Trump made sure to give plenty of praise to Leonsis (r) for the Capitals' championshipGETTY IMAGES
The Capitals yesterday took a 45-minute tour of the White House that was "private with no official ceremony" to celebrate the team's '18 Stanley Cup title. PRESIDENT TRUMP "marveled at the size" of Capitals RW ALEX OVECHKIN's hands. He also said that his daughter IVANKA TRUMP is a "friend and she's a tremendous fan." President Trump "singled out" Capitals Owner TED LEONSIS with praise. The team gave Trump a red Capitals jersey, No. 45, and a "golden hockey stick engraved" with his name. After reporters left, Trump "continued to spend time with the team, passing out pens and M&M candies, and posed for individual pictures with players and staff." NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN was in attendance (WASHINGTON POST, 3/26).
HONORS & AWARDS: The 14th annual L.A. Sports Awards were held last night at the Beverly Hills Hilton, where Chargers QB PHILIP RIVERS and Rams DT AARON DONALD "shared the sportsmen of the year honors." Gold Medal-winning U.S. snowboarder CHLOE KIM won sportswoman of the year, and LAFC President TOM PENN was named the top Sports Executive (DAILYNEWS.com, 3/25)....Bengals QB ANDY DALTON will receive the 18th Call to Courage Award in Buffalo on May 18. The award is "handed out annually" by Colts coach and former Bills QB FRANK REICH to a "current NFL player who has exemplified outstanding character, commitment and leadership on the field and in the community" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 3/25).
NAMES: Seahawks QB RUSSELL WILSON and his wife, CIARA, were at the NFL spring meetings yesterday, “giving a talk in front of about 200 spouses and guests with a main theme of balancing personal lives and high-profile careers as part of the league’s The Playmakers program.” Wilson is “one of 13 current or former players making appearances at the league meetings” (SEATTLETIMES.com, 3/25).
IN MEMORY: Former Suns investor and Tucson entrepreneur DONALD DIAMOND died yesterday at the age of 91. Diamond was "one of the original members of the ownership group that brought" the team into the NBA more than 50 years ago. He was also an investor in the D-backs when the franchise was formed in the '90s (AZCENTRAL.com, 3/25)....Former MLB Rangers co-Owner FRED MALEK died yesterday at age 82. Malek co-owned the team with GEORGE W. BUSH before he became President (POLITICO.com, 3/25).
