A source said that PRESIDENT TRUMP is "expected to attend" the CFP National Championship game between Clemson and LSU at Mercedes-Benz Superdome next Monday (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 1/4). This marks the second CFP title game Trump has "attended during his tenure as he was at Alabama's overtime victory over Georgia" in January '18 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/3).
LEGAL MATTERS: Former Univ. of Virginia football player MERRIL ROBERTSON JR. on Friday was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a $10M "fraud scheme that victimized over 60 people." It was the "second time" Judge JOHN GIBNEY JR. "imposed a four-decade prison term" on Robertson. Victims testified that Robertson "used family, football, school and religious relationships" to perpetuate an investment and loan scheme with associate SHERMAN CARL VAUGHAN, who was "sentenced to 12 years in prison" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/4).
NAMES: Former Stars coach JIM MONTGOMERY will enter an "inpatient residential program for alcohol abuse." His statement on Friday was his "first public comment since the Stars fired him on Dec. 10 due to 'unprofessional conduct'" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/4)....At Mercedes-Benz Superdome yesterday, the Saints "left flowers and a name card" in memory of late WDSU-NBC sports reporter CARLEY MCCORD, who died in a plane crash on Dec. 28 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/5)....Red Sox prospect RIO GOMEZ, son of ESPN's PEDRO GOMEZ, could make the Double-A Eastern League Portland Sea Dogs roster in the "coming season" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/5).
IN MEMORY: Former Univ. of Cincinnati radio broadcaster CHUCK MACHOCK has died at 82 (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/6).
