Real estate mogul, Washington Nationals owner, and and Chevy Chase resident Ted Lerner has passed away at the age of 97. Lerner purchased the Nationals from Major League Baseball in 2006 for $450,000,000. The team released the following statement on Monday morning: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Founding Managing Principal Owner, Theodore N. Lerner. The crowning achievement of his family business was bringing baseball back to the city he loved -and with it, bringing a championship home for the first time since 1924. He cherished the franchise and what it brought to his beloved hometown.”

From our article 7 Marylanders Make “Forbes 400 List of Richest Americans”:

• In 1952, a 26-year-old Ted Lerner borrowed $250 from his wife to start a real estate company, selling homes for developers.
• He sold 22,000, then decided to become a builder. Today his Lerner Enterprises is among the largest owners of real estate in the Washington, D.C area.
• Since 2006 Lerner has owned the Washington Nationals baseball team. In June 2018, Ted passed control of the team to son Mark.
• The family donates to charities including Children’s National Hospital in DC, George Washington University and Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
• During law school, Lerner sold real estate on weekends to help support his widowed mother and younger siblings.

Feature photo courtesy of https://alumni.gwu.edu/theodore-n-lerner

Head Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach at Magruder High School Scott Zanni announced his retirement today. Zanni has been coaching high school volleyball for 30 years, with the last 27 being at Magruder in Derwood.  In 2019, the Magruder Varsity Girls team won the 3A state championship with a 25-0 record. Below is the resignation letter he submitted to Magruder Principal Dr. Leroy Evans:

“After 30 rewarding years serving as a high school volleyball coach, I have decided the time is right for me to retire as the varsity volleyball coach at Colonel Zadok Magruder High School. Coaching student athletes has been among the most gratifying and enjoyable experiences of my life and I will be forever thankful. However, I believe now is the time for me to step away from a sport that has given me so much and take on new challenges and new experiences, both inside and outside of Montgomery County Public Schools.

During the past 30 years (three at Einstein and the last 27 at Magruder), I’ve been blessed to coach some of the most amazing student-athletes in MCPS. I am certain I will miss the day-to-day interactions with my players, the shared hard work of pushing toward team goals and the camaraderie that comes from high school sports.

To the players I’ve coached, the journey has been a true pleasure, one that has been more rewarding than I ever dreamed possible. During my first years at Einstein High School, I was fortunate to have so many wonderfully talented student-athletes to work with. I learned a great deal about being a coach and have fond memories of my time there.

The last 27 years at Magruder have flown by. My first team at Magruder set the tone and foundation for the teams and success that followed. There are so many positively vivid recollections. Together, we developed a winning culture where teammates supported each other both on and off the court. Players grew into young adults and developed long-term friendships. Each season, our teams were filled with remarkable student-athletes who worked hard and made coaching the enjoyable endeavor it has been for 30 years. During big matches, our home gym rocked with a 1000 screaming fans. Yet equally enjoyable were the quiet moments of a shared laugh, smile or amusing moment. Taken together, it is a record of excellence with 24 straight winning seasons and numerous championship moments. Those who have played here at Magruder have much to be proud of.

There are many who have supported Magruder volleyball that deserve a great deal of thanks. My family, especially my wife Meredith, has always supported our program, cheered on our teams and provided unwavering support. My longtime assistant coach, Geoff Demitz, has volunteered for over 20 years and been an instrumental part of our success. He is one of the longest serving, most beloved and successful assistant coaches in the history of Magruder athletics. I’ve been blessed to have six different JV coaches, each who brought their own unique talents and coaching style. Jack Graham hired me as a teacher and coach at Magruder and cheered on our early success. Our current principal, Dr. Leroy Evans, has been among our biggest fans these last 20 years. Magruder Athletic Directors Rick Grimsley, Karl Heimbach and Silas Cheung each supported our program so that we have among the best training facilities and equipment in the county.

There is never an ideal time to step away from a job you have enjoyed for so long. But after much consideration, I believe this is the right time. I am eager for new challenges and adventures. I will forever be a supporter of Magruder athletics and especially Magruder volleyball. Thank you to all who have supported our program.

Scott Zanni”

Per the State of Maryland (2.1.23): ​Today, Governor Wes Moore and the Baltimore Orioles announced their joint commitment to creating a long-term, multi-decade, public-private partnership that both develops and revitalizes the Camden Yards complex as a magnet for sports tourism and leverages Maryland taxpayers’ investment in the property. Governor Moore and the Orioles look forward to continuing the conversation about the next evolution of this critical partnership for Maryland and the City of Baltimore.​

Per Montgomery County:  Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is seeking applicants to fill 17 public and organizational vacancies on the newly established Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee.   The committee, staffed by Montgomery County Recreation, will study sports participation and opportunities in the County, make recommendations to the County Executive and the Montgomery County Council and recognize outstanding teams and athletes. Members will help conduct research, advocate for enhanced sports opportunities, and identify and address discrepancies found in youth sports to raise the quality of life for residents.

“Sports is the largest participatory activity in Montgomery County and participants not only learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship but involvement also leads to higher levels of physical fitness, confidence, self-esteem, and academic success,” said Robin Riley, director of Montgomery County Recreation. “This committee will advocate for enhanced sports opportunities and exceptional facilities ensuring youth have access to recreational sports programs. We look forward to working with community stakeholders and collaborators to develop a roadmap for identifying opportunities to expand programming.”

The Committee will prepare and submit to the County Executive and the County Council an annual report regarding factors that affect sports participation in the County including the availability of and access to athletic fields, facilities, and sports, and recommendations to improve the quality, quantity, and variety of sports opportunities and facilities. The Committee will also recognize teams and athletes in the County who win state or national championships or represent the United States in international competition.

Members of the Committee will serve three-year terms (initially staggered). Public members will serve without compensation but are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for in-person meetings attended. Committee meeting dates and times will be determined and may be held virtually.

Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, genders, geography, abilities, ethnicities and ages are encouraged to apply. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members must complete training on the Maryland Open Meetings Act, Montgomery County Ethics Law and basic parliamentary procedure.

Bill 6-22 establishing the Committee can be found here.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 1. For more information, or to apply click here.

Per the State of Maryland:
Reaffirms Beloved Team’s Strong Commitment to the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore For Up to 25 Years as M&T Bank Stadium Approaches Its 25th Year
The Maryland Board of Public Works today unanimously approved a new stadium lease agreement between the Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) and the Baltimore Ravens that extends the team’s commitment to remain in Baltimore and support investment in M&T Bank Stadium through the end of the 2037 NFL season, with two five-year options to extend.

“This is an exciting day for the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland as the Ravens are truly a world-class organization and a source of great pride for Marylanders,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “With the ratification of this historic agreement, we are securing the franchise’s presence in Baltimore for decades to come, and advancing critical infrastructure upgrades for M&T Bank Stadium. I want to thank both the Ravens and the Maryland Stadium Authority for their continued strong partnership.”

Following passage by the Maryland General Assembly of HB896 (2022), the MSA was delighted that the Ravens expressed a desire to discuss their agreement well in advance of its 2027 expiration and investment in M&T Bank Stadium as it approaches its 25th year. HB896 offered a significant incentive for the team to renew or extend its lease and remain in Baltimore, and it provides the opportunity to expand the economic impact of games and other year-round activities at the stadium.

On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, general business terms of an agreement related to stadium renovations were presented and approved by the National Football League (NFL). On Tuesday, December 27, the MSA Board of Directors met to consider for approval a new stadium lease agreement that would reaffirm the team’s strong commitment to the State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore. With the MSA Board of Directors’ unanimous approval of the proposed agreement, it was then presented to the Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday, January 4, 2023 and received unanimous approval.

MSA will continue to work closely with the Baltimore Ravens so that M&T Bank Stadium will be upgraded to remain a best-in-class facility in terms of safety, amenities, and fan experience. MSA fully recognizes that with this agreement and the improvements HB896 affords presents a once in a generation opportunity to redevelop M&T Bank Stadium to further elevate Maryland as a sports and entertainment destination and create economic development opportunities for years to come.

“The Maryland Stadium Authority is extremely pleased with the new stadium lease agreement with the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium that continues our strong partnership with the team through the end of the 2037 NFL season with two five-year options to extend,” said Thomas Kelso, Chairman, MSA. “While fundamentally the same as the agreement presently in place, it offers greater protections to the MSA, additional revenue opportunities to the team that are in line with current stadium trends and opportunities to collaborate on improvements that will enhance the fan experience as afforded by the HB896 legislation.”

“We thank the Board of Public Works and Governor Hogan for supporting this agreement. We are excited that M&T Bank stadium will be home to the Ravens for at least the next 15 seasons,” said Sashi Brown, President, Baltimore Ravens. “We also look forward to working with MSA to make key investments to ‘the Bank’ that Ravens fans deserve. These improvements will allow the Ravens to continue delivering one of the NFL’s best game day experiences and to attract world class concerts and events to Baltimore and the capital region.”

About HB896. HB896 (2022) increased the cap on Camden Yards Sports Complex debt from $235 million to $1.2 billion ($600 million each for Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium), increased the cap on monies for debt service transferred from lottery funds to $90 million from $20 million, and stipulated that the term of any bonds issued could not exceed the term of the team lease where the money is to be spent. This offers a significant incentive for the teams to renew or extend their leases and remain in Baltimore, and provides the opportunity to expand the economic impact of games and other activities at the stadiums.

-###-

The XFL today revealed the names and logos for the eight teams that will be competing in the 2023 season, which kicks off on February 18, 2023. The Washington DC team, which will play its home games at Audi Field, will continue to be known as the D.C. Defenders. The Defenders went 3-2 during the XFL’s 2020 season, which ended prematurely in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The XFL was then purchased by Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson in August 2020 after the league went bankrupt.  The Defenders will be coached this season by Reggie Barlow and the XFL draft takes place in November.  Additional information courtesy of the XFL:

The DC Defenders are an unmatched defensive force overlooking the most guarded capital in the world. They don't give up ground, they take it. #XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/WdhtGFvGbB

— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) October 31, 2022

Taking the field for the XFL:

• Arlington Renegades
• D.C. Defenders
• Houston Roughnecks
• Orlando Guardians
• San Antonio Brahmas
• Seattle Sea Dragons
• St. Louis Battlehawks
• Vegas Vipers

“We could not be more excited to unveil our new team identities. Countless hours of creative sessions and collaboration went into bringing these team brands to life. Each team’s identity represents the fabric of their local community while also embodying the XFL’s vision and ethos: they are authentic, dynamic, modern, and unapologetically bold,” said Dany Garcia, Chairwoman and Owner. “We can’t wait to see our XFL fans representing their favorite XFL teams this upcoming season.”

“Every one of these logos has a unique energy, intensity, and electricity that each team and their fans will bring on game day. Now is the time for our fans to get behind a team – THEIR team – and wear these logos and represent their city with pride,” Owner Dwayne Johnson added. “From the start, Dany, Gerry, and I have wanted to deliver our fans nothing but the best, and it is motivating to see our creative vision come to life. We have our cities, our team identities, and our rockstar coaches. Now we get to fill our rosters with hungry and deserving players that will wear their uniforms with XFL pride.”

Russ Brandon, President of the XFL, added, “The team names and logos are the results of the diligent work and tireless collaboration between the league marketing team, ownership and our creative partners. This is the moment where our brand comes to life and our shared vision becomes reality for our cities and fans everywhere. We couldn’t be more excited by what we have built, and there is more on the horizon.”

As previously announced, the XFL selected Arlington, Texas and Choctaw Stadium as its new football operations Hub. The Hub will consist of a centralized performance facility and multiple practice venues for preseason and in-week training for the League’s eight teams. This hybrid Hub model provides players access to full-time, on-site support from coaches and athletic training staff, while still developing team affinity and community relations within their local markets.

Earlier this month, the XFL finalized all eight teams’ coaching and football operations staff. As the 2023 season approaches, the coaching staff will continue to actively scout potential players in preparation for the XFL Draft in November. The XFL will kick off on February 18, 2023 in partnership with its exclusive broadcast partner, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN. Season ticket deposits are available online for all teams at XFL.com/tickets. Digital assets for the XFL can be found here: XFL.photoshelter.com/galleries For more information, visit XFL.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Per Montgomery County Public Schools:
“Dear MCPS Families,
As we enter the exciting time of year known as homecoming we write with a reminder of the importance of demonstrating respect by all spectators attending MCPS athletic events. The R.A.I.S.E. core values of the school district athletics program teach and reinforce respect and sportsmanship, academic excellence, integrity and character, spirited and safe competition, and equity and access. When you attend an MCPS sporting event you are enjoying an exhibition of skills developed by student-athletes in an educational setting. Being in the stands or on the sidelines is just like being in the classroom; respect for your fellow spectators, student-athletes, coaches and referees is the expectation.

You can support these expectations by following these simple guidelines.

• Applaud all student-athletes for their efforts.
• Accept the decisions of officials and coaches.
• Appreciate all participants for their commitment.
• Support school personnel in conducting a spirited and safe contest.
• Maintain composure when something seems to go against your team.
• Respect the rights of other spectators.
• Reward sportsmanlike behavior through cheering.
• Focus attention on the positive aspects of competition.
• Encourage student-athletes by showing enthusiasm and positive recognition. and…
• Demonstrate concern for the safety and welfare of student-athletes and each otherAlso, please comply with our spectator expectations:
• Tickets are purchased through GoFan. Spectators are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. General admission is $5.00, which includes convenience fee.
• Students should bring their student ID, in order to verify their enrollment
• Middle school students must purchase a ticket and be accompanied by a paying adult or will not be able to attend the event
• Elementary students (10 and under) are admitted free with a paying adult
• Senior citizens over the age of 62 are admitted free
• Be Loud, Be Proud, Be Positive!

We’ll see you at the game.

Montgomery County Public Schools”

MoCo native Katie Ledecky won ESPN ESPYs (Excellence in Sports Performance Yearly Awards) for “Best Athlete-Women’s Sports” and the “Best Olympian-Women’s Sports” at last night’s annual award show.  Ledecky has won 7 Olympic gold medals and 22 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer. She is also the world record holder in the women’s 400-, 800-, and 1500-meter freestyle (long course), and holds the fastest-ever times in the women’s 500-, 1000-, 1500-, and 1650-yard freestyle events.

Ledecky attended Little Flower School through eighth grade and graduated from Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in 2015. Ledecky’s current home base is in in Gainesville, Florida. You can view a Ledecky’s acceptance speech below:

“To all of the young athletes out there, … find something that you really love, that you’re good at, that can be a positive force in our world.”

—Katie Ledecky with a message after winning the ESPY for Best Athlete, Women's Sports 💪 pic.twitter.com/t1mZLyVlxJ

— ESPN (@espn) July 21, 2022

Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Council President Albornoz spearheaded measure to increase sports opportunities and tackle discrepancies found in youth sports

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 28, 2022—Today, the Council unanimously enacted Bill 6-22, which will create the Montgomery County Sports Advisory Committee. This new organizing body will identify and advocate for enhanced sports opportunities and address discrepancies found in youth sports.

Montgomery County has a rich sports tradition and numerous public and private facilities, including the Montgomery County SoccerPlex, which provide a significant economic boost to Montgomery County and raises the quality of life for residents.

The Montgomery Sports Commission will include 17 members, appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the Council, who reflect the diversity of the community, including diversity in race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, geography and sports represented.

The advisory committee is responsible for researching and reporting on factors that affect sports participation and making recommendations about ways to improve the quality, quantity and variety of sports opportunities and facilities in Montgomery County. Together with the County Executive and Council, the commission will formally recognize teams and athletes who win state or national championships or represent the U.S. in international competitions.

“Sports bring together communities and generations in ways that other activities cannot,” said Council President Gabe Albornoz. “In addition to the physical benefits that sports provide, players learn about commitment, fair play and teamwork while building self-esteem. It’s important that we establish an organization to ensure that all of our young people have access to recreational sports and that we have high-quality sports venues for our community members.”

Recent analysis, conducted by the County’s Office of Legislative Oversight, on youth sports participation in Montgomery County and gender equity in local sports programs, confirmed the numerous benefits of sports participation for children and youth in social and emotional development and overall health and wellness. The analysis also found that there is a wide discrepancy in sports participation in Montgomery County. The reports identified barriers to access that relate to social and economic factors in addition to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Montgomery County is home to Olympic athletes, professional athletes and numerous state and national championship teams. Sports participation is the largest extracurricular activity taken up by young people. When added to adult sports leagues and recreational play, sports is the largest participatory activity in Montgomery County.

Despite the significant interest, participation levels and rich sports history in Montgomery County, prior to Bill 6-22 there was no entity in the county to serve as an organizing body to help conduct research, advocate for enhanced sports opportunities or identify and address discrepancies found in youth sports opportunities.

The Council staff report and Bill 6-22 can be viewed here.

On July 31 at the Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, TN, 73-year-old professional wrestler Ric Flair, real name Richard Fliehr, will be making his return to the ring for one last match at an event titled Starrcast V.  One person who isn’t excited about the Nature Boy’s return to the ring is CBS radio anchor and part time news writer for WTOP  Christopher Cruise. Wrestling fans will remember Cruise as a play-by-play commentator and interviewer for World Championship Wrestling during the late 80’s and early 90’s. Cruise argues that a man Flair’s age , with serious health problems, should not be allowed to compete.

Prior to this summer’s upcoming event, Flair’s last wrestling match took place in Orlando, FL against a man called Sting at a TNA wrestling show in September 2011. Though he hasn’t wrestled in nearly 11 years, Flair has made many appearances on various wrestling programs, including WWE, in recent years. Reaction to the announcement of Flair’s upcoming match has been mixed.

In 2017, Flair was placed in a medically induced coma to undergo emergency heart surgery and have part of his bowel removed due to decades of alcohol abuse.  After a different heart surgery in 2019, Flair told TMZ, “This is the 4th time I’ve been in in 7 weeks,” and “They finally figured out what type of pacemaker to put on me. Which I found out just how important the operation of your heart is. You can’t breathe if your hearts not working.”

Prior to the announcement that Flair’s latest retirement match would be taking place in Tennessee, Cruise wrote to the Maryland State Athletic Commission, urging its members to deny Flair a license if he ever attempted to wrestle in the state. Cruise wrote, “I am writing as a citizen of Maryland to express my concern about the prospect of Mr. Fleihr being granted a license to wrestle in this state. I’m sure you understand how disastrous it would be for the Commission if he died in the ring during a performance for which you granted him a license.”  This wasn’t the first time Cruise has contacted the Maryland commission regarding wrestler safety.  After a 2019 match in Baltimore between AEW wrestlers Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley that involved broken glass and barbed wire, Cruise made headlines when he filed a formal complaint with the commission. The AEW wrestling promotion ended up receiving a $10,000 fine for the match, although Cruise states that the commission had a representative on-site at the event and said it had already been considering taking action before his complaint.

Earlier this week, Cruise shared an email he sent to the four commissioners of the Nashville Fairgrounds and the mayor of Nashville, urging them to cancel the match:
“The 73 year old professional wrestler Ric Flair, who has a pacemaker installed, will be having his last match at The Fairgrounds in late July.
Were you aware of this?
I am a former play-by-play announcer for World Championship Wrestling. I am deeply concerned about Mr. Flair’s health. I think you should be, too.
What if he dies in the ring (something he has reportedly professed he wants to do) during the match at The Fairgrounds? Can you imagine the lawsuits, the bad publicity? It would be impossible for you to explain. You would be pilloried nationally and internationally.
This is a bad idea all around.
Unfortunately, the Tennessee State Athletic Commission does not regulate professional wrestling, so you are the only ones who can stop this from happening at The Fairgrounds.
Please cancel this event. It isn’t worth the risk involved. If something happens to Mr. Flair during the event, The Fairgrounds will be held up to ridicule worldwide, justifiably so.”

At this point it appears that despite Cruise’s efforts, Flair’s retirement match will go on as scheduled in July. Information about the event can be found at www.starrcast.com/ric-flairs-last-match.  Besides his work for CBS and WTOP, Cruise teaches classes at the Oasis center in Bethesda and at The Graduate School USA in DC. He is a retired federal employee and a wrestling fan for over 50 years, having worked for both the WWF and WCW.

Feature photo courtesy of Ric Flair, The Nature Boy on Facebook.

The Washington Commanders announced today that Katie Feeney will be the team’s first-ever social media correspondent.  Feeney graduated from Sherwood High School in 2021 and is a well-known social media personality. She currently has over 6.8 million followers on her TikTok.

Per the Washington Commanders:

Excited to welcome Katie to the team as our first-ever Commanders Correspondent!

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) April 13, 2022