Names In The News

ESPN.com's Jon Robinson reports NBA free agent G BARON DAVIS is “teaming up with former EA Sports creative force SEAN O’BRIEN to form 5 Balloons Interactive, a new mobile gaming company producing titles for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch." The company’s first game is called “Getting Buckets” and features Davis, Lakers G STEVE NASH, Celtics G RAJON RONDO, Bucks G BRANDON JENNINGS, and WNBA Sparks C CANDACE PARKER. The game is a “fast-paced, twitch adventure that’s more ‘Temple Run’ than ‘NBA Ballers,’ as players sprint their way through a variety of environments collecting as many buckets as they can before time runs out” (ESPN.com, 8/1)….The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Sophie Schillaci noted rapper and Nets investor JAY-Z is “enlisting the help” of musical acts such as KANYE WEST, COLDPLAY, DAFT PUNK, MEEK MILL and U2 on 2K Sports’ upcoming "NBA 2K13" video game. Jay-Z on Monday announced that he will be “curating the entire soundtrack as well as lending a hand to its overall aesthetic and video content” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/1).

NAMES: Patriots QB TOM BRADY and Giants WR VICTOR CRUZ were included on Vanity Fair’s Annual Int'l Best Dressed List (BOSTON HERALD, 8/1)....Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN "will guest star in an episode of USA's 'Necessary Roughness' next year" (EW.com, 8/1)....Bronx native and U.S. Supreme Court Justice SONIA SOTOMAYOR attended yesterday’s Orioles-Yankees game and “helped the Bleacher Creatures in their ritual of calling out Yankee player names in the first inning” (WSJ.com, 8/1)....Boxing HOFer EVANDER HOLYFIELD is “set to auction a slew of memorabilia” including the Bronze Medal he won at the ‘84 L.A. Games (AJC.com, 8/1)....Former MLBer JOSE CANSECO on Tuesday filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection (LASVEGASSUN.com, 7/31).

IN MEMORY: JIM FINKS JR., son of Pro Football HOFer and former Vikings GM and Bears GM & Exec VP JIM FINKS, died of kidney failure July 24, in Newport Beach, Calif. Finks Jr., 59, worked for several professional sports organizations, including the former NHL North Stars and MLS Timbers. He also worked for Upper Deck (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/2).