Agent LEIGH STEINBERG will host another conference on
concussions and pro football safety in early March in L.A. (USA
TODAY, 12/21)....Despite injuring his leg the night before in a
game against Phoenix, CLYDE DREXLER showed up on crutches where
his Drexler Foundation and Feed the Children had a food
distribution at which approximately 25,000 pounds of food,
educational computer software and other items were delivered.
The items will be distributed to needy Houston-area families.
Drexler: "I wasn't going to disappoint anybody, including
myself." Sponsors of the event included Mircosoft, Campbell's
Soup, and Keebler (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/21)....HIDEO NOMO was
named top Japanese newsmaker in major domestic sports stories as
selected by Kyodo News Service (KYODO NEWS, 12/20)....FRANK
DEFORD's Holiday commentary from yesterday's NPR "Morning
Edition." Deford: "There just weren't three wise men in sports
this year. JERRY JONES was wise until November, but then he got
dumb, just like everybody else in sports, with the possible
exceptions of NBC and Nike." Deford sent forth the hope that all
presents this year "be in team colors, may they all be official
products of the National Football League and may they all be
endorsed by Michael Jordan" (NPR, 12/21).... Bullets Center
GHEORGHE MURESAN was invited to lunch by actor BILLY CRYSTAL to
discuss a possible role in a "semi-sequel" to Crystal's '87
movie, "The Princess Bride." Muresan would play a role similar
to the one played by the late ANDRE THE GIANT in the film
(WASHINGTON POST, 12/21). ....CHARLES BARKLEY will reportedly
follow CINDY CRAWFORD and ROBERT DE NIRO as the cover subject for
the third issue of John F. Kennedy Jr.'s political magazine,
"George" (N.Y. POST, 12/21)....Browns Owner ART MODELL was named
the "Most Ill-Mannered Person of 1995" by the National League of
Junior Cotillions of Charlotte. CAL RIPKEN JR. was named to the
group's list of ten "Best Mannered People" (WASHINGTON TIMES,
12/21).... Former TONYA HARDING bodyguard SHAWN ECKARDT has filed
a $6M lawsuit against minister EUGENE SAUNDERS, whom he claims
breached confidentiality laws by wearing a wire to record
conversations with Eckardt for federal authorities. Eckardt was
released from jail in September after pleading guilty to
racketeering in the conspiracy to injure NANCY KERRIGAN (USA
TODAY, 12/21).
