The Newark STAR-LEDGER lists the 25 Most Influential People in New Jersey sports, and Steve Politi writes “juice is a subjective term, so our annual Juice List is fodder for discussion.” The top five are Giants President & CEO JOHN MARA, Jets coach REX RYAN, Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE, Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON and Devils President, CEO & GM LOU LAMORIELLO. Also listed are Devils Owner JEFF VANDERBEEK (#8) and Rutgers AD TIM PERNETTI (#9) (NEWARK STAR-LEDGER, 8/14).
FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE: The N.Y. TIMES’ Greg Bishop examined Ohio State Univ. President E. GORDON GEE and the university’s ongoing NCAA investigation under the header, “Scandal Rattles A Reformer.” Gee “views the scandal in opportunistic terms,” and he is “beating the same drum, using what happened at Ohio State as proof.” Gee: “We’re in the middle of this firestorm, and everyone will be looking to us. I’ve always said I wouldn’t like to have myself judged by the vicissitudes of an 18-year-old running a football. But this is the system. College athletics has gotten beyond itself. Do I think it’s broken? Yes.” He added, “The low point was that years and years of hard work kind of goes up in smoke. And that it had done real damage to the institution beyond what I would like to admit. I’m recovering from it now. We’re on the upside of the downside. But we have sustained a body blow that will take a long time to recover from” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/14).
N.Y. GOAL? In N.Y., Jack Bell wrote former NFLer CURTIS MARTIN is “taking a crash course in soccer” and may “someday seek to become a team owner” in MLS. His interest in the sport “is clearly growing.” Martin, a former Jets RB, recently met with MLS officials and N.Y. Cosmos Owner PAUL KEMSLEY and “discussed the possibility of Martin’s becoming more involved with the sport.” Martin’s “foray into soccer is particularly intriguing to MLS because it is intent on putting a franchise in New York that would become the league’s 20th team.” Martin said, “Right now, I’m just interested in learning more about the soccer culture” (NYTIMES.com, 8/14).
CATCHING SOME AIR: Maloof Skateboarding signed a multiyear agreement with Events DC to “host the upcoming Maloof Money Cup on a permanent skatepark to be built" on RFK Stadium’s Festival Ground. The event will be held Sept 3-4 and the 15,000-square-foot park will be “designed by pro skaters GEOFF ROWLEY and JOE CIAGLIA of California Skateparks.” It will “replicate obstacles” in DC, including at Freedom Plaza and spots on Pennsylvania Ave. (ESPN.com, 8/14).
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: In Atlanta, Bill Tropy wrote presumptive Hawks Owner ALEX MERUELO is “a confident, aggressive businessman who seized opportunity and elbowed his way to success.” Buying the Hawks “has forced this private man and father of three to become a public person.” Meruelo said, “I really don’t like the spotlight. I’ve always been under the radar, and I like it that way.” Tropy noted Meruelo is “conservative in both financial and political matters, having supported several Republican candidates and donating to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 8/14).
NAMES: Former boxer VITALI KLITSCHKO is “fighting to rally” Ukraine’s opposition party The Punch. Klitschko is “pro-European integration and favors Ukrainian as a national language.” He has lost twice in his race for mayor of Kiev (N.Y. TIMES, 8/13)….The Cubs Friday signed TREVOR GRETZKY, son of hockey HOFer WAYNE GRETZKY. By signing a $375,000 bonus, he “turned down a chance to play for TONY GWYNN at San Diego State University” (CNSCHICAGO.com, 8/12)....Former horse jockey agent DREW MOLLICA graduated from Hofstra’s School of Law in ’10 and “now is a member of the bar association in New York and New Jersey” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/13)….AFL Sabercats Managing Member DAVID FRY was named ’11 AFL Executive of the Year (CNSBAYAREA.com, 8/12)….Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY, his wife LINDA PIZZUTI, Managing Dir IAN AYRE and Chair TOM WERNER attended Saturday's Liverpool FC opening match (LIVERPOOLDAILYPOST.co.uk, 8/15).
REMEMBERING A LEGEND: NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL and NFLPA Exec Dir DEMAURICE SMITH Saturday eulogized HOFer JOHN MACKEY "at a public memorial service at the Cathedral of Our lady the Queen.” Goodell said, "No one made a bigger impact on the NFL than John Mackey. John was a man for his time and the imprint he left on us will last forever” (Baltimore SUN, 8/14).
