Greek News
Sigma Chi’s Valentine Joins the ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Telecasts
ESPN has announced that former major league player and manager Bobby Valentine, a Sigma Chi from USC, will be a new color analyst on the network's popular Sunday Night Baseball series when the 2011 season gets underway in April. Also back in the booth as a returning analyst is former big league pitcher Orel Hershiser, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon from Bowling Green State. The network's new play-by-play man, Dan Shulman, is enthusiastic about his new colleeagues and said "If there are two smarter people in baseball, I don't know who they are."
Four Greeks Receive Grammy Award Nominations
Four stellar country music talents are included on the major nominations list for the upcoming Grammy Awards telecast next February. Charles Kelley, a Lambda Chi Alpha from Georgia, and his group, Lady Antebellum, are nominated for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Country Album of the Year (all for the single or album titled "Need You Now"). Dierks Bentley, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon from Vermont, received a Country Album nomination for "Up on the Ridge" while West Georgia's Zac Brown, of Kappa Alpha Order, and his Zac Brown Band got a Country Album nomination for "You Get What You Give". Jamey Johnson, a member of Sigma Nu at Jacksonville State, saw his "The Guitar Song" double CD nominated for Country Album of the Year.
Sports Illustrated Names Sigma Chi Drew Brees Sportsman of the Year
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, a member of Sigma Chi at Purdue, has been chosen as Sportsman of the Year and is on the cover of the magazine's December 6th double issue. SI devotes 11 and a half pages to his success on the football field, his family and the countless ways he has contributed to the rebirth of a great American city. In the nearly eight years since The Brees Dream Foundation was established to support cancer and the education of children in need, it has committed more than $6 million in Louisiana, San Diego (home of his former team) and West Lafayette, IN, the home of Purdue.
List of Fraternity Members in Professional Football Announced
The NIC is pleased to announce the 2010 list of fraternity members who are active in professional football. The list can be accessed via the NIC website
SAE’s Greg McElroy Named Academic All-America of the Year
University of Alabama two-year starting quarterback Greg McElroy, a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, has been named Academic All-America of the Year for the NCAA's University Division. The selection was made by ESPN and the College Sports Information Directors Association. Currently in graduate school after graduating with a 3.82 GPA, McElroy is a Rhodes Scholarship finalist and has already won an $18,000 post graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation.
Kappa Delta Rho’s Stephen Holmes Profiled in USA Today
Profiled in the November 22nd edition of USA Today was Stephen Holmes, a member of Kappa Delta Rho at Bucknell University, who is chairman and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide, one of the largest lodging companies in the world. As a corporate entity, Wyndham is only four years old, having been spun off from Cendant in 2006. Today, Wyndham Worldwide franchises 7,150 hotels under 12 brands, including Wyndham, Travelodge, Howard Johnson, Ramada, Super 8 and Days Inn.
Delt Drew Carey to Star in New Improv Series
While continuing as host of The Price is Right, Drew Carey, a member of Delta Tau Delta from Kent State University, is planning to star on a new improvisational comedy series this spring on the Game Show Network. The 40-episode show will be be taped on weekends at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, with the cast tentatively to include regulars from his two previous series, The Drew Carey Show and Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Final PGA Tour Money Leaders Include Fraternity Members
With the 2010 official events finished, the PGA has announced the 125 leading money winners who have secured full playing privileges for the 2011 PGA Tour. Here are the five Greeks from NIC member fraternities who were on the list: #7 Luke Donald, Northwestern Sigma Chi, with $3,665,234; #13 Bo Van Pelt, Oklahoma State Sigma Chi, with $3,336,258; #48 Brandt Snedeker, Vanderbilt Kappa Alpha Order, with $1,602,690; #61 Steve Marino, Virginia Beta Theta Pi, with $1,479,239; and #62 Kevin Streelman, Duke Delta Sigma Phi, with $1,472,349.
Greeks Win CMA Awards
At the 44th Country Music Association Awards show in Nashville Wednesday night, seven Greeks from NIC member fraternities won major awards or received nominations:
Vocal Group of the Year--Winner was Lady Antebellum, featuring co-lead singer Charles Kelley (Lambda Chi Alpha from Georgia)
New Artist of the Year--Winner was Zac Brown Band, featuring Zac Brown (Kappa Alpha Order from West Georgia); nominated was Luke Bryan (Sigma Chi from Georgia Southern)
Entertainer of the Year--Nominated were Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band
Male Vocalist of the Year--Nominated was Dierks Bentley (Sigma Alpha Epsilon from Vermont)
Single of the Year--Winner was "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum; produced by Paul Worley (Beta Theta Pi at Vanderbilt)
Song of the Year--Nominated were Lady Antebellum for "Need You Now", produced by Paul Worley and Zac Brown Band for "Toes"
Musical Event of the Year (two or three singers)--Nominated were "I'm Alive" with Kenny Chesney (Lambda Chi Alpha from East Tennessee State); "Can't You See" with the Zac Brown Band; and "Bad Angel" with Dierks Bentley and Jamey Johnson (Sigma Nu from Jacksonville State)
Album of the Year--Nominated were "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum, produced by Paul Worley and "Up on the Ridge" by Dierks Bentley
Music Video--Nominated was "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum
Luke Donald Has Big Finish Again
In the European PGA's HSBC Champions tournament, British native Luke Donald, a Sigma Chi at Northwestern, won $372,500 after tying for third place. Over the four rounds, he shot 279 (68-70-68-73) at Sheshan International in Shanghai.
