The AP's Brian Mahoney profiles NBA Commissioner Emeritus DAVID STERN and noted he is "more businessman than sportsman now, advising venture capital firms from his position atop DJS Global Advisors and investing in a number of startups, some of them in sports technology." Stern believes viewers will "favor streaming services and virtual reality, with output from wearable technology to provide statistical data to augment what they're watching." This week he and a group of partners "announced the launch of SportsCastr.Live." That adds to "previous investments that include ShotTracker" (AP, 4/20).
IN YOUR HONOR: Indiana Univ.'s forthcoming Excellence Academy will, "at least in part, feature the Irsay name." IU announced a major gift "from the Irsay Family in support of the IU Athletics Excellence Academy being constructed in the south end zone of Memorial Stadium." In recognition of that gift, a space "within the south end zone facility -- currently under construction -- will be named the Irsay Family Wellness Clinic." The gift was announced in a news release, which credited Colts Owner JIM IRSAY's daughter KALEN JACKSON, and an IU Varsity Club board member, specifically. The release "does not specify the size of the gift" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 4/20)....A painting depicting late Red Wings and Tigers Owner MIKE ILITCH was unveiled as "part of a two-month exhibition" featuring the works of artist CURTIS LEWIS. The 2-foot by 3-foot "multimedia acrylic and oil painting on stretch canvas includes images of a tiger, a Little Caesars pizza with breadsticks, a baseball diamond, the Fox Theater marquee, the Stanley Cup, the new Little Caesars Arena and a portrait of Ilitch in a Tigers jersey." The painting is "part of a display of Lewis' work at the Farmington Hills Community Library" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/20).
NAMES: Cubs co-Owner TODD RICKETTS, whom PRESIDENT TRUMP "tapped late last year to serve as deputy commerce secretary, withdrew his nomination" yesterday after "complications arose as he tried to divest his financial portfolio to avoid conflicts of interest." A source said that Ricketts had been "prepared to divest his own financial portfolio," but was told by the Office of Government Ethics that his entire family would have to "divest in order for him to be in full compliance with ethics rules" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/20)....Fan PATRICIA DOWDELL has "filed a suit in Baltimore Circuit Court claiming negligence by the Orioles” and MLB after she was hit in the stands by Orioles 1B CHRIS DAVIS' bat during a July 23 game at Camden Yards. The suit “seeks more than $75,000 in damages and an injunction requiring the team to install protective netting to the outfield side of each dugout” (BALTIMORESUN.com, 4/19)....Grammy award-winning electronic music artist ZEDD “will be the special guest artist" at the ’17 Preakness Budweiser InfieldFest on May 20 (The Stronach Group)....Massachusetts-made movie “GREY LADY” premiered on Tuesday in Dedham, Mass., and Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK “stopped by to show his support” (BOSTONHERALD.com, 4/20).
