Names In The News

In a special to USA TODAY, golfers MORGAN PRESSEL and CRISTIE KERR discuss the loss of their mothers to breast cancer and their fundraising efforts to raise awareness for the disease. Pressel's Morgan & Friends foundation and annual golf tournament "has raised more than $2 million." Kerr has also "raised more than $2 million through her foundation, Birdies for Breast Cancer, and her tournament, the Liberty Cup." Pressel & Kerr write, "The two of us were moved to act when our lives were torn apart because of breast cancer, and we both felt we needed to do something to help other women, and men, who unfortunately deal with this horrible disease." They added, "We have a unique platform where we can help so many others, and just sitting idly by and just giving time here and there was just not going to do. We have a responsibility to act" (USA TODAY, 11/29). Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, Cathy Kightlinger noted about 1,000 people "turned the fight against breast cancer into a super bash at Conseco Fieldhouse on Nov. 19" during the '12 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee party. Attendees at the event helped the city's Super Cure initiative "meet its $1 million fundraising goal for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at IU Simon Cancer Center" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/27).

FOR HIS COUNTRY: In London, Glenn Moore reports Portugal's finance ministry "has secured the co-operation of football's highest-paid player in an audacious bid to draw the nation back from the brink of economic collapse." Portugal national team and Real Madrid F CRISTIANO RONALDO "has agreed to 'act like a patriot' and be sold to neighbouring Spain" for US$213.4M. Moore notes no soccer player "has ever previously been 'transferred' between the countries" (London INDEPENDENT, 11/29).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS: In Milwaukee, Don Walker reports the NFL and Wisconsin-based Perfect Timing are "marketing a wall calendar online this fall and winter that gives sports fans the ability to personalize the calendar with photographs of their favorite athletes." Fans use a "template of their favorite NFL team or they can create a custom calendar choosing their favorite players, dream or fantasy team." Fans can use "any of more than 2,000 Associated Press game photographs." Perfect Timing has licenses with the NFL, NHL, MLB and college teams. Perfect Timing's DREW SCHMELZER said, "I expect to obtain licenses for the calendars for the other sports next year" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/28).

GOING LONG: Former NFLer DREW BLEDSOE has “become a rather successful entrepreneur.” He “bought then sold a gourmet coffee business, launched a winery in Walla Walla Valley, Wash., and invested in lucrative natural gas technology.” Bledsoe’s latest venture, Montana Ski Co., “builds custom skis of any size, width, turning radius and graphic design.” The company sold “just 100 pairs of skis, which retail for between $600 and $1,500, the first year” (BOSTON HERALD, 11/29).

NAMES: The city of Glendale "plans to sever ties with a former Fiesta Bowl lobbyist." City Manager ED BEASLEY plans "not to renew the city's $120,000 yearly contract with lobbyist GARY HUSK at the end of this year." The city instead will choose a new state lobbyist "from bids submitted to the city this month" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 11/28)....The Tim Tebow Foundation launched a fundraiser for the recently announced Tebow CURE Hospital in the Philippines. The Dollar Day fundraiser kicked off at 9:00am ET today (THE DAILY)….The MLB Rangers have commissioned sculptor BRUCE GREENE to “create a statue honoring the memory of Brownwood firefighter SHANNON STONE,” who fell to his death at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington earlier this year. The statue, which will be “entitled Rangers Fans, will depict Stone and his 6-year-old son COOPER attending a Rangers game.” The full-size bronze statue will be “located outside the home-plate gate” at the ballpark (MLB.com, 11/28)….The Maxwell Football Club announced that it will “no longer present the Joseph V. Paterno Collegiate Coach of the Year Award.” The former Penn State Univ. football coach’s name also has been “yanked from the Big Ten championship trophy” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE).

IN MEMORY: Phillies Senior VP/Business & Finance JERRY CLOTHIER died Saturday at the age of 66 after battling prostate cancer (MLB.com, 11/27).