Howard since joining SeventySix Capital has become a hands-on, visible figure within the companygetty images
THE ATHLETIC's Meghan Montemurro profiled former MLBer RYAN HOWARD, who has "embraced his role" with Philadelphia-based venture capital firm SeventySix Capital after joining as a partner last year. The company "invests in innovative seed and early-stage consumer-facing tech, retail, sports and wellness companies." Howard has "devoted most of his time to the company and is a more hands-on, visible figure." He has "pointed to wearable technology and believes it will continue to grow and serve as a valuable resource in professional sports," including MLB (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/5).
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD: Skateboarding pioneer TONY HAWK was profiled Thursday on NBC's "Nightly News," with the net's Kate Snow noting the 50-year-old is "revisiting some of his biggest tricks from a career that launched generations of kids on skateboards." NBC's Gadi Schwartz noted Hawk is "bringing the sport to kids around America through his Tony Hawk Foundation, funding 600 skate parks in low-income communities." Hawk also is serving as a advisor for skateboarding's "Olympic debut at the 2020 Games" ("Nightly News," NBC, 7/5). Hawk recently was profiled in SI and will be featured in next week's SportsBusiness Journal (THE DAILY).
NAMES: Nike has given $100,000 to the "Common Good Fund, a new political action committee" headed by Nike Senior Dir of Government & Public Affairs JULIA BRIM-EDWARDS (OREGONLIVE.com, 7/5)....HILLARY CLINTON will appear at Ozy Fest on July 21-22 and "will be interviewed" by Monumental Sports & Entertainment investor LAURENE POWELL JOBS. The Undefeated's JEMELE HILL is also among those set to be a part of the event, which will be streamed by the BBC (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/6)....AHL Grand Rapids Griffins President TIM GORTSEMA has been named the '17-18 James C. Hendy Memorial Award winner, given to the AHL's outstanding executive (Griffins)....RONDA ROUSEY became the "first female" to be inducted into the UFC HOF (ESPN.com, 7/5)....The Riverboat Ron Roll -- a sushi roll named after NFL Panthers coach RON RIVERA -- is available at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar in Charlotte and Raleigh and at eeZ Fusion & Sushi in Huntersville, N.C., for $17. Rivera and his wife, STEPHANIE, "created the roll to raise money for organizations that support pet adoption after the death of their own two dogs" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/6)....ABC has picked up the cooking competition series “FAMILY FOOD FIGHT,” to be executive-produced and hosted by AYESHA CURRY (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/5)....Fanatics Founder & Exec Chair MICHAEL RUBIN tweeted a photo of himself in Monte Carlo hanging out with Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT on Thursday (TWITTER.com, 7/5).
IN MEMORY: ESPN Dir of Video Operations MATT ABRAMS died Wednesday night after a battle with cancer. “SportsCenter” on Thursday night ran a short tribute to the 37-year-old Abrams, who began with ESPN three years ago (THE DAILY). ESPN Senior VP/Social Content Ryan Spoon tweeted, “If you have ever visited http://ESPN.com or the ESPN App, you've seen Matt's great work. He was one of a kind -- smart, energetic, passionate, funny.” ESPN Producer Scott Turken also tweeted, “Sad day at ESPN. Matt Abrams was a smart, driven and hard-working guy. He was talented and passionate about doing things the right way” (TWITTER.com, 7/6).
