Names In The News
In Ft. Lauderdale, Sharon Robb notes MMA beginning in January will become a "fully sanctioned amateur sport" in Florida. Int'l Sport Kickboxing Association Florida State Dir JOHN MORRISON: "This is absolutely groundbreaking." Morrison and other top officials, including the UFC's TROY WAUGH, Sunday held the "first of many judging and officials certification seminars" in Plantation to "train judges, timekeepers, scorekeepers and locker-room inspectors." The first scheduled amateur MMA fight in the state is tentatively slated for January 24. Florida joins California, New Jersey, Missouri, Georgia, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania with "sanctioned amateur programs governed by a revised edition" of the United Rules of MMA (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/16).
LATE NIGHT LAUGHS: Last night's episode of CBS' "Late Show" featured host DAIVD LETTERMAN taking a lighthearted shot at interim 49ers coach MIKE SINGLETARY. Letterman said, “I got myself into a thing here with the NFL, and you don't want to mess around with the NFL because they are big and powerful and they control American sports culture. You got to play ball, literally, with the NFL. A couple days ago I got a call from ROGER GOODELL, the Commissioner of the NFL. He said, ‘Do me a favor. We're trying to help Mike Singletary out with his coaching responsibilities in San Francisco. … Can you have him on the show?’ I said fine.” An actor portraying Singletary then appeared on-camera via satellite. Letterman: “Mike, how is it going?” Singletary: “I'm not a doctor.” Letterman: “I know you are not a doctor. Mike, tell me this. It was a tough loss. In a nutshell, what happened down there in Miami?” Singletary: “We didn't stop CSONKA.” Letterman: “What?” Singletary: “Put a saddle on that hoss.” Letterman: “Put a saddle on what horse?” Singletary: “Put a hat on him, put a hat on him! … That's on me, that’s on me! … We should have gone belly, should have gone belly!” Letterman: “I don't know what that is. Is he going to be with us all night?” Singletary appeared again, screaming, “Gladys! Gladys! Until you make a tackle, that’s your name!” When Letterman asked who the 49ers play next Sunday, Singletary said, “No idea! Denver! Bobcats! Wildcats!” (“Late Show,” CBS, 12/15).
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Phelps Attends Celtics Game,
Visits Team's Locker Room |
FISH OUT OF WATER: U.S. Olympic swimmer MICHAEL PHELPS, on a promotional tour for sponsor Subway, attended last night's Jazz-Celtics Game at TD Banknorth Garden, and visited the Celtics locker room after the game. Celtics F PAUL PIERCE said of Phelps, "It was good to meet him. He's a great Olympian. We always respect great athletes. He's one of our peers." Celtics F BRIAN SCALABRINE said, "I thought he was taller" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/16).
NAMES: Senators Owner EUGENE MELNYK recently purchased 4.7 million shares of Biovail Corp. for C$50.7M and now holds 13.5% of the company's stock (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/16)....BET will "pay homage to" Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON as part of the net's "BET Honors" event, set to air on February 9 as part of the net's Black History Month programming lineup (BROADCASTNEWSROOM.com, 12/15)....Former MLBer BILLY ASHLEY will be part of the cast on Fox Reality Channel's new show "Househusbands of Hollywood" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 12/16).
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