Names & Faces: Bonds, LeBron, Crosby, Danica In The News

Baseball HOF Planning To Collect Artifacts From Bonds’ Chase For MLB Home Run Record

In San Jose, Laurence Miedema reports the Baseball HOF plans to “collect as many artifacts as possible” from Giants LF Barry Bonds’ pursuit of MLB’s all-time home run record, but it is “still a mystery as to what keepsakes, if any, Bonds will contribute.” Bonds opted out of MLB’s standard player licensing agreement after the ’03 season allowing him to make his own marketing decisions, and agent Jeff Borris said that he and Bonds “have never discussed the topic” of which items he’ll give to the HOF. Baseball HOF VP/Communications & Education Jeff Idelson said that while Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were “happy to donate seemingly everything they touched” during the home run chase of ’98, others “are not so forthcoming” (MERCURY NEWS, 5/21).

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER: In Newark, Dave D’Alessandro wrote the NBA tonight should “introduce its TV audience” to Cavaliers F Ira Newble, who is writing a letter asking the Chinese government “to use economic and diplomatic pressures” to end the fighting in Darfur. Cavaliers F LeBron James has not signed the letter, and D’Alessandro notes Nike has “extensive business” in China. D’Alessandro wrote of James, “If his life ambition is truly to be a ‘global icon,’ he will ultimately be exposed for being nothing more than a bogus piece of marketing until he uses his influence in ways that would benefit the public good” (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/20). Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard said, “The petition doesn’t have much weight behind the symbolic unless James signs it. ... It would be nice if, in becoming a global icon, he puts his name on something beyond basketball” (“The Sports Reporters,” ESPN, 5/20).

THE MIGHTY PEN: In Portland, Helen Jung reported Upper Deck rookie cards of Penguins C Sidney Crosby are selling for up to $10,000, compared to $900 for a Wayne Gretzky rookie card. Ninety-nine Crosby cards were put in select packs under “The Cup” series last July that sold for $350. Beckett Hockey Editor Al Muir said the $10,000 price tag is “completely unprecedented” (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/20).

DANICA: GoDaddy aired three different 30-second ads during ABC’s coverage of Indianapolis 500 Bump Day yesterday, two of which featured Danica Patrick. One of Patrick’s practice runs immediately followed the first ad. The two ads featuring Patrick emphasized her competitive spirit and driving ability rather than her sex appeal, which one may not expect from GoDaddy (THE DAILY).