Names In The News
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Obama Welcomes Super Bowl Champion
Steelers In Ceremonial White House Visit |
In Pittsburgh, Ed Bouchette reports the Steelers Thursday visited the White House in honor of winning the Super Bowl in February. PRESIDENT OBAMA "singled out" Steelers Chair Dan Rooney, who has been nominated by Obama to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. Obama. In addition to the normal ceremony, Obama and the Steelers helped "stuff 3,000 USO care packages with peanuts, razors, chewing gum, food and other goodies to be sent to U.S. troops overseas" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/22). Steelers QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER said the team had "no clue" it would be preparing care packages for the troops. Roethlisberger said Steelers coach MIKE TOMLIN "told us we were doing something different, told us not to wear suits." Roethlisberger: "Everybody was excited to get out and show our support for our troops" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 5/22).
HEADED FOR COURT: Pistons G RICHARD HAMILTON has filed a federal lawsuit against former agent and Univ. of Connecticut student manager JOSH NOCHIMSON, Hamilton's "former friend and business manager," for "allegedly stealing about $1[M] from him." In the lawsuit Hamilton contends that Nochimson "used a credit card belonging to Hamilton to buy airline tickets, game tickets and other items." The lawsuit was filed in Pennsylvania, as Hamilton is from Coatesville, Pennsylvania (HARTFORD COURANT, 5/22)....N.Y.-based management company Just For You Entertainment Thursday filed a lawsuit against boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. alleging that Mayweather "stole a rap artist for his label." Just For You "wants at least $600,000 in damages from [Mayweather] for 'surreptitiously signing' FRECK BILLIONAIRE" (N.Y. POST, 5/22).
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Nets CEO Brett Yormark's Work Ethic Helps
Franchise Continue To Sign New Sponsors |
NETS IN THE NEWS: In a cover story for SELLING POWER magazine, Kim Wright Wiley profiles Nets CEO BRETT YORMARK, who at 41 is the "youngest CEO in the NBA." Yormark "wakes up at 3:30 in the morning and is in the office by 4:30 a.m.," and his "rock-hard work ethic is paying off." When Yormark joined the Nets in '05, it was an "underperforming franchise, but through a relentless flurry of creative marketing ideas, including initiatives offered by no other team in the NBA, the tide has turned." Nets sponsorships have "increased by more than 200[%], even after the controversial decision to move the franchise to Brooklyn" (SELLING POWER, 5/ '09 issue). Meanwhile, Nets Senior VP & CFO CHARLIE MIERSWA participated in a Q&A with CFO magazine for its "On The Record" feature (CFO, 5/ '09 issue).
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH: Bengals first-round draft pick OT ANDRE SMITH has "officially re-hired his original agent, ALVIN KEELS, after firing Keels and hiring RICK SMITH of Priority Sports in the days preceding the 2009 draft." Priority Sports in a statement released exclusively to PRO FOOTBALL TALK said, "We were asked to come in at the last minute to provide credibility to his draft status and we succeeded in that task. Soon after the draft, Andre Smith became a tremendous distraction to our company. What we have subsequently determined is that Andre Smith does not match the culture of Priority Sports and the character of the clients we take so much pride in representing" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 5/21).
NAMES: SPORTING NEWS selected Cavaliers GM DANNY FERRY as its NBA Executive of the Year, and Bruins GM PETER CHIARELLI as its NHL Executive of the Year (SPORTING NEWS, 5/25 issue)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL profiled Bruins Exec VP and Delaware North Principal CHARLIE JACOBS for its "What's Your Workout" feature (WSJ.com, 5/21)....IRL driver DANICA PATRICK listed Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) as her favorite race track. Patrick said the track's HOF Museum "gives you a good feel for how the cars have changed over the years" (USA TODAY, 5/22)....Former NBAer RANDY BROWN's three championship rings were "sold at auction Thursday for $53,833." The winning bidder outbid Bobcats Managing Member of Basketball Operations Michael Jordan's publicist, ESTEE PORTNOY, whose final bid was $40,000 (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/22).
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