Sonia Raman is a former attorney who spent 12 seasons at MIT before joining the GrizzliesNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The N.Y. TIMES profiled Grizzlies assistant coach SONIA RAMAN, who was a "thoroughly unconventional hire" even though the NBA has been "more progressive than most men’s sports leagues in hiring and promoting women to coaching and front office positions." A former lawyer, Raman had spent 12 seasons at MIT. About four months after joining the Grizzlies, Raman "does a bit -- or rather a lot -- of everything: scouting opponents, player development and analytics, an area of particular interest" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/18).
AGENTS OF CHANGE: Univ. of Alabama QB MAC JONES "signed with Creative Artists Agency for representation" by agents JIMMY SEXTON and TOM CONDON JR. (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 1/16)....Tennis player ALEXANDER ZVEREV has "parted ways with ROGER FEDERER's sports management company Team8" (REUTERS, 1/18).
MAFIA MADE: Thousands of Bills fans are celebrating by "donating tens of thousands of dollars to a charity" that Ravens QB LAMAR JACKSON "supported during his college career at Louisville." There has been "momentum ... generated among Bills fans online to show support for Jackson by supporting the 'Blessings in a Backpack' Louisville chapter." The charity's CMO, NIKKI GRIZZLE, indicated that as of 4:30pm ET yesterday, they had "surpassed 9,000 individual donations and $240,000" (ESPN.com, 1/17).
NAMES: Former Astros GM JEFF LUHNOW has "recently worked with a group associated with the Netflix show 'Club de Cuervos' in exploring options to buy a Mexican soccer club," according to sources. The sources said that Luhnow, who was born and raised in Mexico City, has been "exploring avenues to get into soccer since he was fired by the Astros." He initially "looked into MLS, but ultimately turned his focus to Mexico because he sees it as a much better investment opportunity" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/15)....Vanderbilt K SARAH FULLER will be a "part of the 'Celebrating America' television program on Inauguration Day." Fuller this past season became the first woman in Power Five college football history to play and to score a point. The "Celebrating America" television show is set for 7:30pm ET on Wednesday and will be simulcast on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC and PBS (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/18).
