IN MEMORIAM: DR. RICHARD IRWIN, a well-respected leader in sports marketing and sports academics, passed away last week. Irwin was a force in the world of sports marketing, helping to found the Sport Marketing Association and also creating the Sport Sales Combines alongside colleague BILL SUTTON. Irwin also did fan research for the NCAA at their championships for many years. In recognition for his contribution to academia as well as the sport industry, Irwin was awarded the prestigious Sutton Award by the Sport Marketing Association in 2013. He most recently served as the Univ. of Memphis Executive Dean, UofM Global, the College of Professional & Liberal Studies (CPLS), and the Center for Regional Economic Enrichment. Sutton, now the Principal at Bill Sutton & Associates, told SBJ, "I started off as a mentor when he had taken his first faculty role at Kent State. We became friends for more than 35 years, and later business partners specializing in analyzing audiences. He was instrumental in helping to form the Sport Marketing Association and became its first president. I will miss his infectious smile and his love of family, friends, students and Pepsi." JIM KADLECEK, Exec Dir of Sport Marketing Association, said of Irwin, "Absolutely devastated by Dick Irwin’s sudden passing. A wonderful husband, father and grandfather, friend, mentor, innovator, progressive thinker, cutting edge researcher and wonderful human being with a great sense of humor. He had a profound impact on sport marketing and sport sales in the curriculum. He will be deeply missed." In lieu of flowers, the family wishes that donations be made to the Dr. Richard Irwin Memorial Fund (SBJ).
NAMES: Former NBAers and brothers, JOE and JORDAN CRAWFORD, celebrated the grand opening this month of their café-bar called CRED Café in Detroit’s Rivertown district. CRED Café "lets patrons" buy snacks and pastries, and sip on coffee by day. At night, "a hidden door leads to a speakeasy reminiscent of the city's Prohibition-era establishments." The family applied to the city's Motor City Match small-business program and was awarded a $60,000 grant to "help with renovations and equipment" (DETRIOT NEWS, 12/10)....Broncos QB RUSSELL WILSON and singer CIARA "announced the birth of their third child," AMORA PRINCESS WILSON, on social media Monday (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/11).
