The Magic yesterday announced that Senior VP PAT WILLIAMS has been diagnosed with a medical condition known as multiple myeloma, a form of cancer of the blood (Magic). In Orlando, Mike Bianchi notes Williams was "diagnosed five weeks ago after an extensive physical the Magic require of all their executives." The disease is "inoperable and incurable but sometimes can be treated with chemo to the point of inactivity." Bianchi writes without Williams, "there would be no Orlando Magic." He was "one of two people who had the ridiculous idea that they could bring professional basketball to a transient city in the middle of a football-fanatical state." Bianchi: "Williams has always been a believer; he's always been a persuader. But even he knows this will be his biggest sell job" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/16).
MANNY BEING MANNY: Boxer MANNY PACQUIAO, a member of Congress in the Philippines, toured Capitol Hill yesterday. As a guest of U.S. Sen. HARRY REID (D-Nev.), Pacquiao "toured the Senate floor in the morning and later went to the White House for a private meeting" with PRESIDENT OBAMA. He later used a "short news conference to promote" his May 7 bout against SHANE MOSLEY (WASHINGTON POST, 2/16). Pacquiao Monday in N.Y. boarded a train to DC "flanked by two documentary film crews, promoters, publicists, advisers, his chief of staff and his wife, JINKEE" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/16).
LAYING THE GROUND RULES: In a memo from USC VP/Athletic Compliance DAVID ROBERTS' office, the university yesterday "laid out new regulations for its students and faculty members to follow when dealing with sports agents in the future." The letter indicates that USC "will now require advance notification from all students, staff and third parties about any involvement with a sports agent prior to any interaction with student-athletes on USC's campus." The new policy "requires all students and staff to inform the university upon hiring or enrolling of any involvement with a sports agency or within 24 hours of founding or becoming involved with one" (ESPNLA.com, 2/15).
ALL FOR A GOOD CAUSE: In Indianapolis, Tom Spalding noted RICHARD MARSH Saturday as part of the USHL Indiana Ice's "Hockey for Heart" promotion hit a hockey puck "nearly the length of the rink, through the small hole in the target and into the net." Marsh "had told club officials he would give the $50,000 prize to charity if he was successful," but the USHL said that a private insurance company "voided the award because Marsh stood in front of the designated starting line." Ice Owners PAUL and CINDY SKJODT said that they "plan to make a donation of an undisclosed amount" to St. Vincent Heart Center of Indiana's cardiovascular unit and the American Heart Association "in recognition of the accomplishment" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 2/15).
NAMES: Country singer MARTINA MCBRIDE will sing the National Anthem before Sunday's Daytona 500. Also, actors JOSH DUHAMEL and ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY and director MICHAEL BAY will serve as the Grand Marshals for the race (THE DAILY)….Scottsdale Mayor JIM LANE and Mesa Mayor SCOTT SMITH yesterday announced Legacy Trail exhibits of Cactus League memorabilia will be on display Saturday through Feb. 25 at four galleries and two Scottsdale restaurants -- the Pink Pony and Don and Charlie’s (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/16)….Former NFLer STEVE WRIGHT will be "one of 18 competitors" on this season of CBS' "SURVIVOR," which debuts tonight (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/16)….Hurricanes Owner PETER KARMANOS and his wife, DANIALLE, welcomed the birth of their son, SPIROS MAXIMUS KARMANOS, on Saturday (TWITTER.com, 2/14).
