We have been saying for some time that Barack Obama's talk about his hoops background has resonated with the casual sports fan and voter and it will probably help him as things progress, while the other candidates have stayed away from the sports connection. Well, all three candidates have chosen a surprising sports connection for Monday night, albeit one more seeped in entertainment, but with a huge audience in the key male demo…all three candidates will make some appearance during tonight's WWE broadcast on USA Network, as reported in an extensive story in yesterday's New York Times by Ross Schneiderman on the recovery the WWE is making. Although many dismiss the WWE as just entertainment, their ability to aggregate fans, deliver story lines and build personalities should be required study for anyone in the sports field, and the piece does a great job of detailing where the business was and how it has resurrected itself to the point where it can draw all three candidates into the mix tonight.
Some other quick reads for a rainy New York Monday…first, as many people have looked with great interest on the political melding of issues with sports going into Beijing this summer, one should also read Gary Kasparov's Wall Street Journal piece on the huge financial undertaking for the 2014 Sochi Olympics and the problems already presented Vin Scully tomorrow night and there have been a number of pieces about the Hall of Fame broadcasters start in the business, with the best going to Phil Mushnick in this weekend's New York Post, worth reading for anyone looking to break into broadcasting…also check out Rich Deitsch's SI Media Circus as he again details some good examples of hot and not this week coming off the draft…also for those who may not know, Darren Heitner's Sports Agent blog gets some solid pops with agent q and a's the most recent is Leigh Steinberg and its worth reading for those wanting to get into the business side.
