The AP’s Paul Newberry reported swimmer RYAN LOCHTE is “struggling to balance the demands of getting ready for this summer’s world championships and filming a new reality television show” titled “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?” that will begin airing on E! in April. Lochte is “supposed to be practicing nine times a week, but rarely makes more than four or five sessions.” Lochte said, “This is totally different. This is consuming my life” (AP, 2/17). ESPN’s Michael Wilbon said Lochte is not hurting his career with his reality show, calling him "something of an egomaniac." Wilbon: "He wants to be a big star, he is a big star. So go with the reality show.” ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser noted the show is titled “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?” and said, "The answer is, who cares?! He’s not a big star, and as long as MICHAEL PHELPS is breathing air, Ryan Lochte will never be important in swimming” (“PTI,” ESPN, 2/18).
HOWZIT, BRAH? Texans RB ARIAN FOSTER appeared on last night's episode of CBS’ “HAWAII FIVE-O," playing himself at the Pro Bowl. That allowed ESPN’s Jason Taylor and Jerry Rice to discuss the best acting performances by an athlete in a segment called “Inside the NFL Live Actor’s Studio.” Taylor said Foster “did a good job of playing himself." Rice said Foster “was very good with his delivery” on the show. Taylor said of all NFL players who have appeared on film or TV, Pro Football HOFer LAWRENCE TAYLOR “did a job” on “ANY GIVEN SUNDAY.” Rice said his favorite was Pro Football HOFer JIM BROWN “in those westerns, and he always kissed the girl.” Taylor said he would “love to get a film,” noting he wants to be the “next James Bond.” Rice noted, “DENZEL WASHINGTON for me” (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 2/18).
HOOP BEEF: The MIAMI HERALD reports the Heat asked the NBA to ban rapper LIL WAYNE “from all games -- a lock-out allegedly now in effect across every NBA arena in the country.” Lil Wayne “dropped F-bombs” on the Heat and the NBA from the stage during a recent appearance. The “hostility began when the artist ... felt disrespected” because Heat F LEBRON JAMES and G DWYANE WADE “did not acknowledge him courtside during a game” (MIAMI HERALD, 2/19).
COURT REPORT: Jazz assistant coach SIDNEY LOWE yesterday was “arrested and charged” with three misdemeanors for “willful failure to pay his North Carolina state income tax.” Lowe owns a home in Wake Forest, N.C., and the state Dept. of Revenue said that Lowe “did not file a state tax return” in ’09, ’10 and ’11. Lowe was “released on a $10,000 unsecured bond.” Jazz coach TYRONE CORBIN said that Lowe “will be in Utah” today for the team’s morning shootaround (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 2/19).
NAMES: Georgia Tech defensive coordinator TED ROOF's three-year, $1.65M contact makes him “one of the highest-paid assistant coaches in the ACC” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 2/19)....LANCE ARMSTRONG gave “several mementoes,” including bikes and autographed cycling jerseys to former President GEORGE W. BUSH, and the items are “now part of the 43,000 artifacts archived at the George W. Bush Presidential Center set to open this spring” at SMU. The Armstrong gear “isn’t slated to be part of the museum’s permanent exhibit” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/19)....Former Bucks announcer EDDIE DOUCETTE was honored on Friday as a ’13 recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/16)….AEG President & CEO TIM LEIWEKE was listed as No. 8 on Billboard’s '13 Power 100. Others appearing in the list included Ticketmaster CEO NATHAN HUBBARD at No. 46, Comcast-Spectacor President & COO PETER LUUKO at No. 74 and StubHub President CHRIS TSAKALAKIS at No. 99 (BILLBOARD.com, 2/7)….Broncos QB PEYTON MANNING and wife, ASHLEY, will serve as honorary chairs for the April 27 “Celebration of Caring” gala to raise money for the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent in Indianapolis (INDYSTAR.com, 2/18)….Giants DE OSI UMENYIORA last week proposed to his girlfriend, former Miss Universe LEILA LOPES (N.Y. POST, 2/19)
IN MEMORY: LOU SPADIA, who “rose to the top of the 49ers’ organization and later headed the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, died Saturday” at his S.F. home at the age of 92. Spadia was the 49ers’ business manager in ’57, became CEO & GM in ’64 and was named team president in ’67. He also was director of the NFL Properties exec committee for 16 years. Spadia remained with the 49ers “until EDDIE DEBARTOLO bought the team” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/19).
