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Steelers Chair Emeritus DAN ROONEY has "downplayed a report that he was considering leaving his post" as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland "to campaign for President BARACK OBAMA's re-election." U.S. State Department spokesperson Tanya Powell said that there are "no current plans for a change in Mr. Rooney's status" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/26). In the initial report, the IRISH TIMES' Lara Marlowe wrote Rooney "loves his life in Ireland, but as Obama's unconditional fan, he's thinking of returning to the US soon." Rooney: "I would probably have to resign to campaign for President Obama's re-election. I think that would be the number one thing I can do for him, and I'd be willing to do so" (IRISH TIMES, 4/23).

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT: Redskins Owner DANIEL SNYDER, in an op-ed for the WASHINGTON POST, writes under the header, "Why I Am Suing Washington City Paper." Snyder notes today he is re-filing his lawsuit against the paper, which he claims "published false and reckless charges" about him in November. The case "needed to be refiled in Washington, not New York, for legal reasons." Snyder writes, "I expect to be criticized once again for pursuing this lawsuit." But he adds, "For more than eight months, the same writer at this tabloid blogged or wrote about me. In producing more than 55 pieces, only three times did this particular writer bother to call my staff to check facts. ... Sometimes, especially in the age of the Internet, when an unretracted lie can live forever, you have to draw the line" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/26).

LEADING THE CHARGE: In N.Y., Greg Bishop profiled NFL Alumni Association President GEORGE MARTIN. In 19 months under Martin, the "transformed" NFLAA is "more organized than ever," and it "helped secure additional long-term health benefits for retired players, though the details remain in dispute." But Martin in recent weeks, "largely because of mistrust born from the $1.6 million in loans the alumni association received from the NFL," has "feuded with the union he helped build." Martin said his relationship with the league has been "grossly mischaracterized" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/25).

LENDING A HELPING HAND: In Charlotte, Jim Utter noted a tornado destroyed "all of the approximately 70 vehicles" in the parking lot of a Lowe's store in Sanford, N.C., most of which "belonged to employees." NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON, who is sponsored by Lowe's, and his team owner RICK HENDRICK "have agreed to provide those who lost their vehicle a $1,000 credit toward a down payment on a new or used car, or maintenance and/or repairs on a current or future car from participating Hendrick dealerships" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 4/23). Meanwhile, KTVI-Fox and the Salvation Army "held a telethon Saturday night to raise money for the victims" of last week's tornados in St. Louis, and Rams coach STEVE SPAGNUOLO was "down at the television station manning the phone banks and soliciting donations" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 4/26).

NAMES: U.S. tennis player DONALD YOUNG "apologized Monday evening to at least two members" of the USTA, including Player Development GM PATRICK MCENROE, "in response to his obscenity-laced rant last week on Twitter." Young Friday "used two obscenities to lash out at the USTA in a tweet," and by Saturday, his Twitter account "had been shut down." Young's agent, IMG's CARLOS FLEMING, "did not respond to a request for comment" (L.A. TIMES, 4/26)....Magic C DWIGHT HOWARD has joined Big Brothers Big Sisters as a celebrity ambassador and will appear in a viral PSA to support "Start Something," a national campaign urging all adults to support long-term mentoring to help children who face adversity. Howard has donated $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida and will soon promote the national mentoring network in a new national social media and viral PSA campaign (Big Brothers Big Sisters)....Disney XD Friday will debut "NBA FIT," a six-episode show "encouraging health and fitness for kids that will feature such NBA stars as" Howard, Thunder F KEVIN DURANT, Heat G DWYANE WADE, Hornets G CHRIS PAUL and Bulls G DERRICK ROSE. NBA Entertainment "is producing the series" (DAILY VARIETY, 4/25)....Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital, both located in Ann Arbor, Mich., Thursday are holding Woodson Day to celebrate Packers and former Univ. of Michigan CB CHARLES WOODSON. Woodson "will accept the first Mott Champions for Children Award," and he will "throw the first pitch" at tomorrow night's Mariners-Tigers game (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 4/26)....Buccaneers C JEFF FAINE has secured a 10% stake in beer nut line Poppa D's Nuts in exchange for promoting the brand and "getting it sold in more places like arenas and stadiums" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 4/26)....Actor DAN LAURIA, who plays VINCE LOMBARDI in the Broadway play about the Pro Football HOF coach, "will make the fifth-round selection (in character) for the Packers" during the NFL Draft on Saturday (N.Y. POST, 4/24)....Bears QB JAY CUTLER "proposed over the weekend" to his girlfriend, KRISTIN CAVALLARI, who formerly appeared on MTV's "LAGUNA BEACH" (PEOPLE.com, 4/25).

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SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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