In N.Y., Mary Pilon notes fifth-generation Brooklynite DAVID DIAMANTE "recently learned that he was chosen as the voice of the Nets." Diamante is "tall, lean and elegantly dressed," and admits that his "look is unconventional for the fraternity of public-address announcers." Diamante "signed a multiyear contract and last week announced his first game with the team." Nets Senior VP/Event Marketing & Community Relations PETRA POPE said, "He really stood out. His voice is incredible. The anticipation of who we're going to be in Brooklyn is so high, we only have one chance to do it right" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/20).
PAY DAY: In N.Y., Evin Demirel noted Arkansas State Univ. officials "have not disclosed the total annual compensation package for" new football coach GUS MALZAHN, but reports on Friday indicated that he would be paid "about $850,000." In addition, Arkansas State AD DEAN LEE said that Malzahn "will receive benefits" former coach HUGH FREEZE did not. The university "will provide Malzahn and his family with a house and two cars." Malzahn also "will receive all revenue and rights associated with his radio and TV shows, while paying all expenses" (NYTIMES.com, 12/19).
NAMES: Dallas' WFAA-ABC sportscaster DALE HANSEN on Sunday revealed that he "was victimized by a child molester when he was 10 years old." The secret "had been gnawing at him since the sickening scandal involving former Penn State assistant coach JERRY SANDUSKY came to light" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/20)....Kalamazoo Central High School on Friday named its baseball field after Yankees SS and alum DEREK JETER (MLIVE.com, 12/17)....76ers G JRUE HOLIDAY has retained sports management company Rival Sports Group for his representation (Rival Sports Group)….Mavericks F DIRK NOWITZKI and German biathlete MAGDALENA NEUNER have been named Germany’s “Athletes of the Year” (NBA)….Patriots QB TOM BRADY and wife GISELE BUNDCHEN’s “22,000-square-foot manse, under construction since 2010, is nearing completion” in L.A. The price tag is reportedly “something in the neighborhood of $20 million” (BOSTON HERALD, 12/20).
IN MEMORY: TOM SQUIRES, a sports journalist “who spent 17 years with The Tennessean and was a member of the team that launched USA Today, died Monday at his home” in Franklin, Tenn. He retired for the newspaper industry in ’04 “for health reasons” (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 12/20).
