In Newark, Craig Wolff profiles Rutgers AD TIM PERNETTI and writes he has "become the face of Rutgers sports and a model of the modern administrator: agile enough to sense an opening and audacious enough to think big." One of the historical figures Pernetti "admires most" and "views as one of his heroes" is former President RONALD REAGAN. He said, "In style, we’re a little bit the same. A very direct, a very decisive leader who knew that leadership is about developing relationships." Pernetti has "the bearing of a TV sports personality," and when laying out his agenda, he "seemed part visionary, part politician -- traits Rutgers seized upon when he was hired four years ago" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/7).
GETTING REPS: Several NFL prospects over the weekend signed deals with agents for representation in April's NFL Draft. Octagon agent ANDY ROSS has signed Syracuse OT JUSTIN PUGH. Athletes First signed Texas A&M DE DAMONTRE MOORE. NFL player agent JOBY BRANION will serve as lead agent for Moore. Meanwhile, NFL player agent ADISA BAKARI, who serves as head of the sports & entertainment practice at DC law firm Dow Lohnes, signed Michigan State RB LE’VEON BELL, Texas A&M LB SEAN PORTER, Nevada S DUKE WILLIAMS and Elon WR AARON MELLETTE (Liz Mullen, SportsBusiness Journal). Tennessee QB TYLER BRAY signed with L.A.-based agent DON YEE, of Yee & Dubin, who also represents Patriots QB TOM BRADY (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/5).
FACES IN THE CROWD: The Baltimore Business Journal released its "13 faces to watch in 2013" list, which included Orioles Exec VP/Business Operations DOUG DUENNES (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/4 issue)....Cubs Chair TOM RICKETTS was named as one of the Chicago Tribune's "ones to watch" among Chicago business execs in '13. People can "expect City Hall to cut a deal with the Ricketts family ... to help finance a $300 million renovation of Wrigley Field" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/6).
CHARITY STRIPE: Dodgers P CLAYTON KERSHAW and wife ELLEN's charitable foundation Kershaw's Challenge partnered with Arise Africa in "sponsoring an orphanage in Zambia." The small orphanage "opened last year, and the Kershaws are there now with a team of 23, bringing additional donations, working on the site and interacting with the first eight orphans" (LATIMES.com, 1/4)....Former NBA coach STAN VAN GUNDY and wife KIM "were at a fundraiser at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night, benefiting the Grove Counseling Center" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/6).
NAMES: The daughter of Nets minority Owner JAY-Z, BLUE IVY CARTER, "doesn't have to be far from the action" when her dad and his wife, BEYONCE, go to a game. A source said, "Jay rents a luxurious basement suite for $1 million a year" at Barclays Center. The source added it "has an area for Blue filled with toys" (LATIMES.com, 1/4)....Former NFLer TY LAW is a "partner in the new Launch Trampoline Park in Warwick, R.I." Law and his partner, ROB ARNOLD, "opened their 19,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park the day after Thanksgiving." The Patriots' Brady "stopped by Launch on the team's day off last week" with sons BENJAMIN and JACK (BOSTON HERALD, 1/6)....Goodby, Silverstein & Partners is "opening an office" in N.Y. It is the agency's second office outside of S.F., after one in Detroit that opened in '10. The office "opens with work from current clients like Comcast, Elizabeth Arden, Google and YouTube" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/7)....NASCAR driver DANICA PATRICK "stopped in Mobile for the GoDaddy.com Bowl" yesterday (AL.com, 1/6)....Golfer J.J. HENRY on Thursday during the pro-am at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Kapalua wore on a "white golf cap" honoring Sandy Hook Elementary School (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 1/4)....The Patriots "donated the East Putnam club" for this past Saturday's memorial service to "celebrate the life and memories of DON BROCHER, the team's equipment manager who had been with the organization for 41 years." Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT said that players will "wear a decal on their helmets in the playoffs to honor Brocher, who died New Year's day from complications related to leukemia" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/6)....Former MLBer EDGAR RENTERIA "sold his sprawling Mediterranean-style Miami Beach home" for $8.32M. The structure is a "7-bedroom, 7 1/2-bath home" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/4).
IN MEMORY: The first GM and coach of the former NHL North Stars, WREN BLAIR, "died Wednesday at 87 in his home of Whitby, Ontario" (TWINCITIES.com, 1/5).
