ESPN L.A.'s Mark Saxon profiled Angels Owner ARTE MORENO and noted amid the "clamor and posturing over Arizona's immigration law in the past few years, Moreno -- who grew up in Tucson, spends most of his time in Phoenix and has stocked his teams with Latino stars over the years -- didn't touch it." Moreno is "unabashed in his support of Republican politics." Saxon asked, "Is his silence on ethnic issues a calculated stance or simply a preference to separate the professional from the political?" Through his foundation and the Angels' community fund, Moreno has "assisted struggling Latinos in Orange County and elsewhere." But he "does so quietly." USC Sports Business Institute Exec Dir DAVID CARTER, who works with Moreno on the board of advisors for his Sports Business Council, said, "He's a businessman who happens to be Hispanic. He's not a Hispanic businessman" (ESPNLA.com, 1/16).
RULE BOOK: In Miami, Michelle Kaufman reports the Univ. of Miami athletic department compliance office yesterday e-mailed its "biannual newsletter to boosters, and in it was a headline that read: Change in Occasional Meal Policy." Underneath, it read, "Effective immediately, boosters are no longer permitted to entertain student-athletes with an occasional meal and boosters are prohibited from hosting current University of Miami student-athletes in their homes or other locations." The e-mail "goes on to explain that UM boosters should not provide any type of food, drink, transportation or other extra benefit to student-athletes." Among the items "listed as 'extra benefits' are discounts, credit, transportation (car or ride), tickets, cash and clothing." The new UM rule is "stricter than the NCAA rule" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/17).
FREQUENT FLYER: USA TODAY's Charisse Jones profiles NFL VP/Player Development TROY VINCENT and notes he travels "at least two days a week" to oversee player initiatives that stress "preparation for life beyond football." Vincent carries "two boarding passes -- one that's printed and another on his mobile device." He also carries a "tiny toothbrush and tube of toothpaste," in addition to "deodorant, a washcloth and soap in his day bag." Vincent "maintains his health regimen on the road." Along with consuming his "energy drink, he tries to spend at least 35 minutes every morning on the hotel's treadmill or stationary bike" (USA TODAY, 1/17).
HOT WATER: Carnival Chair & CEO MICKY ARISON is overseeing the response to the cruise ship company's "worst accident from Miami, more than 5,000 miles from the site." Arison, who also owns the Heat, has so far "left it to regional managers to face the press since the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground off the coast of Italy" Friday. Arison said that he and Carnival COO HOWARD FRANK "are helping coordinate actions with authorities in Italy from Florida" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 1/17). AND THE AWARD GOES TO... Late Charlotte Observer sportswriter DAVID POOLE and SMI Chair & CEO BRUTON SMITH were honored in Concord, N.C., for their contributions to motorsports. The North Carolina Motorsports Association gave Poole the Media Recognition Award, while Smith received the Achievement in Motorsports Tribute Award (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/17)....The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation Saturday named Tigers manager JIM LEYLAND recipient of the TOMMY LASORDA Managerial Achievement Award at the foundation's fundraising and awards banquet in L.A. The ceremony, called "In The Spirit Of The Game," is a "celebration of baseball in general and scouting in particular." Former MLB exec AL ROSEN received the Executive Leadership Award (GRAND RAPIDS PRESS, 1/17)
NAMES: Beginning Saturday, a group of 18 former NHL fighters "who call themselves 'Enforcers for the Forces' will begin raffling 150 signed and framed photo montages" of themselves. Former NHLer TROY CROWDER said that the group "hopes to generate between $10,000 and $50,000 a week." The money will be donated to the Military Families Fund (TORONTO STAR, 1/13)....Former MLBer PEDRO MARTINEZ joined Red Sox prospects at Dana-Farber's Jimmy Fund Clinic in Boston, where they signed autographs and posed for pictures with patients" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/7)....KERRY EARNHARDT, son of late NASCAR driver DALE EARNHARDT, will join Sportsman Channel's "FAMILY TRADITIONS" as co-host in the second half of '12 (Earnhardt Outdoors)....Capitals RW ALEX OVECHKIN rapped a verse of singer SASHA BELYI’s song “Champion” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/16)….Heat G DWYANE WADE Saturday celebrated his 30th birthday with a family brunch at the W South Beach. On Sunday night, 300 friends celebrated with him at the Setai South Beach, where he received a custom-designed McLaren car as a gift (N.Y. POST, 1/17).
IN MEMORY: National Association of Broadcasters Exec Dir DAVID DZIEDZIC, 49, died Saturday of brain cancer. Dziedzic joined the NAB in ’97 and prior to that was VP/Marketing with the MLB Rangers. He also previously served as MLB Dir of Special Events in N.Y. (VARIETY.com, 1/16).
