Names In The News

TNT NBA analyst SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, in a special to USA TODAY, notes on Saturday he will “be receiving an education doctoral degree from Barry University.” O’Neal: “I worked for it, and I’m as proud of this as anything I have accomplished in my life. While I did this for two people -- my mother and myself -- it certainly would be nice if it could have a broader impact.” He continues, “If there’s one thing I hope people take from this personal milestone, it’s that education matters for your entire life. A degree, whether high school or doctoral, is not a finish line; it’s simply a mile-marker” (USA TODAY, 5/4). Barry Univ. President Sister LINDA BEVILACQUA said of O’Neal, “He made a commitment to his mother, because she was very disappointed at one point that he might not complete his education.” Bevilacqua said O'Neal now “sends a very powerful message to young people -- to all of us -- about the importance of lifelong learning” (PALM BEACH POST, 5/4).

WE WON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN: ROGER DALTREY, lead singer of The Who, appeared on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” Thursday night and host Jimmy Kimmel said, “I heard a story and it’s a crazy story -- it sounds like one of those stories that was made up -- but I want to ask you about it. You guys were contacted by the Olympic Committee?” Daltrey confirmed the band received an e-mail “requesting, ‘Could KEITH MOON attend the Opening Ceremony?’” Moon, who was The Who's drummer, died in ’78. Daltrey: “Our manager sent an e-mail back saying, ‘Well, actually he currently resides at Golders Green Crematorium where he’s been for the last 35 years.’” Kimmel said you “could have a séance and bring him back” (“Jimmy Kimmel Live,” ABC, 5/3).

MANHATTAN MELODY: In N.Y., Guelda Voien profiles Penguins co-Owner RON BURKLE in a cover story for N.Y. real estate magazine The Real Deal. Voien writes Burkle has “made high-profile investments in boutique hotels in New York City and elsewhere.” In January, Burkle reportedly “paid $550 million for a majority ownership stake in the Soho House company.” A few months later, Burkle and partner JOE CAYRE “paid $81 million to purchase the Manhattan building occupied by Soho House New York.” Gristedes Foods CEO JOHN CATSIMATIDIS, Burkle’s friend, said that the N.Y. real estate investments “mark a shift in direction for Burkle.” A source said that Burkle is “on the hunt for opportunities others may have overlooked” (THE REAL DEAL, 5/’12 issue).

NAMES: Late IMG Chair & CEO TED FORSTMANN’s art was sold at auction Wednesday at Sotheby's, and the “top work" in his collection, PICASSO’s “Femme Assise Dans un Fauteuil,” sold for $29.2M with fees. Other works auctioned from Forstmann's collection included “Le Chasseur de chez Maxim’s,” which sold $9.3M with fees, and the 1892 Gauguin landscape, “Cabane Sous les Arbres,” which sold for $8.4M (N.Y. TIMES, 5/3)….Univ. of Iowa G MATT GATENS signed with WMG agent and Iowa alum B.J. ARMSTRONG for representation in the upcoming NBA Draft (HAWKCENTRAL.com, 5/3).