Former NFLer DWIGHT CLARK "stunned the football community" yesterday, announcing he has ALS. Clark's announcement will "put some pressure" on the NFL to "address ALS more aggressively than it has." Clark "becomes at least the sixth former player in the past 10 years to be diagnosed with this incurable disease that gradually shuts down every muscle in the body" (MMQB.SI.com, 3/20). Meanwhile, in K.C., Vahe Gregorian profiled Pro Football HOFer GALE SAYERS, who was "diagnosed with dementia four years ago" (K.C. STAR, 3/19).
FINDERS KEEPERS: The NFL today said that the league and FBI "have located" the Super Bowl LI jersey of Patriots QB TOM BRADY after it "was taken by a member of the media" following the game. Additionally, the jersey Brady wore in Super Bowl XLIX "was recovered." The NFL said the items were found "in the possession of a credentialed member of the international media" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 3/20).
PARK SERVICES: Boston College has hired Parker Executive Search to help the school find and hire its next AD (TWITTER.com, 3/17)....A source said that Indiana Univ. will "use Parker Executive Search" in selecting a new men's basketball coach to replace TOM CREAN (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/20).... Steelers WR ANTONIO BROWN headlines a 16-person panel that will hire Central Michigan's next AD. The university said that it would "not hire a national search firm to headhunt candidates" to replace DAVE HEEKE, who accepted the same position with Arizona earlier this month (DETROIT NEWS, 3/17).
NAMES: Lakers President of Basketball Operations MAGIC JOHNSON's activism "won't disappear" as he begins his new role. Johnson "very publicly engages" in causes "both political and apolitical." Johnson: "I’m never gonna change. It’s not about my job or what I do. This is who I am. I’m going to always be a man that’s going to be involved" (L.A. TIMES, 3/19)....After supporting PRESIDENT TRUMP during his campaign, Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT was “flying on Air Force One" with him yesterday. The AP “tweeted a picture of Kraft standing next to Trump on the plane as the President spoke to reporters.” It is currently “unclear what Kraft's purpose for being on the aircraft is” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/20)....Charter Communications Chair & CEO THOMAS RUTLEDGE was “awarded a compensation package last year" valued at $98.5M (L.A. TIMES, 3/18)....N.Y. Mayor BILL DE BLASIO, a Cambridge, Mass. native, took in a Red Sox Spring Training yesterday (NYPOST.com, 3/20)....Steelers coach MIKE TOMLIN and GM KEVIN COLBERT “stopped by Pirates camp Friday morning” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/18)....Warriors F DRAYMOND GREEN, a Michigan State alumnus, “delivered the pregame speech” yesterday before MSU's NCAA Tournament game against Kansas (LANSINGSTATEJOURNAL.com, 3/19).
IN MEMORY: The Armory Foundation Founder DR. NORBERT SANDER, 74, died Friday. Sander is credited with saving the Millrose Games indoor track meet by establishing a new business model that allowed it to survive at the Armory as a blended elite/scholastic event after the event left MSG in ’11. Virgin Sport CEO MARY WITTENBERG said, "There is a gaping hole in the hearts of track & field and NYC today. A statement from New Balance read in part, "We are honored to have been involved in seeing Norb’s vision in reviving the Armory Track and Field facility; That is one of our proudest accomplishments as a running brand" (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer).
