This is the first Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up of the new year. The column is one of the favorites for readers and there is no threat of it leaving. However, I was close to scrapping it for this week. I had collected a great number of interesting stories, only to have my browser crash yesterday. I have been able to find most of the links, and added in some new ones that are of particular interest. Thus, the streak of posting this column every week continues. I had a fantastic week scouting and talking to young baseball players and their families at the PerfectGame National Underclass Showcase – Main Event. Three days full of pure baseball was draining, but enjoyable. On one day I had Frank Zaino (Director of Baseball Operations at Dynasty) and Justin Herzig (HR Director) with me and on another I was only accompanied by Frank. A lot of relationships were formed and I look forward to following up with many of the families we were able to meet. In a very competitive industry, it is extremely important to get your name out to these families very early. I believe that there is also a lot for them to gain by learning about a company early on so that a certain amount of trust may be developed. Anyway, here are some stories I missed over the past week:
Football
- Confidential arbitration denied [Does this mean eventual closure for Bush-USC case?].
- Got A LOT of time on your hands today and not too hungover? [American Needle v. National Football League, Docket No. 08-661]
- Was Mike Leach really fired “for cause”? [Legal showdown between Leach, Texas Tech may just be starting]
Baseball
- Scott Boras is not bound by the same worries and constraints as other high-profile agents [Boras is the Teflon agent].
- The United States benefits from Chapman signing in 2010 [Aroldis Chapman and the taxman].
- Doug Glanville offers some great advice like, “a lot of the work required to make it takes place off the field, and involves how you manage your life” [Not Just Tiger’s Temptations]
- “He doesn’t really have an edge and lacks controversy” – Mauer took a page out of Glanville’s book [Is The Twins’ Joe Mauer Baseball’s Next Big Brand?].
