In N.Y., Pete Thamel profiles Utah-based meteorologist KEN POMEROY and his college basketball website, KenPom.com. It has becoming "increasingly common for coaches to rely on" statistics from the website for scouting. Many coaches said that they “would pay for the information on his site,” but Pomeroy “gives it away, joking that he is waiting for a wealthy program to pay him a large amount of money to shut down the site and hoard the information.” Pomeroy, whose full-time job is at the National Weather Service, said that he “makes a few dollars from advertisements on his site and has a small consulting deal with Baylor.” He said that he “spent about 20 to 30 hours a week on the site and watched college basketball another 10 to 12 hours a week” (N.Y. TIMES, 3/24).
MAN WITH A PLAN: In Detroit, Brian O’Connor profiles prospective Pistons owner TOM GORES and writes “while ego -- not profit -- is often the reason rich men buy pro sports teams, no one doubts Gores will bring the same sharp pencil to any Pistons deal he has to all his others.” Gores is “known to pass on deals if the numbers don't add up, which is what he ultimately may do with the Pistons.” If he decides not to buy the team, sources said that “he's got other Michigan deals in the works,” including “two very different properties in Metro Detroit.” Michigan Economic Development Corp. VP/Capital Markets PAUL BROWN said, "I believe he would be a great owner for the Pistons and Detroit and Michigan. But I also believe he will only make a smart purchase" (DETROIT NEWS, 3/24).
AWARDS & RECOGNITION: Actor MORGAN FREEMAN, musician CARLOS SANTANA and Baseball HOFer ERNIE BANKS will receive the MLB Beacon of Hope, Beacon of Change and Beacon of Life awards, respectively. The three will be honored at a banquet on May 14 in Atlanta during the ’11 Civil Rights Game Week. Also, rapper LUDACRIS and a special guest will give a one-hour performance after the Phillies-Braves game at Turner Field on May 14 as part of the Civil Rights Game Week (THE DAILY)....The family of late Texas politician TOM VANDERGRIFF will be given a '10 AL Championship Ring during the Rangers' "welcome home luncheon March 31," a day before the team’s season opener and “two days before Texas players, coaches and staff will receive their rings in a pregame ceremony.” Vandergriff, who “led the cause of bringing Major League Baseball to North Texas,” died of natural causes on Dec. 30 at the age of 84. The Rangers also “plan a moment of silence in Vandergriff's memory before the season opener” (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/22)….The Rochester Press-Radio Club during its Day of Champions dinner on May 24 will honor LPGA Wegmans Tournament Dir LINDA HAMPTON with the Major Donald Holleder Award, presented to a “person who has devoted the highest level of sportsmanship, character, courage and achievement.” Democrat & Chronicle sportswriter LEO ROTH will receive the George Beahon Award, and WHAM-AM's BOB MATTHEWS will receive the Gary Smith Award for broadcasting (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 3/22).
NAMES: The Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory has opened an exhibit titled “Norman Rockwell: Sports.” The exhibit is sponsored by the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass., and will run through Aug. 14 (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 3/21)….NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON today is “filming a segment” for CHRISTIAN SLATER’s new TV series, “BREAKING IN” (ESPN.com, 3/23)….Bobcats Owner MICHAEL JORDAN’s Steak House in the InterContinental Chicago “will open in late summer,” becoming the third in his chain of restaurants (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/24).
