UFC President DANA WHITE last week said that he "believes there are probably several gay fighters among the ranks of the more than 300 the company has under contract and added that he wishes at least one of them came out of the closet and identified himself." White "strongly defended his human rights record against attacks from the Culinary Workers Union, which attempted to paint him as anti-gay." He said that he "regretted using a crude word to describe a homosexual in a 2009 rant against a female reporter who had angered him." White said, “That's the one that bothers me. It’s the only one that bothers me, the fact that these losers from the culinary union can go out and say I’m a homophobe and things like that. That’s the furthest thing from the truth" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/1).
UPON FURTHER REVIEW: SI.com's Peter King reviewed MICHAEL HOLLEY's "WAR ROOM: THE LEGACY OF BILL BELICHICK AND THE ART OF BUILDING THE PERFECT TEAM," a book about Belichick, SCOTT PIOLI and THOMAS DIMITROFF "growing the Patriots" before Pioli and Dimitroff left to run the Rams and Falcons, respectively. King wrote, "I especially liked Holley fleshing out how the three men disagree." Whereas Belichick "takes chances on off-field risks," Dimitroff "won't touch problem children." Holley also "shows much of Belichick's human side -- at his father and mentor Steve's funeral" (SI.com, 10/31)....ESPN’s Dan Le Batard said of SHAQUILLE O'NEAL's upcoming book "SHAQ UNCUT" is "going to be a book worth reading and it’s going to be a precursor to a great broadcasting career.” Le Batard: "Shaq's not afraid of talking about things other people won’t talk about” (“Dan Le Batard Is Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 11/1).
CHARITY STRIPE: Hockey HOFer GORDIE HOWE yesterday in Edmonton announced that the third annual Scotiabank Pro-Am Hockey Tournament will be held in six Canadian cities next year. Proceeds from the tourney will go to the Gordie and Colleen Howe Fund for Alzheimer’s (EDMONTON SUN, 11/2)....Colts Owner JIM IRSAY presented Indianapolis' Arsenal Technical High School band with a check for $130,000 to help pay for a trip to Hawaii for the 70th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/2).
NAMES: D'Backs President & CEO DERRICK HALL will undergo surgery for prostate cancer on Nov. 8 (D'Backs)....A source said that free agent RF CARLOS BELTRAN "has left SCOTT BORAS' agency and is now represented by DAN LOZANO," who also reps free agents 1B ALBERT PUJOLS and SS JIMMY ROLLINS (ESPN.com, 11/1)....The NBA lockout will keep Bobcats Owner MICHAEL JORDAN from going to Australia to serve as assistant captain for the U.S. Presidents Cup team. He will be replaced by golfer JOHN COOK (AP, 11/1)....MLS is working with D&E Entertainment to provide marketing support for the theatrical premiere of "RISE & SHINE: THE JAY DEMERIT STORY," which is set for nationwide release tomorrow (MLS)....NFL Panthers OL ZACK WILLIAMS, TE GARY BARNIDGE and WR DAVID GETTIS yesterday played the "Call of Duty: Black Ops" video game against wounded veterans as part of an event organized by nonprofit Pro vs. GI Joe (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/2)....The Univ. of Oklahoma will unveil a statue of former coach BARRY SWITZER before Saturday's game against Texas A&M (NEWSOK.com, 10/31)....Singer and actress REBA MCENTIRE will host the '11 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Ceremony Dec. 2 at Wynn Las Vegas (SCENDAILY.com, 11/1)....NFL Giants Chair & Exec VP STEVE TISCH is dating MICHELLE BARISH and the couple has been "spotted dining out at restaurants including Crown on the Upper East Side." Tisch is "hosting a birthday bash for Barish on the rooftop of the Gramercy Park Hotel" (N.Y. POST, 11/2).
LET US KNOW! Are you or someone you know in the sports business industry running in Sunday’s ING N.Y. Marathon? If so, contact Theresa Manahan at tmanahan@sportsbusinessdaily.com and let her know. Then on Monday, send her your time, a photo and a quick note about the experience to share with our readers.
