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People and Pop Culture

Names In The News

ESPN's PAUL FINEBAUM said conversations about a potential sitcom based on his life are "getting very serious." There is a "major Hollywood production company involved and already several writers are working on the script to be pitched to the major networks soon." The "biggest news is a well-known actor is extremely interested in playing the lead" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/5).

RAISING AWARENESS: UNLV AD DESIREE REED-FRANCOIS "introduced the #FaceMasks4FallSports hashtag [two Saturdays ago], hoping to create more awareness about safety measures amid the coronavirus pandemic," and "more than a week later," people are still tweeting using the hashtag. It "continued to circulate through Twitter as of Saturday morning -- with other programs, athletic directors and coaches tweeting photos and videos that promote the use of masks to slow the virus' spread." More than 6.2 million Twitter handles "had engaged with the hashtag through Friday." Notable accounts include the Raiders (1.6 million followers), UNC men's basketball (963,000 followers), TCU football (180,000 followers) and Virginia Tech football (180,000 followers). Reed-Francois said she is "appreciative and humbled" by the support (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/5).

TO-DO LIST: New Tennessee State AD MIKKI ALLEN began his tenure last week "eager to accomplish his primary goals, which include bolstering the athletic department's fundraising effort, improving the football stadium and track and field complex and hiring a women's basketball coach." Allen spent the last 10 years in administration at the Univ. of Tennessee where he was "charged primarily with raising funds" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 7/3).

NAMES: TNT's KENNY SMITH has "devised a two-hour live basketball instructional stream that includes some of today's current stars," including Celtics G KEMBA WALKER and WNBA Seattle Storm F BREANNA STEWART. Smith said of the idea, "I thought, 'Why should COVID and social distancing stop your development?' They get to experience while it's happening" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/5)....Sources said that former WFAN host CRAIG CARTON "could be back on the radio in October." There has been "much speculation that Carton will return" to WFAN. But the sources said that there "will likely be other potential opportunities" for Carton (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/4)....None of the Heat, Panthers or Marlins announcers "will leave South Florida to announce games." They "will instead broadcast games from South Florida studios" (MIAMI HERALD, 7/3).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

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