WASHINGTON -- President-elect Donald Trump is adding former wrestling executive Linda McMahon to his Cabinet as leader of the Small Business Administration.McMahon and her husband, Vince, founded and built World Wrestling Entertainment Inc., now a publicly traded sports entertainment company. She stepped down as the companys chief executive in 2009 and earlier this year launched a joint venture, Womens Leadership LIVE, which promotes opportunities for women in business and public service.She also poured $100 million of her fortune into two unsuccessful bids for a U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 and has become an influential Republican donor -- including to the Trump campaign.Linda is going to be a phenomenal leader and champion for small businesses and unleash Americas entrepreneurial spirit all across the country, Trump said in a statement Wednesday.Trump said McMahon shares his vision of decreasing burdensome regulations that are hurting our middle-class workers and small businesses.As an entrepreneur myself, I have shared the experiences of our nations small business owners and will do my best to advocate on their behalf, McMahon, 68, said in a statement. My husband and I built our business from scratch, building it to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees.The SBA, best known for the small business loans it makes and the disaster aid it provides to companies and entrepreneurs, is also tasked with monitoring government officials compliances with contract laws. Its budget is generally under $1 billion.McMahons two Democratic Senate opponents had kind words for their former foe.Sen. Richard Blumenthal called her a person of serious accomplishment and ability who can help small businesses as long as she is not hamstrung by the dangerous economic policies espoused by other Trump-nominated Cabinet officials. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Murphy called McMahon a talented and experienced businessperson who helped shepherd WWE from an idea into a successful business.Of course, I know firsthand what a fierce fighter Linda McMahon is, and though we havent always seen eye to eye, I have confidence shell bring that fight to the SBA on behalf of Connecticut small businesses, he said.Some national small business advocates said they had little experience with McMahon but hoped she would understand the needs of small companies. Connecticut members of the National Federation of Independent Business had supported McMahon when she ran for Senate, NFIB spokesman Jack Mozloom said.Her views with small business aligned very well with our views. If that indicates what kind of SBA administrator shell be, thatll be good, Mozloom said.The Small Business Majority said it would have liked a nominee with more direct small business experience, but was optimistic McMahon would support companies and their owners.We hope that she recognizes the unique role that the SBA plays in providing much-needed capital and support to Americas small businesses and that she is prepared to play a strong role advocating for small business needs throughout the government, said John Arensmeyer, the groups CEO.The contract laws that the SBA monitors compliance with are aimed at ensuring small businesses get at least 23 percent of federal contracting money that is considered eligible for small businesses. The SBA also sponsors small business training and assistance at hundreds of centers across the country. And its Office of Advocacys responsibilities include challenging government regulations that pose a burden for small businesses.House Small Business Committee Chairman Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, called McMahon an excellent choice.I look forward to working with her and the new administration to roll back burdensome regulations and increase access to capital for Americas 28 million small businesses, he said.Trump wasnt McMahons top choice for president. She first backed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. But McMahon has known Trump for three decades, and contributed $5 million to Trumps family charity, almost all of it in 2007. He participated in WWE events, including a 2007 Battle of the Billionaires, during which he shaved Vince McMahons head.After Trump secured the Republican nomination, McMahon became one of his most generous benefactors. Fundraising records show she gave $6 million to an outside group that aired supportive commercials and attack ads against Democrat Hillary Clinton. She also gave more than $150,000 to the Trump campaign and his Republican Party partners at the end of September.McMahon told The Associated Press in September that she was confident Trump would be a good president and said the two were on good terms.Once youre his friend, he is loyal to the end, she said. Hes an incredibly loyal, loyal friend.--Haigh reported from Hartford, Connecticut. AP Business Writer Joyce Rosenberg in New York contributed to this report. Swell Bottle Uk Sale . They reached the 100-point plateau for the fourth time in five games, bested the visiting Trail Blazers by 34 in the paint and scored 19 of the final 25 points in regulation. Swell Uk . White came in fourth place in the event. He was the two-time defending gold medallist. The gold medal went to Swiss snowboarder Iouri Podladtchikov. http://www.ukswellbottle.com/uk-swell-water-bottles-wholesale.html . Sgt. 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Second-seeded Richard Gasquet also made the last four, beating eighth-seeded Florian Mayer 6-3, 7-6 (4) to stay on course for a third title this year. Gasquet will play Mikhail Youzhny, who upset 2011 champion Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-2. Youzhnys only victory in eight previous matches against the sixth-seeded Kohlschreiber was when the German had to retire after one set in 2007. The top-seeded Federer needed only 39 minutes to record the second "double bagel" of his career. The first was over Gaston Gaudio at the Masters Cup in Shanghai in 2005. "Its not something which is easy to do. You never go into a match aiming for that score," Federer said. "I was very surprised that it happened today, especially on grass. "I think it is disappointing for a serve-and-volley player to go down like this. It shows also how easy it is to hit passing shots or returns today." Zverev, a German wild card ranked No. 156, stuck to his game plan and paid the price for it. "I hope he doesnt take it too badly," Federer said. "I just had a pretty easy time picking up his serve and I must have made a ton of returns." While saying he would rather win 6-1, 6-2, Federer said gifting Zverev a game never crossed his mind. He said the only time he lost 6-0, 6-0 was his first match, at age 8. Zverev took his loss in stride. "Id rather lose 6-0, 6-0 to Roger in a quarterfinal" than to a qualifier in the second round, Zverev said.dddddddddddd "At least there is something to talk about later." Federer is looking for his first title of the year and his sixth on the grass court at Halle, his favourite tune-up for Wimbledon. Federer has seven Wimbledon titles and will be the defending champion there. Four of his Wimbledon titles have come after triumphs in Halle. But his last title in Halle was in 2008. "Its been a long time since I won here, so that title this year has the highest priority for me," said Federer, who owns a record 17 Grand Slam championships. Haas is the oldest man in the top 100, currently ranked No. 11 at age 35 and enjoying a second spring. He already has a title this year at home, in Munich. Monfils thrilled the crowd with his acrobatic, nonconventional shot-making. Once, he let a high ball bounce between his legs, twisted around and hit a smash on the turn. The smash was good but he lost the point on an error. He also dived and jumped high to hit overhead shots that pleased the crowd. The third-seeded Haas was perhaps less spectacular but more effective and simply made fewer errors. "It was close, he was lucky to hit a few lines at the end," Monfils said. "I play such points to win them, not just to have fun." Haas teamed with good friend Federer to play rare doubles in Halle but they lost in the first round. "You always look forward to such matches. Roger is one of the greatest players of all time. Its something real special," Haas said. Mayer produced a pair of stunning diving winners but Gasquet was the steadier player and fired an ace to finish the match. "It was a tough match for me because he is a good player and I lost to him last year in Wimbledon," Gasquet said. "I played very solid." ' ' '