In California, Janis Carr wrote Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON “is living proof that HIV is not an automatic death sentence.” He has shown over the past 20 years “there is life after the diagnosis if you adhere to a regimen of healthy lifestyle and medication.” Johnson today “will commemorate his 20th anniversary of his retirement and creation of the Magic Johnson Foundation.” He will “discuss his journey and address his foundation’s work on HIV/AIDS prevention, education and community empowerment” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 11/6). In L.A. Diane Pucin noted 20 years ago today Johnson “held a news conference to tell the world he was HIV-positive.” Now the number of days Johnson has ahead of him “seems limitless when the strong, healthy-looking basketball great, onetime coach, voluble television commentator and successful businessman puts on his smile and optimism and shakes your hand” (L.A. TIMES, 11/7).
IN HOT WATER: In San Antonio, Jazmine Ulloa reported Spurs GM R.C. BUFORD “is facing a DWI charge after he crashed into a fence late Friday.” Buford was “arrested close to midnight and charged with driving while intoxicated with an open container.” He was “released from the magistrate shortly before 7am Saturday on $2,500 bail.” The Spurs in a statement said that Buford “is a type 1 diabetic and that the crash was ‘precipitated by a severe low blood sugar reaction.’” San Antonio Police Department spokesperson Matt Porter said that “no further information on the case would be released” until today (MYSANANTONIO.com, 11/6).
NEW BEGINNINGS: In California, Jan Norman wrote the Int'l Franchise Association and the Professional Athlete Franchise Initiative (PASI) “have struck a deal to provide training and guidance to former pro athletes who are interested in owning and running a franchise or investing in them as a group.” IFA President & CEO STEVE CALDEIRA said that elite athletes “bring more to the table.” He added, “Professional athletes are strong leaders in the ultra-competitive sports arena, so they inherently understand the importance of working as a team and as part of a system to achieve success.” Former NFLer and PAFI Founder MICHAEL STONE said that he is “targeting lesser known players, not the superstars who earn eight- or nine-figure salaries and can live off investments after their playing days” (OCREGISTER.com, 11/5).
NAMES: Fox Sports Media Group Chair & CEO DAVID HILL is the recipient of the '12 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Lifetime Achievement Award in Technology for his innovations in sports TV coverage. He will receive the award at the 63rd Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards in Las Vegas on Jan. 12, 2012 (Fox)....The Padres on Friday announced that radio voice JERRY COLEMAN was expected to be inducted by the San Diego Air & Space Museum's Int'l Air & Space HOF on Saturday. Coleman is the only former MLBer to see active combat in two wars, World War II and the Korean War (Padres)….West Virginia Univ. named D’Backs Managing Partner KEN KENDRICKS to its inaugural Roll of Distinguished Alumni (D’Backs)….The American Cancer Society named Lightning Owner JEFF VINIK and his wife PENNY honorary Chairs of the ACS’s Cattle Barons’ Ball (Lightning)….The CBC’s DON CHERRY declined an honorary degree from the Royal Military College in Kingston “after a controversy erupted among faculty.” Cherry said that he “didn’t want to detract from the occasion” (TORONTO SUN, 11/5)….Former NHLer MARK MESSIER finished the N.Y. Marathon in 4:14:21. Messier was “so exhausted and dizzy he was put in a wheelchair and shuttled to a medical tent” after the race (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 11/6)….Heat F LEBRON JAMES “recorded a robocall that went out to 30,000 Akron voters Tuesday” in support of Akron Public School’s levy to pass a $5.5M property tax (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/5)….Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT was on the sidelines for Saturday’s LSU-Alabama game, but he was “just a football fan taking in a football game.” He went to the LSU-West Virginia game in September and “annually goes to a couple of the biggest college games of the year” (ESPN.com, 11/6).
IN MEMORY: Vans Shoes co-Founder JAMES VAN DOREN passed away Oct. 12 at the age of 72 (ESPN.com, 11/5).
