Late CBS Sports Producer FRANK CHIRKINIAN last night was "honored by friends and family with a memorial celebration" at West Lake Country Club in Augusta, Ga. The club "recognized him Tuesday, presenting his son, FRANK JR., with a plaque that signified his place among the club's list of distinguished members." JIM NANTZ, PAT SUMMERALL, BEN WRIGHT and GARY MCCORD were "on hand for the ceremony," all of whom "worked under Chirkinian's leadership" (AUGUSTA CHRONICLE, 4/6).
CLIMBING FOR A CAUSE: Twins P KEVIN SLOWEY and Mets P R.A. DICKEY are "organizing a group that will set off from Africa in January to climb Mount Kilimanjaro." The excursion "will help raise money for a charity called the Bombay Teen Challenge, a group fighting against sexual trafficking in Mumbai, India." Others in the group include Mets bullpen catcher DAVE RACANIELLO and Mets physical therapist JOHN ZAJAC (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 4/5).
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: In Boston, Bill Nowlin reports Red Sox P TIM WAKEFIELD has written his memoir, "KNUCKLER," in which he "tells the story of how a struggling player from Florida bet the house on a somewhat unpredictable pitch and became a major league ace and a hero in his adopted hometown of Boston." Readers are "given a window into Wakefield's ongoing questions of uncertainty and vulnerability and self-doubt." Nowlin notes much of the "enjoyable and even enlightening book was authored" by the Boston Globe's TONY MASSAROTTI (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/6)....Actor GERARD BUTLER this week began shooting "PLAYING THE FIELD." The film "involves an accomplished Beckham-like pro who after living a playboy life throughout Europe returns to his estranged American wife and child to try to reconcile with them." He "begins coaching youth soccer to show his commitment" (LATIMES.com, 4/5)....Comedian NORM MACDONALD's new Comedy Central show, "SPORTS SHOW WITH NORM MACDONALD," will make its debut next Tuesday. Comedy Central hopes the show "will do for professional athletics what 'THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART' did for politics" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6).
NAMES: UConn G KEMBA WALKER, a native of the Bronx, yesterday "started his first day as champion with a congratulatory call" from N.Y. Mayor MICHAEL BLOOMBERG. Walker "later received an invite to ring the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and a possible date to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/6)....DONALD TRUMP will drive the Chevy Camaro pace car at the start of the 100th Indianapolis 500 on May 29 (IMS)....The Seattle City Council Monday "unanimously approved a measure to give a secondary designation to First Avenue South" outside Safeco Field as "Dave Niehaus Way South," in honor of the late Mariners announcer (SEATTLE TIMES, 4/6)....L.A.-based Maritz, Wolff & Co., which was founded in '94 by A's Owner LEW WOLFF and PHILIP MARITZ, "has cut its portfolio to nine hotels ... from almost 50 a decade ago." Wolff is "considering selling as hotel values begin to recover from their recession slump" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 4/6)....Knicks C AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE "has just put his duplex penthouse in the W Hotel South Beach up for sale" for $6.5M. The 5,244-square-foot, 20th-floor unit "boasts a rooftop pool and terrace, two bedrooms, two and a half baths, marble floors and ocean and bay views" (N.Y. POST, 4/6)....The Jan. 22 wedding of JR Motorsports co-Owner & GM KELLEY EARNHARDT and racecar driver L.W. MILLER is profiled in the April/June '11 issue of Carolina Bride magazine (CAROLINABRIDE.com, 4/4).
