THE UNDEFEATED's Marc Spears profiled UGO UDEZUE, formerly an NBA agent "for one of the most respected agencies, BDA Sports." But that was before Udezue decided to "give up being an agent" in order to go back home to "give Africa its own NBA." Udezue started the African Basketball League with six teams in the spring of '17 and then "rebranded it into the 10-team Continental Basketball League in six African countries." The CBL has its own production company to "show televised games in sub-Saharan Africa and is working on a broader cable deal." There has been a "lot of red tape for Udezue and the league to fight through." But Udezue is "hoping to grow it into a powerful league that not only develops players in Africa but also has African team owners and employees" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 3/6).
CLEAR BLUE SKIES: A "massive airplane being built" by Trail Blazers and Seahawks Owner PAUL ALLEN "moved a step closer to flight last week." Known as Stratolaunch, the plane is "designed to carry as many as three rockets, tethered to its belly, to about 35,000 feet." Allen is "considering pairing it with a new space shuttle that’s known inside the company as Black Ice" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/7).
SELECTION PROCESS: U.S. Olympic Museum officials "have a short list of CEO candidates and expect to have that leader on board later this year." Former USA Hockey Exec Dir DAVE OGREAN, who is leading the search committee, said that they "began with more than 50 candidates" and now have "fewer than a dozen." He said that a job offer "could be made in 'coming weeks' and a CEO hired and in place by year's end." But he cautioned that that timing "isn't certain" (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 3/7).
THE GOOD STUFF: Chargers DT and Miami native COREY LIUGET yesterday "met with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas football team to honor former assistant coach AARON FEIS, one of the 17 victims of the Parkland shooting." Liuget "donated $10,000 to the team and created the Coach Aaron Feis Scholarship Fund to help support members of the team" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 3/7). Meanwhile, Cubs 1B ANTHONY RIZZO, a Stoneman Douglas alum, has partnered with Fanatics to raise over $70,000 for the families of the shooting victims (THE DAILY).
NAMES: The Saints and Pelicans yesterday released an update on Owner TOM BENSON’s health, noting that he has “shown signs of improvement.” A release said Benson remains in the ICU at Ochsner Medical Center. He has been in the hospital for “nearly three weeks.” The organizations announced that he was in the hospital with “flu-like symptoms on Feb. 21, but he had already been in the hospital for days ahead of the announcement” (NOLA.com, 3/6).... Sources said that a group of investors, which includes Penguins co-Owner RON BURKLE, have “pulled out of a deal to buy the beleaguered Weinstein Co.” after discovering “tens of millions in undisclosed debt” (AP, 3/6)....Panthers RB CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY “helped save the life of a fellow hiker in Colorado on Saturday.” The injured man, DAN SMOKER SR., had been “hiking with his 13-year-old grandson.” The man is in “critical but stable condition” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 3/6)....Capitals LW ALEX OVECHKIN was ranked 44th in GQ’s list of 50 Most Powerful People in DC (THE DAILY).
IN MEMORY: ROBERT MANFRED SR., father of MLB Commissioner ROB MANFRED, “died at his home" in Falls Church, Va., on Friday (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 3/5).
