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Names In The News

McMahon was the first prominent industry insider to admit publicly that wrestling was scriptedGETTY IMAGES

In N.Y., Matt Flegenheimer profiled former WWE CEO LINDA MCMAHON, who helms the federal government's Small Business Administration. During her time at WWE alongside husband VINCE, Linda "ran the back office, establishing herself -- not for the last time -- as the even-keeled counterweight to a less-temperate leading man." But "behind the scenes, her contributions were essential." She was the "first prominent industry insider to admit publicly that wrestling was scripted, as part of a largely successful bid to bypass a thicket of regulations from state athletic commissions." Former NBC Sports Chair DICK EBERSOL said of the McMahons, "She was no cream puff. That partnership -- for it to have worked, they sacrificed everything together. He was Mr. Outside and she was Mrs. Inside" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/25).

ALL DOWNHILL FROM HERE: Canadian skier DAVE DUNCAN and his wife have "each been fined" US$930 for "their roles in a car theft over the weekend in Pyeongchang." Alpine Canada High Performance Dir for Ski Cross WILLY RAINE was also fined US$4,650 for his involvement in the incident, which "included driving the stolen red Hummer with a blood alcohol level ... well above South Korea's legal limit." The three were "released from jail Saturday night, and will not be able to leave the country until the fines are paid." It is "unclear whether their passports have been confiscated (CBC.ca, 2/25).

LOVE IS IN THE AIR: Chargers G MICHAEL SCHOFIELD, the fiancé of U.S. women's hockey F KENDALL COYNE, "worked his way down to ice level" following the team's Gold Medal win in Pyeongchang, "climbed over the boards and lifted Coyne into the air in celebration." NBC also "caught the two lovebirds" celebrating. Schofield: "The way the game went --  tying it late in the third period, going through a full overtime where any one shot could decide gold, then going to a shootout -- the pressure, it was just so heavy. So stressful" (SI.com, 2/26).

PRAISE FROM POPS: Spurs coach GREGG POPOVICH yesterday praised LEBRON JAMES for his activism and for "being a role model to 'millions' of kids." Popovich also "defended James' right to speak after he was recently criticized" by a Fox News commentator. Popovich: "Think about when he came into public view, how young was he? And to this day he hasn't missed a step, he hasn't fallen off the ledge and he's been a brilliant example for millions of kids, especially kids with lesser opportunity and haven't had the same advantages as others" (AP, 2/25).

NAMES: Saints and Pelicans Owner TOM BENSON is still in the intensive care unit at Ochsner Medical Center outside New Orleans, but is in “stable condition.” Benson has been “receiving care for the flu” (NOLA.com, 2/25)....RICHARD PETTY’s “iconic day-glow red and Petty blue” ’74 Dodge Charger is “going on sale at an auction May 12 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, along with other cars,” his ’81 Daytona 500 trophy and other items (AP, 2/25)....Broncos LB TODD DAVIS on Saturday took the Sacramento State Univ. football team and children from the Big Brothers Big Sisters in Sacramento to a “BLACK PANTHER” screening (DENVERPOST.com, 2/24).

IN MEMORYRON ILITCH, the son of late Tigers and Red Wings Owner MIKE ILITCH, was “found dead Friday afternoon” in a Troy, Mich., hotel. Police said that a “drug overdose is suspected.” Ron Ilitch has “struggled with drug addiction and had other brushes with the law over the years” (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 2/23).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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