Cena's latest film "Blockers" opened to positive reviews over the weekendGETTY IMAGES
The N.Y. TIMES' Dan Hyman profiled JOHN CENA in style section piece as "one of the most bankable faces" in the WWE for more than a decade. On a roster that "leans heavily on burly windbags spewing sarcastic quips, he stands out as the squeaky-clean, flag-saluting role model devoid of divisive edge." The "do-gooder shtick" may explain his "wide appeal to preteen boys and their parents alike." But now he is "expanding his reach, starring in more adult-minded comedies" like "BLOCKERS" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6). With the release of "Blockers" and WrestleMania, Cena showed potential to "dominate the box office and the ring" (USATODAY.com, 4/7). Cena on Friday saw the comedy "with about 350" fans in New Orleans (NOLA.com, 4/7). "Blockers" debuted with $21.4M in weekend box office sales, "surpassing analysts' predictions" (LATIMES.com, 4/8).
THE GO-GETTERS: USA TODAY's Anthony Andro profiled BREHANNA DANIELS, who "made history last year" as the first African-American woman to work on a pit crew in one of NASCAR's top three series. Daniels is a tire changer for STEPHEN LEICHT's No. 55 in the Xfinity Series, but she said, "Hopefully one day I can be on a Cup team. That's the ultimate goal to break every barrier I can being an African American female in this sport. I feel like a female can do anything a man can do" (USATODAY.com, 4/7)....Houston-based businessman JIM MCINGVALE was gifted a World Series championship ring by the Astros for his efforts during Hurricane Harvey (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4/8)....Ninety-nine-year-old Pirates usher PHIL COYNE has retired after working an "estimated 6,000 Pirates games at three different ballparks, beginning his career at Forbes Field" in '36 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/7)....CBS Chair, President & CEO LES MOONVES "remained among the highest-paid" execs in corporate America with a $69.3M compensation package in '17, "down slightly from the previous year" (LATIMES.com, 4/6).
NAMES: The UFC named TV producer BRUCE CONNAL to its HOF in the class of '18 as a contributor (UFC)....Broncos Senior Personnel Advisor GARY KUBIAK, former NFLer VINCE YOUNG and former Texas Tech AD GERALD MYERS headlined the Texas Sports HOF's nine-member class of '18 that was inducted Saturday (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 4/7)....Titans QB MARCUS MARIOTA went to a Special Olympics event at Nissan Stadium on Saturday. Mariota “made sure to have a personal interaction with each and every athlete at the event.” A video posted by the team showed Mariota “not leaving until every child had caught a pass from him” (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 4/9)....Several key members of the Redskins’ Super Bowl XXII Championship team attended the 10th annual Washington Football Legends Scholarship Gala on Saturday. The Gala was hosted by Redskins Senior VP/Player Personnel DOUG WILLIAMS (WASHINGTON POST, 4/9)....The AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis will “honor PRISCILLA PRESLEY at a dinner this summer.” Presley will receive the Distinguished Citizen Award at the Hilton Memphis Hotel on June 24. The event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (AP, 4/8)....Falcons QB MATT RYAN and wife, SARAH, announced the birth of twin boys on Instagram (AJC.com, 4/8).
IN MEMORY: Longtime Purdue football radio broadcaster JOE MCCONNELL died Sunday “following an extended illness." He was 79 (JCONLINE.com, 4/8).
