Names In The News

GOLD CLUB TRIAL: In N.Y., David Firestone writes that Magic C PATRICK EWING yesterday "was the first of what will probably be several celebrity witnesses to be called by the government" in The Gold Club racketeering trial. Ewing said that he "had been to the club about 10 times but that he had only received sexual favors twice" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/24). In N.Y., Greg Smith writes that Ewing "seemed profoundly ill at ease talking about his 10 visits to the club" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/24). In Philadelphia, Dana DiFilippo writes that 76ers C DIKEMBE MUTOMBO "got dragged into the tawdry affair when a former club dancer testified that she performed oral sex for money" with Mutombo. The news comes soon after Mutombo received the J. WALTER KENNEDY CITIZENSHIP trophy (PH. DAILY NEWS, 7/24). FSN's Jim Rome, on the trial: "Just what (NBA Commissioner) DAVID STERN needs. They've got a product they need to market, but they need to market the image as well. This is not a good thing" (FSN, 7/23).

TO WED OR NOT TO WED, THAT IS THE QUESTION: A London SUN spokesperson, on its report ANNA KOURNIKOVA married Red Wings C SERGEI FEDOROV in Moscow over the weekend: "We stand by our story 100%" (London GUARDIAN, 7/23). But Octagon Athlete Representatives President PHIL DE PICCIOTTO said, "The rumors are untrue, and we will not justify them with any further comment" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/23).

NAMES: In CA, R.E. Graswich reported ADRIENNE MALOOF, the sister of NBA Kings co-Owners JOE and GAVIN MALOOF, is planning a January marriage to L.A. sports attorney JOE LONGO (SAC. BEE, 7/23)....In N.Y., Alex Yannis writes that KARRIE WEBB's Celebrity Pro-Am to benefit the CHRISTOPHER REEVE PARALYSIS FOUNDATION "has grown considerably in two years." An auction at a dinner reception Sunday night and an invitation-only golf outing at Manhattan Woods Golf Club raised about $200,000 (N.Y. TIMES, 7/24).