Faehn is believed to be the first USAG official to learn of the allegations against NassarRHONDA FAEHN
USA Gymnastics officials on Friday announced that Senior VP/Women's Program RHONDA FAEHN is "no longer employed by the Olympic organization" (INDYSTAR.com, 5/18). Faehn is "believed to be the first" USAG official to learn of the allegations against LARRY NASSAR after a club coach first approached her with concerns in June '15, which was 16 months before Nassar's abuse "first became public." The removal of Faehn comes as USAG CEO KERRY PERRY "prepares to testify before a U.S. House of Representatives sub-committee" on Wednesday (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 5/18).
ROSTER MOVES: Former NFLers COLTON UNDERWOOD and CLAY HARBOR are part of the "latest round of hunks for season 14" of ABC's “THE BACHELORETTE” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 5/18). Pro Football Focus analyst MIKE RENNER also is “one of the contestants." The show will premiere May 28 (STARTRIBUNE.com, 5/17).
IS IT WORTH IT? Small business owners are "responding to changes in the tax law that reduce or eliminate some popular deductions for meals, entertainment and transportation," including deductions for "sports tickets, concerts and other client entertainment." With the change, California-based A-Tech Consulting "hasn't decided" whether to purchase Rams season tickets this season. A-Tech CEO CASANDRA WILLIAMS said, “The invoice is sitting on my desk. Do we do this, or do we not? What is our return on investment?” (WSJ.com, 5/17).
NAMES: White Sox play-by-play announcer JASON BENETTI, who has cerebral palsy, has partnered with the Cerebral Palsy Foundation to be the voice of their new "Awkward Moments" campaign that sheds light on "some of the things disabled people have to deal with in their lives" and to "present creative and funny solutions" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/17)....Red Sox 2B DUSTIN PEDROIA and Hotel Commonwealth have "set up a sweet package that’ll bring guests up close and personal" with Pedroia, who wears No. 15, in honor of the hotel's 15th anniversary. The hotel is "offering an epic experience, dubbed '15 Minutes of Fame With #15 Dustin Pedroia,' that will include an on-field meet and greet with the second baseman, two premium tickets to a Red Sox game, overnight accommodations in its Fenway Park Suite, the World Series trophy delivered to your room and plenty of other perks" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 5/17)....Golfers KEVIN STREELMAN and BRYSON DECHAMBEAU gifted PRESIDENT TRUMP sets of golf clubs last year valued at $1,150 and $750, respectively (WASHINGTONEXAMINER.com, 5/16)....Pacers G VICTOR OLADIPO “will drive the pace car at the Indianapolis 500,” the “first time” a Pacer has done so in franchise history (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/18)....Former ESPN reporter JEANNINE EDWARDS on Thursday was honored with the Special Award of Merit at the annual Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico Race Course (DRF.com, 5/17)....DALE EARNHARDT JR. on June 4 will celebrate the “opening of his namesake restaurant” at Raleigh-Durham Int'l Airport (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 5/18).
