Names In The News

Zidane (l) And Beckham To Play Against Each Other In December Exhibition?

England’s Pro Footballers' Association CEO GORDON TAYLOR said there could be “one or two surprises” in a soccer match between England and a group of global players as part of the organization’s centenary celebration. At the “top of the wish list” to play in the December 2 game are Galaxy MF DAVID BECKHAM and retired MF ZINEDINE ZIDANE (London INDEPENDENT, 9/27).

CHARITY STRIPE: Late Pro Football HOFer WALTER PAYTON’s wife, CONNIE, son JARRETT and daughter BRITTNEY have created a program called “Rush for Walter,” enlisting 15 NFL RBs to raise $1 for every yard gained this season. Funds go primarily to the NFL Retired Players Medical & Assistance Fund. Participating RBs include REGGIE BUSH, WARRICK DUNN, EDGERRIN JAMES, THOMAS JONES, LAURENCE MARONEY, LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, LENDALE WHITE and CARNELL WILLIAMS (USA TODAY, 9/27)….NFL Panthers OT TRAVELLE WHARTON and retired S MIKE MINTER have teamed with volunteers from Bank of America and the Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity to build a new home in Columbia (Bank of America).

COMING ATTRACTIONS: Production on "POUND FOR POUND: THE LIFE OF SUGAR RAY ROBINSON" is scheduled to begin in March for a release in early '09.  MICHEL SHANE and ANTHONY ROMANO will produce the film (THE DAILY)….Walden Media and JORAN KERNER have tapped SAM WEISMAN to direct "THE MIRACLE OF ST. ANTHONY," an adaptation of ADRIAN WOJNAROWSKI's book about a year in the life of high school basketball coach BOB HURLEY SR. (DAILY VARIETY, 9/27).

NAMES: Tornante Co. Founder MICHAEL EISNER said of his company's acquisition of Topps, "The value ultimately is in the brand. It’s in the emotion, it’s in the DNA of all men -- boys -- who (love sports). It’s little like Disney was but a little smaller. ... We’ve got to build it back up and make it a media company. Got some candy, got a lot of cards.” CNBC’s Dylan Ratigan asked, “How can you lose with candy?” Eisner: “I feel strong about the cards, but the candy is great” ("Fast Money," CNBC, 9/26)....FLORIDA STATE UNIV. officials said that an internal investigation launched in March found that two former employees and 23 athletes participated in “varying levels” of academic fraud during the ’06-07 school year. The athletes involved are from nine different sports and 21 of the 23 are still in school. Seventeen of the athletes either were or are on scholarship (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 9/27).