Speedway Motorsports Inc.'s BOD earlier this month named Chair & CEO BRUTON SMITH Exec Chair and President & COO MARCUS SMITH CEO. Marcus Smith said of the move, "It was probably less formal than maybe it would be if it was a big organization like a bank or a Fortune 500 company. We had conversations -- we always have conversations about the business and ideas and things we're working on. But it's certainly not [Bruton] stepping down or retiring. I love working with my dad. He's a great leader and a great innovator and, more than anything, I think this is just his way of saying that he trusts me." He added of reducing capacity at SMI speedways, "Fans have told us loud and clear that they want some different experiences at the track. Somebody that came to the races 20 years ago as a teenager or a 20-something, they're coming today as an adult with a lot more money in their pocket, and they want to have a nicer experience" (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/20 issue).
THE NORMAN CONQUEST: GREG NORMAN appeared live in-studio on NBC’s “Today” this morning with co-host Matt Lauer, who noted World Golf HOFer and Fox golf analyst just turned 60. Norman said, “I feel like I’m fitter today than I was in my 40s for example. It’s just a number to me now.” Norman also said he is emotionally "in a much better place than I’ve ever been in life” because of “experience and being where my business is.” Norman: “When I look out and talk to my people at our corporate retreats, I talk about 12-year horizons, 200-year horizons that the company can do. I’m really fresh in my mind about what we can do with the business” (“Today,” NBC, 2/24).
TOP OF THE LIST: Chicago Magazine's annual "Power 100" list includes Bulls and White Sox Chair JERRY REINSDORF, Blackhawks Chair ROCKY WIRTZ, Big Ten Commissioner JIM DELANY, Cubs Chair TOM RICKETTS and Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN (CHICAGO MAGAZINE, 3/'15 issue)....The Milwaukee Business Journal named MKE Sports & Entertainment Founder & Investor MIKE ZIMMERMAN and BMO Harris Bradley Center GM BRIAN DWORAK to its "40 Under 40" list (MILWAUKEE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/20 issue).
I FEEL LIKE DANCING: The cast for the 20th season of ABC’s “DANCING WITH THE STARS” will include former Rams DE MICHAEL SAM and Gold Medal-winning gymnast NASTIA LIUKIN. Co-host TOM BERGERON noted athletes traditionally have had a "great history of success" on the show, and he asked Sam, "Do you feel like you have an advantage here?” Sam: “No, I just think I'm athletic and can perform, so I'm a competitor.” Co-host ERIN ANDREWS said of Sam, “Someone to talk football with for me” ("GMA," ABC, 2/24).
OWNERS IN THE NEWS: Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT said this weekend that he has "formed a new 'community investment initiative' called Rocket Fiber LLC to provide faster Internet connections in downtown Detroit" (FREEP.com, 2/22)....Rams and Avalanche Owner STAN KROENKE's real estate company "snapped up" the Market Square Shopping Center in Boulder, Colo., for $22.97M (Boulder DAILY CAMERA, 2/24).
NAMES: Thunder G RUSSELL WESTBROOK through his "Why Not?" foundation yesterday "opened a reading room in an Oklahoma City school" for the second time this academic year (NEWSOK.com, 2/23)....Carowinds amusement park near Charlotte will hold an online auction for people wanting to ride the new "Fury 325" rollercoaster for the first time this spring, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Cam Newton Foundation (Cam Newton Foundation)....Bruins G TUUKKA RASK "will find his name on another prestigious roster this spring: a list of newly discovered wasp species from East Africa" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/24)....Panthers LB THOMAS DAVIS last night "received a key to the city of Charlotte" after the city council "recognized him for his leadership on the field and in the community" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/24)....AC/DC lead singer BRIAN JOHNSON "is the first buyer for a limited-edition Mustang GT" built by NASCAR HOFer RICHARD PETTY's garage (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/23)....Dick's Sporting Goods CEO ED STACK has bought a 8,946-square-foot house in North Palm Beach. Fla., for $12M (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/23)....Rangers P YU DARVISH's girlfriend, SEIKO YAMAMOTO "is pregnant" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/23).
