Colts owner JIM IRSAY in a recent interview said he is “doing great." Irsay has been hospitalized since undergoing recent surgery on his right leg that was “deemed necessary to improve his mobility.” Irsay said he is “getting out of the hospital in a couple of days” (FOX59.com, 3/8). Former NFLer DWIGHT FREENEY has asked Irsay to perform the duty of presenting him at the Pro Football HOF induction ceremony on Aug. 3 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 3/8).
KELCE-MANIA: Former NFLer DREW BREES announced a scholarship in honor of recently retired NFLer JASON KELCE that will be granting 13 scholarships to walk-on college athletes. It is a "perfectly unique nod" to Kelce’s years played in the NFL and where his journey began as a walk-on in college at the Univ. of Cincinnati (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 3/8)....Chiefs TE TRAVIS KELCE and brother Jason will host their second live recording of the “NEW HEIGHTS” podcast at Nippert Stadium on April 11 (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/9)....TidalWave Comics’ “FAME: TRAVIS KELCE” has been a hit for the publisher. Amazon shows it currently ranks in the top 50 of three Amazon best-selling categories and is currently No. 17 in Teen & Young Adult Performing Arts Biographies (K.C. STAR, 3/9).
HOLLYWOOD TOURS: Guests at this year's Vanity Fair Oscar Party included Lakers F LEBRON JAMES, Ravens WR ODELL BECKHAM JR., Amazon founder & CEO JEFF BEZOS and Endeavor CEO ARI EMANUEL (VANITY FAIR). Celebrity appearances at UFC 299 in Miami included Bengals QB JOE BURROW, 49ers DE NICK BOSA and President DONALD TRUMP (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 3/10).
NAMES: Longtime soccer administrators CHRISTINE O’CONNOR and LEETA SOKALSKI have been named to the Canada Soccer HOF, the first women to be added to the builders section. O'Connor and Sokalski helped grow the game in Manitoba and B.C., respectively. They will be honored on May 4 (TORONTO STAR, 3/8)....49ers QB BROCK PURDY married longtime girlfriend JENNA BRANDT on Saturday in Des Moines (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 3/10)....Baseball HOFer and Marquee Sports Network analyst RYAN DEMPSTER placed his six-bedroom, 5,650-square-foot Lakeview house on the market once again this week, this time for $2.45M. He brought the house new in 2014 for $1.95M (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/9).
