Names In The News

Madame Tussauds Unveils Wax Likeness Of  Wizards G Gilbert Arenas

Madame Tussauds wax museum in DC Thursday unveiled a "life-size wax likeness" of Wizards G GILBERT ARENAS, and the image will be presented during Friday night's Rockets-Wizards game at Verizon Center. Arenas becomes only the third NBA player to be featured at a Madame Tussauds museum, as MICHAEL JORDAN's likeness is at the Chicago location and Suns C SHAQUILLE O'NEAL's likeness is housed in an L.A. branch. Madame Tussauds is planning to unveil soon a wax sculpture of Rockets C YAO MING at its China museum (WASHINGTON TIMES, 11/21).

GATOR AID: Univ. of Florida (UF) QB TIM TEBOW has been chosen as this year's recipient of The Disney Spirit Award, given annually to college football's "most inspirational figure." Tebow will accept the award December 11 during the ESPNU College Football Awards at the Atlantic Dance Hall at Walt Disney World (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/21)....UF football fan GEORGE "MR. TWO-BITS" EDMONDSON following Saturday's game against The Citadel is "retiring after 60 years of leading cheers" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/21).

NAMES: F1 Management Chair BERNIE ECCLESTONE and his wife of 24 years, SLAVICA, are getting a divorce. Legal experts said that Ecclestone could face an "unprecedented battle over the rights to his vast fortune owing to the fact that the bulk of it is held in an offshore family trust" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/21)....USA Weekend magazine, which recently featured golfer ANNIKA SORENSTAM as the cover subject of its annual "Most Caring Athletes" project, also presented Sorenstam with a $5,000 donation to her foundation. Giants QB ELI MANNING also was named one of the "Most Caring Athletes" (MIAMI HERALD, 11/21)....The Steelers prior to last night's home game against the Bengals honored defensive coordinator DICK LEBEAU "for his 50 years of service in the NFL as a player and coach." Steelers Chair DAN ROONEY, President ART ROONEY II and NFL Dir of Football Operations & Special Projects MIKE KENSIL made the presentation to LeBeau on the field before kickoff (STEELERS.com, 11/20)....Flyers Chair ED SNIDER has "saved" three Philadelphia-area hockey rinks slated for closure under Philadelphia Mayor MICHAEL NUTTER's budget cuts. An announcement of the partnership is expected soon (PHILLY.com, 11/19)....The NBA this weekend will host Bollywood stars LARA DUTTA and DINO MOREA in L.A. The two stars will visit a Lakers practice, meet Lakers G KOBE BRYANT, work out with the Clippers Dance Team and sit courtside at Sunday's Kings-Lakers game (NBA).