Colts Owner JIM IRSAY Thursday "pledged his support to help the victims of the tragic accident at the Indiana State Fair" on Aug. 13. For each ticket distributed to the Colts preseason matchup against the Redskins Friday, Irsay "will donate $1 to the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund." In addition, the Colts "will remember those who perished during a moment of silence prior to kickoff of Friday’s game." The team will also use its "statewide gameday media to encourage fans both in-stadium and across the state to text FAIR to 27722* to make a $10 donation to the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund" (FOX59.com).
HELPING HAND: Lakers Gs KOBE BRYANT and DEREK FISHER "voted to give some" of the team's playoff bonus to two members of the Lakers' video department whose contracts were not renewed after the season. CHRIS BODAKEN and PATRICK O'KEEFE "split about $65,000 of the Lakers' playoff bonus," which was $604,000. Lakers F LUKE WALTON "took an extra step after the season by providing individual financial gifts to members of the training staff" (L.A. TIMES, 8/19).
NAMES: "ERNIE" author MITCH ALBOM announced Thursday that the play inspired by late Tigers broadcaster ERNIE HARWELL "will come back for an encore run next summer." He also "presented $30,000 from ticket sales and merchandising to Harwell's estate and the Ernie Harwell Foundation" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/19)....The U.S. Postal Service Thursday unveiled a new Forever stamp featuring Baseball HOFer LARRY DOBY. He is the "second of four major-league All-Stars being immortalized on stamps for the impression they left on the game." The Doby stamp will be issued next July (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/19)....The National Football Foundation & College HOF named former Univ. of North Carolina announcer WOODY DURHAM the '11 recipient of its Chris Schenkel Award, given annually to a sports broadcaster who has had a distinguished career in college football (NFF)....Former NBAer CHARLES OAKLEY has listed his three-bedroom condo in Chicago for $979,900 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/19).
