KATHERINE BERMAN, the wife of ESPN's CHRIS BERMAN, "died in a crash" with another automobile yesterday. ESPN President JOHN SKIPPER in a statement said, "This is a devastating tragedy and difficult to comprehend. ... All we can do at a moment like this is give him the love and support he will surely need at this hour." According to authorities, Katherine Berman's car collided with another vehicle, "veered off the road, went down an embankment and overturned in a small body of water" (COURANT.com, 5/10).
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| Rawlins said that he is going into semi-retirement in Colorado |
TAKING A LOAD OFF: Orlando City SC Founder PHIL RAWLINS, who stepped down from his president role in December, is "packing up and headed west to Steamboat Springs, Colo., where his next major goal is to become a 58-year-old ski bum." He is "starting a new life with a new love and will dabble in a new consulting business." Rawlins: "We've delivered on everything we promised and now this is a time to go out and enjoy this next phase of my life" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/10).
TRIP ADVISOR: In the last 19 days, Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair TED LEONSIS has "gone from DC to Atlanta to Toronto to Atlanta to DC to Atlanta to DC to Boston to New York to Pittsburgh to New York to Boston to Pittsburgh to Detroit (another board meeting) to DC to Baltimore to DC to Chicago (another board meeting) to Pittsburgh and then back to DC" in time for tonight's Penguins-Capitals Game 7. The Wizards also play the Celtics in Boston tonight. In those 19 days, Leonsis has "been to nine cities and seen eight NHL playoff games, eight NBA playoff games and one Arena Football League game" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/10).
DALE YEAH: DIY Network has "given the green light" to DALE EARNHARDT JR. and his wife, AMY, who will "create a brand-new home renovation series." The Earnhardts will "star in four half-hour episodes slated to premier" in early '18. Together, the duo will "work to reimagine and reinvigorate a historic home in Old Town, the much-loved historic district on the western end of Key West, Florida" (SOUTHERNLIVING.com, 5/9).
TECH TALK: Lightning Owner JEFF VINIK will personally partner with N.Y.-based Dreamit to "bring its high-end business accelerator and about ten elite startups specializing in urban technology to Tampa this fall." The partnership has "high hopes it could help Tampa grow to become a ... mecca for innovative urban technology and development" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 5/10)....Former NFLer MARQUES COLSTON last week spoke at Collision, which "deems itself as 'America's fastest growing tech conference,' as a panelist speaking about a program encouraging NFL players to dive smartly into the tech world." Colston, former NFLer ISAIAH KACYVENSKI and NFLPI President AHMAD NASSAR talked about a "program for current or former NFL players to hop into sports tech with the OneTeam Collective" (NOLA.com, 5/9).
NAMES: Lions DE ZIGGY ANSAH launched the Ezekiel Ansah Foundation, which he said aims to "produce physical education (and) try to create a realistic opportunity for the youth back in Ghana." Ansah said that he "plans to return to Ghana in July to hold what he believes will be the country's first American football camp" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/10)....Ravens coach JOHN HARBAUGH “used his $1,500 merchandise allotment” at this year’s NFL owners' meeting for U.S. troops overseas. Harbaugh “shipped 154 sports caps to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan last month" (ESPN.com, 5/9)....Former MLBer MELVIN MORA today will become a U.S. citizen “during a naturalization ceremony in Baltimore" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 5/9)....What would have been late Baseball HOFer TONY GWYNN’s 57th birthday was celebrated yesterday with the "unveiling and dedication of a Lake Poway statue and plaza honoring the baseball player, family man and community member” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 5/10).
