Russia's Channel One Dir General KONSTANTIN ERNST, who directed the opening and closing ceremonies of the Sochi Olympic Games, has been named "Person of the Year" by the county's GQ magazine. Ernst, who also "picked up a gong" in GQ's "Producer of the Year" category, "was awarded the title for directing February's Olympic without any major glitches, save a snowflake in the opening ceremony that failed to open" (MOSCOW TIMES, 9/17). ... Man City CEO FERRAN SORIANO was banned from "managing other people’s wealth" for two years in Spain over the '12 collapse of airline Spanair SA. A written ruling by a commercial court in Barcelona stated that Soriano, the former chairman of the now-defunct airline, and 10 other board members were also fined a total of €10.8M ($13.9M) "to cover the company’s debts" (BLOOMBERG, 9/18). ... JAKE KOSTECKI, 14, "is poised to shatter the record for the youngest driver to race a V8 Supercar when he gets behind the wheel at Phillip Island this weekend." Kostecki will be "on the grid for this weekend's Kumho Tyres V8 Touring Car Series race" (FOX SPORTS, 9/18). ... PRINCE HARRY "has been named honorary president of England Rugby 2015" as the Rugby World Cup organizers "mark one year to go until the tournament begins." The prince "is a vice-patron of the Rugby Football Union" (BBC, 9/17).
CALLING IT QUITS: Japanese Pacific League club Rakuten Eagles Manager SENICHI HOSHINO, who led the franchise to its first Japan Series title last season, announced Thursday that "he would resign at the end of the current season." Hoshino said that "the team's poor results forced his hand." The Eagles "entered the day in last place, 19-1/2 games out of first place." Hoshino agreed to a new multi-year contract this season, and team President YOZO TACHIBANA had indicated that "the team wanted Hoshino to stay on for next season" (KYODO, 9/18).
ZIDANE UNDER MICROSCOPE: The debate over ZINEDINE ZIDANE's coaching credentials "has taken a turn for
the worse in recent weeks." The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Coaches' Committee announced on Aug. 30 that it "intended to monitor the situation" with Zidane, who coaches coach Real Madrid's second team, Spanish second division side Real Madrid Castilla. What started out as "merely a
monitoring exercise has now led to an investigation being opened by the
Federation's Competition Committee that could see the Frenchman and even
Real Madrid itself landed with a ban" (MARCA, 9/18).
LI NA STEPPING DOWN: China’s two-time grand slam-winner LI NA "is poised to retire," state media reported on Thursday, "in a move which would bring down the curtains on Asia’s most successful tennis career."
The sports channel of state-owned CNTV cited Li's agency, IMG, as saying that "the tennis star would hold a briefing on Sunday to announce the news" but also said that the 32-year-old might make an official announcement on Thursday via social media.
A separate report by CCTV-5, the sports channel of state broadcaster China Central Television, quoted insiders as saying that "Li would announce her retirement because of injuries" on Thursday (AFP, 9/18).
