TYRA BANKS will star in and co-produce "Honey Thunder
Dunk," for ABC's "The Wonderful World of Disney." In the
telefilm, described as "Tootsie in the WNBA," Banks plays a
top point-guard in the pro basketball league "who falls for
a cross-dressing player whose only talent is dunking"
(HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/29)....MICHAEL JORDAN spent four
hours testifying on Monday in the suit brought against him
by the makers of the film "Heaven Is a Playground." Jordan
testified that the contract he signed was "a tentative" one.
Jordan: "It was my understanding that it was a letter of
intent" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 9/29)....Chargers QB RYAN LEAF
is a scheduled guest tonight on NBC's "Tonight Show"
(HARTFORD COURANT, 9/29)....For the fifth straight year,
BILL GATES tops Forbes Magazine's annual list of the 400
richest Americans. Also included: 16) Kings co-Owner/MLS
investor PHILIP ANSCHUTZ ($6.2B); 18) News Corp. Chair
RUPERT MURDOCH ($5.6B); 36) Heat Owner MICKY ARISON ($3.5B)
and 37) Nike Chair PHIL KNIGHT ($3.5B) (AP/BOSTON GLOBE,
9/28)....76ers President PAT CROCE is the cover story of
SUCCESS. Croce: "People need appreciation, a little R and R
-- remuneration and recognition. Everyone needs that. Give
them a bonus and a pat on the back when they deserve it"
(SUCCESS, 9/98)....The Univ. of Miami opened its CENTER FOR
RESEARCH ON SPORT IN SOCIETY, headed by Sociology Dept.
Chair JOMILLS HENRY BRADDOCK (MIAMI HERALD, 9/28).
