Lakers VP/PR JOHN BLACK said that team Owner JERRY BUSS has been hospitalized "at an undisclosed location because of blood clots in his leg caused by excessive travel." Black said, "He's doing well and expects to be released in the next day or two." In L.A., Mike Bresnahan notes Buss, "who turns 78 next month, has been traveling overseas and domestically in recent weeks." He will "probably attend the Lakers' exhibition opener Dec. 19 against the Clippers at Staples Center" (L.A. TIMES, 12/8).
JOINING THE HALL: The National Baseball HOF & Museum yesterday named Fox analyst TIM MCCARVER the '12 recipient of the Ford C. Frick Award, presented annually for excellence in baseball broadcasting. McCarver becomes the second primary television analyst to win the Frick Award, joining TONY KUBEK, who won the award in '09. McCarver served as a broadcaster for the Phillies and Mets, in addition to appearing nationally on NBC, ABC and CBS (Fox). On Long Island, Neil Best wrote McCarver's "influence on the business is comparable to that JOHN MADDEN had on football broadcasting over a similar time period" (NEWSDAY.com, 12/7).
HEAD TRAUMA: In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason noted former NHLer MATTHEW BARNABY, who was relieved of his duties as an ESPN hockey analyst following a drunk driving charge, "had 295 fights in his career starting in juniors and suffered numerous concussions, including one that ultimately ended his career." Doctors have said that "telltale signs of brain trauma are erratic behavior, depression and substance abuse." Gleason: "You need not be a neurologist to see Barnaby suffered from various symptoms." Barnaby has become "another cautionary tale that has become all too familiar in recent years with professional athletes, particularly ones who played contact sports and shared his pugnacious style" (BUFFALO NEWS, 12/7).
NAMES: ESPN Senior VP/Editorial for Digital & Print Media ROB KING has joined the advisory board of Indiana Univ.'s National Sports Journalism Center (SPORTSJOURNALISM.com, 12/6)....MLB yesterday announced that the third All-Star Game Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Nike will take place on July 8, 2012. MLB will donate all net proceeds from the event to the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen For the Cure (MLB)....Beyond Sport yesterday named the Eagles its "Sports Team of the Year," in recognition of the franchise's "longstanding commitment to helping address social issues in the community" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/7)....ESPN analyst TERRY FRANCONA and Boston Globe sportswriter DAN SHAUGHNESSY are "working on a book," to be published by Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (BOSTON.com, 12/7)....Music duo Underworld has been hired as music directors for the '12 London Games Opening Ceremony and will work with the event's artistic director, DANNY BOYLE. Underworld will be responsible for all the music in the three-hour ceremony, scheduled for July 27, 2012 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 12/7)....The annual DREW BREES Celebrity Championship golf tournament is moving to the La Costa Resort & Spa in '12. The tournament is seeking a title sponsor after Cox decided not to renew its support after two years (SIGNONSANDIEGO.com, 12/5).
