESIDENT TRUMP "declined ESPN's invitation." Senate Majority Leader MITCH MCCONNELL (R-Ky.) and U.S. Sens JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.), JOHN MCCAIN (R-Ariz.) and AMY KLOBUCHAR (D-Minn.) filled out brackets. Katz said he dealt with White House Dir of Strategic Communications HOPE HICKS when inquiring whether Trump would fill out a bracket. Katz: "They were very professional about it. ... (Hicks) said, basically, he’s not into basketball, doesn’t really follow it, so it wouldn’t really be a great fit" (NEWSDAY, 3/17).
NAMES: Duke AD KEVIN WHITE was one of five individuals inducted into the Irish America HOF on Wednesday (Duke)....Top Rank on Thursday signed its seventh '16 Olympian with Gold Medal-winning Uzbekistan boxer FAZLIDDIN GAIBNAZAROV. Terms of the multiyear deal were not disclosed (ESPN.com, 3/16)....Film director STEPHEN DALDRY is “developing a movie” for working title about refugee YUSRA MARDINI, the teenage swimmer who “fled Syria” and competed in the Rio Games (VARIETY.com, 3/16)....Former MLBer KIRK GIBSON, who also “starred in football” at Michigan State, will “address the undergraduate commencement at his alma mater May 5” (DETROIT NEWS, 3/17)....New Jersey Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE was at the Notre Dame-Princeton NCAA Tournament game Thursday, “seated directly behind” Notre Dame coach MIKE BREY. Christie and Brey are “long-time friends” (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/17).
