Rangers/Stars Owner TOM HICKS was taken to St.
Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe, NM, yesterday after
"complaining of breathing problems and dizziness." Hicks,
who was in town for a business conference, was later
reported to be in "good condition" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS,
5/19)....In Philadelphia, Gary Thompson calls "MICHAEL
JORDAN TO THE MAX" "inspirational and a bit worshipful," but
if you "want something comprehensive, balanced and
objective, you're out of luck" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS,
5/19)....For the second straight year, the Robb Report named
Vail as the "best" ski resort in North America. Other
finalists in the 12th annual "BEST OF THE BEST" report
included Aspen, Beaver Creek, Deer Valley and
Whistler/Blackcomb (VAIL DAILY, 5/17)....In L.A., Tim
Kawakami reports that Lakers G KOBE BRYANT is engaged to
VANESSA LAINE, an 18-year-old from Huntington Beach, CA.
Bryant gave Laine a seven-carat ring (L.A. TIMES, 5/19).
...JOE FRAZIER and WALT "CLYDE" FRAZIER were among six
people honored by the National Father's Day Committee at its
65th annual FATHER OF THE YEAR awards luncheon yesterday in
N.Y. (THE DAILY)....CARL LEWIS, on moving to L.A. to become
a movie star: "I just moved less then two weeks ago, and I'm
out here focusing on an acting career. ... I love comedy,
dramatic stuff, and I love to do some action stuff" ("Late,
Late Show," CBS, 5/18)....In N.Y., Rush & Molloy report that
the Knicks asked SEAN "PUFFY" COMBS "to write an anthem" for
tonight's Game Six against the Heat. Combs is "working
overtime in the studio to get it ready" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS,
5/19)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Lisa Bannon writes on
adventure racing in a front-page piece under the header,
"Turf Wars ... The Eco And The Beast: Adventure Races Sling
Mud -- At Each Other." MARK BURNETT's annual Eco-Challenge,
a $10M "expedition" which takes place this summer through
the South Pacific, "will be packaged into a TV extravaganza"
on USA Network. But "rival" DON MANN has developed a
competing expedition called, "The Beast," which he states
"has what the Eco does not: the spirit of true adventure
that was the original inspiration for the sport 10 years
ago." Bannon writes that Mann's series does not currently
have a TV deal (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/19).
