Before joining UNM Alden served as Mizzou AD for 17 years before retiring back in April '15GETTY IMAGES
The Univ. of New Mexico on Thursday named former Missouri AD MIKE ALDEN a consultant for a "broad-based assessment of UNM's athletics department, something he has done in recent years" for other programs "facing turmoil." Alden's contract is "being paid through the President's Office and is for $53,000" (ABQJOURNAL.com, 5/31).
THE CAMPAIGN: Illinois Gov. BRUCE RAUNER's campaign rolled out a new digital ad in which the "re-election-seeking chief executive tries to liken his efforts" to the Cubs under the ownership of the RICKETTS family. In the ad, Rauner says, "There’s a lot of similarities to what the Cubs have done in recent years and what we need to do in Illinois. You know the Ricketts took over the Cubs in, ah, 2009. And it took ’em seven years to build a world champion. Well we’ve been turnin’ Illinois around for three years. We need four more years, seven years total, and we’ll turn Illinois the same way" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 5/31).
NAMES: MLS Commissioner DON GARBER is "finally becoming a member" of the National Soccer HOF. Garber was originally elected in '16, but "put off induction so he could be enshrined in an MLS stadium." The ceremony is now set for Oct. 20 at the new HOF at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (AP, 5/31)....The Medical College of Wisconsin "bestowed an honorary doctorate of humanities degree" to Packers QB AARON RODGERS for his work with the school's faculty and involvement in the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Fund (JSONLINE.com, 5/31)....Texas A&M broadcaster DAVE SOUTH, who called his last game for the football team in '17, will be awarded this year's National Football Foundation Chris Schenkel Award on Dec. 4 at the 61st NFF Annual Awards Dinner in N.Y. (NFF)....Duke coach MIKE KRZYZEWSKI announced a $15M fundraising campaign for the Emily Krzyzewski Center, which opened 12 years ago in the name of his late mother. The nonprofit "helps low-income students with their homework, college applications" and entrance exams (HERALDSUN.com, 5/30)....PGA of America VP SUZY WHALEY has become the ninth woman to earn the PGA Master Professional designation, the organization’s highest educational achievement (PGA of America)....USWNT F ALEX MORGAN, former driver DANICA PATRICK, Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast ALY RAISMAN and Gold Medal-winning U.S. snowboarder CHLOE KIM appear in a new music video for MAROON 5’s song “GIRLS LIKE YOU” (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 5/31)....Former NFLer LAMARR WOODLEY’s charter school in Saginaw, Mich., the Woodley Leadership Academy, will open in September. School officials said "about 300 students are expected to enroll in the first year" (MLIVE.com, 5/31)....The Univ. of Idaho extended AD ROB SPEAR’s administrative leave “until an external review is complete into how the department handled allegations of sexual assault” (DNEWS.com, 5/31).
