Q: How did the Rose Bowl get the nickname “The Granddaddy of Them All?” Is this a registered trademark? Given today’s BCS, is this still a valid claim? When and by whom did it get this name?
—Lance DeLoach, Thomaston
A: No one is sure who came up with the Rose Bowl's nickname of "The Granddaddy of Them All," although some people think TV announcer Keith Jackson originated the phrase, which was trademarked on Nov. 30, 1976. A bowl spokesman told CBSSports.com in 2011 that the origin of the nickname "remains somewhat of a mystery." The Rose Bowl, the first bowl game, was first played on Jan. 1, 1902, but it was canceled the next year and wasn't played again until Jan. 1, 1916. Michigan State defeated Stanford 24-20 on Jan. 1, the 100th game in Rose Bowl history.
Q: What happened to Sam Champion, the meteorologist on “Good Morning America?”
—Lorraine Hyed, Tucker
A: Champion left ABC's "Good Morning America" in early December to begin preparing for his new three-hour morning show on The Weather Channel, which is slated to start in March. The new show will air from 7-10 a.m. Champion, who had been with "Good Morning America" since 2006, will anchor his new show from The Weather Channel's headquarters in Atlanta, and he also received the title of managing editor of the network. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me to do what I love most at a network that lives and breathes the weather," Champion said last month. Ginger Zee replaced Champion on "Good Morning America."
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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