OPENING NEW DOORS: The SAMMY SOSA Children's Medical
Center for Preventive Medicine in San Pedro de Macoris,
Dominican Republic opened on Tuesday. Sosa said that he
believes "the poor people in his hometown will benefit from"
the facility because "health insurance isn't required for
treatment" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/25). FSN's John Walls
reported, "It is a much needed public facility, with Sammy
picking up much of the tab for the care there. Sosa says
it's just the beginning and that his foundation is getting
bigger and he has the chance to do more" (FSN, 8/25).
MORE NAMES: Blazers/Seahawks Owner PAUL ALLEN has
secured a $1B loan from German bank Commerzbank AG and other
lenders "to help finance more acquisitions" (SEATTLE POST-
INTELLIGENCER, 8/26)....Broncos RB TERRELL DAVIS said it
took "about 10 takes" to shoot an ESPN spot with poker-
playing dogs for the net's "Sunday Night Football" coverage.
Davis: "I have to look at these dogs [and] I'm laughing even
harder because these ugly dogs are slobbering all over the
place" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 8/22)....CNN/SI's Bob Lorenz
reported that the "CHILDREN'S CHARITY BASKETBALL GAME" was
held at GA State Univ. in Atlanta yesterday and featured
recording artists N'SYNC, USHER, BRIAN MCKNIGHT AND JERMAINE
DUPRI "with special guest appearances from" NBAers REGGIE
MILLER, CHRIS WEBBER, KOBE BRYANT and ANTAWN JAMISON
(CNN/SI, 8/25)....ABC will "pull" "SPORTS NIGHT" from the
Tuesday, 9:30pm time slot until the season begins October 5.
"Sports Night" recently earned a 4.2/7 rating, placing it
fourth in its time slot (DAILY VARIETY, 8/26)....Grizzlies F
SHAREEF ABDUR-RAHIM is building an 8,500-square-foot gym at
his Smyrna, GA, home (ATL. CONSTITUTION, 8/25)....A "source"
said that Lakers C SHAQUILLE O'NEAL earned $60,000 to appear
at a summer camp in Tyler Hill, PA, and "word is" O'Neal was
chosen only after singer RICKY MARTIN asked for a $1M
appearance fee (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/25).