PRESIDENT OBAMA yesterday received the Ohio State football team at the White House to congratulate them on winning the CFP Championship. Obama took the stage accompanied by OSU coach URBAN MEYER, President MICHAEL DRAKE and AD GENE SMITH. Obama said, “This was a team of true character, of true resilience.” The team also had “photos taken on the steps of the U.S. Capitol” and visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 4/21). Obama also praised “each of the three quarterbacks” on OSU last season. The President “came prepared with plenty of jokes for the ceremony.” Obama: “The country got to enjoy its first ever college football playoffs. And I will say it, it was about time. I cannot claim full credit, but I will point out that I pushed for a playoff system" in '08 (ESPN.com, 4/20).
HAT TRICK: Former Sonics assistant coach STEVE GORDON “has been charged with federal wire fraud for initiating” at least $4M in business deals under false pretenses, including his claim that Clippers Owner STEVE BALLMER was his partner. Gordon -- "known as the 'Hat Man' during his years as an assistant” with the Sonics, Trail Blazers and T’Wolves -- is “alleged to have orchestrated a 'Ponzi' scheme in which he collected money for various investments from at least 30 people, but used the funds to pay off prior investors he’d promised financial returns to” (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/21).
LET THE RECORD SHOW...: CABLEFAX DAILY writes outgoing ESPN Exec VP/Sales & Marketing SEAN BRATCHES’ track record “is impressive.” He was “instrumental in securing distribution of ESPN HD -- largely seen as a catalyst for HD adoption -- and played major roles in the launch of platforms” such as WatchESPN, ESPN3 and the SEC Network (CABLEFAX DAILY, 4/21). In N.Y., Claire Atkinson writes Bratches was “one of the most important behind-the-scenes players in media” (N.Y. POST, 4/21).
ALL ABOUT THAT ACTION, BOSS: Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier LINDSEY VONN appeared on NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and discussed her long recovery from several knee injuries. She said of not being able to compete during the rehab process, "I'm an adrenaline junkie so I was trying to figure out a way to do something exciting, but just nothing really compares to skiing.” NBC's Seth Meyers said, “I’m really glad you didn’t turn to heroin or crack.” Her relationship with TIGER WOODS also was brought up, and Meyers asked, “Do you like watching golf?” After an awkward pause, Vonn said, “I love golf.” Meyers noted “as an adrenaline junkie, it seems very different” (“Late Night with Seth Meyers,” NBC, 4/20).
NAMES: Former MLBers MELVIN MORA, JOHN LOWENSTEIN and GARY ROENICKE "have been selected for enshrinement" in the Orioles HOF (Baltimore SUN, 4/21)....NBCSN analyst and former NASCAR driver BOBBY LABONTE yesterday announced his foundation is partnering with Silver Medal-winning U.S. cyclist LAUREN TAMAYO in an effort to “raise awareness and funds” for her Ride On Kids foundation. The foundation provides kids ages 8-17 with the “opportunity to explore healthy living, experience the independence discovered by riding a bike, and gain self-confidence” through cycling (NBCSPORTS.com, 4/20)....Fifth Third Bank is partnering with the Braves to launch the “Strike Out Hunger!” food drive. The campaign will run through May 1 and is aimed at feeding 5,300 metro Atlanta residents (Fifth Third)....Showtime has released the trailer for its upcoming documentary, “IVERSON.” The 96-minute-long feature hopes to give “an inside look at both the triumphs and struggles” of former NBAer ALLEN IVERSON’s life and career (PHILLY.com, 4/20)....Broadcaster BOB COSTAS, USA Today columnist CHRISTINE BRENNAN and Nationals Managing Principal Owner TED LERNER were among those in attendance at the annual baseball party of political columnist GEORGE WILL (POLITICO.com, 4/21)....MLB Chief Baseball Officer JOE TORRE recently took in the Broadway production of "THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME" (NYPOST.com, 4/20).
