Names In The News

Agent DAVID CARAVANTES was reprimanded and fined $10,000 last month by the NFLPA for “his connection to New Era Sports & Entertainment,” the marketing firm that “reportedly provided cash and gifts” to Saints RB REGGIE BUSH while he was still at USC. The NFLPA claims Caravantes “used business cards claiming to be the CEO of New Era and provided accommodations for potential clients at a resort hotel” in California in January ’06. The union also claims that he “refused to help it in its investigation.” Caravantes plans to appeal (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/14).

Mourning Helping Promote Organ Donation License Plates

CHARITY STRIPE: Suns G STEVE NASH is expanding his British Columbia-based youth basketball league, the Steve Nash Youth League, across Canada. The league for kids ages 5-13 “will provide the basis for all Canadian developmental programs.” It is set to launch this September (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/15)....Heat C ALONZO MOURNING will serve as the spokesperson for the $25 “Donate organs. Pass it on Florida” specialty license plate. Mourning received a kidney transplant in ’03 (Transplant Foundation)....Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts selected Patriots LB TEDY BRUSCHI as the recipient of its ’07 Wish Hero Award (Patriots).

NAMES: CBS Sports’ JAMES BROWN will co-anchor CBS’ “The Saturday Early Show” with TRACY SMITH on February 17 and 24, and on April 7 and 14 (CBS)....Former Detroit Free Press golf writer JACK BERRY was named this year’s recipient of the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/15)...The Rotary Club of Oceanside (FL) Stock Car Racing HOF inducted NASCAR team owner RICHARD CHILDRESS and NASCAR Senior VP/Operations LES RICHTER. Meanwhile, Richard Childress Racing’s STACIE FANDEL was named the ’06 Most Valuable PR Rep for the Busch Series (THE DAILY).