In Ft. Lauderdale, Shandel Richardson reports Heat G DWYANE WADE has been offered a job from a Chicago-area KFC "where he worked as a teenager." KFC said that it "will make a $250,000 donation to the company's Colonel Scholars program in Wade's name if he agrees to work at a local KFC drive-thru window." The idea "originated when Wade tweeted 'Any1 hiring?' once" the NBA lockout became official. KFC GM JOHN CYWINSKI "then wrote a letter to Wade saying he could be of assistance" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 7/12).
COMING ATTRACTIONS: In Philadelphia, Kerith Gabriel notes 76ers F ELTON BRAND is a co-producer for the upcoming biopic "Tupac." While playing for the Clippers, Brand "co-founded a small production company called Gibraltar Entertainment." The company was "hit with four separate lawsuits in a year span." Gabriel notes Brand is "merging with powerhouse Morgan Creek Productions" for "Tupac" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 7/12)....Former NBAer DESMOND MASON "has been cast to play a resident of an insane asylum" in the film "Just Crazy Enough," which is "being filmed in Oklahoma." The movie is a "family-friendly comedy about identical twins separated at birth" (TULSA WORLD, 7/11).
CRAZY GAME OF POKER: Celtics F PAUL PIERCE has "made his exit from the WSOP main event." Pierce "spent a total of 17 hours and 40 minutes in action and outlasted more than half of the field of 2,031 that began on Day 2A." Players "eliminated during Level 9 included ESPN.com's BERNARD LEE." Prospective Mets minority Owner DAVID EINHORN's "hopes of a second deep main event run also were dismissed early in the level" (ESPN.com, 7/12)....In Indianapolis, Francesca Jarosz reports Pacers Owner HERB SIMON is "betting online gambling will become legal -- and that a new company he's backing will reap a payoff as a result." Simon has "put up part of the first roughly $6 million in seed money for U.S. Digital Gaming." The company "will provide everything from the gambling technology to security systems ... pending legalization of the pastime" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/9).
NAMES: MLB player agent SCOTT BORAS yesterday said that Mets P FRANCISCO RODRIGUEZ "has hired him as his agent, replacing his longtime former agent, PAUL KINZER." Boras announced the switch "days after meeting with Rodriguez both before and after Thursday's game against the Dodgers." He said that Rodriguez "signed the paperwork for the switch Thursday" in L.A. (WSJ.com, 7/11)....Boston's City Hall Plaza has been chosen as the site for the Bill Russell Legacy Project, which will feature a statue of the Basketball HOFer (Celtics)....MLB and the D'Backs have "donated $1 million to the Phoenix-based Foundation for Blind Children." The donation was "derived from proceeds" from last night's Gatorade All-Star Workout Day event. The money "will be used to create a new lab and learning center called the MLB All-Star Arizona Diamondbacks Vision Center for Innovation" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/11)....Titans RB STAFON JOHNSON is "giving his support to a new campaign promoting healthy living" in L.A. schools. The "I'm In" campaign "will promote healthier meals and better school attendance" (Nashville TENNESSEEAN, 7/12)....Late Angels Owner GENE AUTRY will be inducted into the team's HOF during a ceremony before next Wednesday's game against the Rangers at Angel Stadium (LATIMES.com, 7/11)....GMR Marketing "has held 31 networking events for job seekers" since January '09. Organizers "estimate 400 to 500 people have attended." The latest networking event will take place tomorrow, and NASCAR Illustrated Publisher MIKE FRESINA will speak at the gathering (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/10).
