Pagenaud (c) was joined at the White House by members of Team Penske, IndyCar and IMSGETTY IMAGES
Indianapolis 500 winner SIMON PAGENAUD and Team Penske "went from Victory Lane to the White House" yesterday as the team was honored by PRESIDENT TRUMP. Trump praised team Owner ROGER PENSKE for his 18 wins at the Indy 500. Pagenaud was "joined by about 35 members of Team Penske," as well as IndyCar CEO MARK MILES, IMS President DOUG BOLES, Hulman Motorsports Senior VP/Events ALLISON MELANGTON and Menards Founder and team sponsor JOHN MENARD. Indiana Gov. ERIC HOLCOMB was also on hand (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/11)....Heavyweight boxing champ ANDY RUIZ JR. and trainer MANNY ROBLES "flew to Mexico to meet" PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR yesterday. Robles "laughs" when asked if it would "feel less awesome if they were meeting" Trump. He said, "We're happier going to the Mexican White House" (THEGUARDIAN.com, 6/10).
HONORS & AWARDS: Former N.C. State AD DEBBIE YOW will be "recognized for her excellence in athletics administration as the first female recipient" of the National Football Foundation's John L. Toner Award (TWITTER.com, 6/10)....Longtime Newark Star-Ledger columnist JERRY IZENBERG was announced yesterday as part of the '19 class of inductees for the New Jersey HOF (NJ.com, 6/10)....The Professional Basketball Writers Association selected DWYANE WADE as the winner of the Magic Johnson Award, which "honors the player who best combines excellence on the basketball court with cooperation and dignity in dealing with the media and the public" (South Florida SUN SENTINEL, 6/11).
NAMES: Pro sports gambler and recent Jeopardy champion JAMES HOLZHAUER is "scheduled to be a presenter" at the ’19 NHL Awards at Mandalay Bay Events center on June 19 (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 6/10)....South Point Sportsbook Dir CHRIS ANDREWS’ new book “THEN ONE DAY … 40 YEARS OF BOOKMAKING IN NEVADA” was released today. It is “available on Kindle” (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 6/8).
