Former USA Today sportswriter STEVE WIEBERG said of joining the College Football Playoff selection committee, "I know it's going to be work. I know there's going to be pressure. But you can't sit in a room with all of these people -- a room that I've been trying to get into since 1982 -- and not think it's going to be fun. I've done a lot of cool things in my life at USA Today, but this will be the coolest thing I've ever done." He added, "It's a huge responsibility. But it's actually a dual responsibility. The greater responsibility is to get this right for the enterprise. ... I'm representing writers and the media as a whole. I feel the weight of that. Doing it right in that respect -- and representing the media right -- is very important to me" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/23).
TAKING STOCK IN STOCK CARS: NASCAR VP/Innovation & Racing Development GENE STEFANYSHYN came to NASCAR this year "after a 30-year career with General Motors," and his work is "concentrated on making the new Generation 6 Sprint Cup car even better than it showed this season." Stefanyshyn said that his team is "not looking at major design changes in the Gen 6 car, but enough small ones to make the car racier, particularly on the intermediate ovals that make up the majority of the schedule" (TORONTO SUN, 10/23).
IN THE FIGHT TOGETHER: The UFC and the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada have "partnered on a new AIDS awareness campaign," entitled "Protect Yourself At All Times." The UFC will craft PSAs "featuring fighters and other UFC personalities," such as UFC HOFer FORREST GRIFFIN and female bantamweight contender LIZ CARMOUCHE. Both fighters will "highlight the regular HIV test they've had before each bout" (USA TODAY, 10/22).
PARTING GIFTS: Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT noted during a dinner last night that was part of the NBA owners meeting, bobblehead dolls of soon-to-be-retired Commissioner DAVID STERN were distributed. While holding the bobblehead, Gilbert said he let Stern and the NBA "know that these are defective bobbleheads for David Stern because these bobbleheads do this." At this point, Gilbert was manipulating the bobblehead's head to make it go up and down in a yes fashion. Gilbert: "I've never seen that before in the years that we've owned the team and I'm trying to move it left to right (to make a no gesture). It won't go. So this is clearly defective" ("Squawk Box," CNBC, 10/23).
NAMES: Ravens LB ELVIS DUMERVIL's former agent MARTY MAGID yesterday was "suspended six months and fined $25,000" by the NFLPA. Magid "failed to file paperwork on time that would have extended" Dumervil's contract with the Broncos (DENVERPOST.com, 10/22)....An arbitrator has ruled against an NFLPA decision to deny the NFL agent application of former college football player CLEODIS FLOYD, who was convicted of bank fraud while he was a student-athlete (Wolfe Law Miami)....FIFA President SEPP BLATTER has "indicated he could be replaced 'in the near future'" by CONCACAF President JEFFREY WEBB (AFP, 10/22)....PGA of America President TED BISHOP yesterday was inducted into the Indiana Golf HOF at Meridian Hills Country Club in Indianapolis (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 10/22)....The PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship yesterday announced that, on behalf of Champions for Education, over $1.2M in donations to designated local charitable organizations has been raised (Wells Fargo Championship)....Former WNBAer LISA LESLIE yesterday toured three Baton Rouge-area schools, discussing the "importance of setting goals, hard work and working well with others" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 10/23)....Yankees 2B ROBINSON CANO on Monday celebrated his 31st birthday in Belgium with his agent, JAY Z. Cano posted a photo online showing a birthday gift: a Jay Z-designed, limited-edition Shawn Carter Classic Fusion watch by Hublot (NYPOST.com, 10/22).
