The Lakers on Thursday "announced the dates of three events next season to honor” former NBAers KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, JAMAAL WILKES and SHAQUILLE O’NEAL. On Nov. 16, the team will unveil a statue of Abdul-Jabbar at Star Plaza outside of Staples Center (ESPNLA.com, 8/30).
REACHING OUT: Thunder G THABO SEFOLOSHA, C COLE ALDRICH and Fs SERGE IBAKA and NICK COLLISON are four of the seven active NBA players participating in NBA Cares’ 10th edition of Basketball Without Borders in Africa. One highlight will be the Saturday “dedication of the NBA Cares Legacy Project, a refurbished sports complex in Alex Township, one of the largest urban neighborhoods in South Africa” (OKLAHOMAN, 8/31).
CHARITY STRIPE: Thirty breast cancer survivors and their guests on Friday will spend the day at Atlanta Motor Speedway and participate in Chevy Camaro pace car rides around the track with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver JAMIE MCMURRAY and Camping World Truck Series driver RON HORNADAY JR. Driver DANICA PATRICK also will visit with survivors. Chevy will also use a pink Camaro as the pace car for this weekend's Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series race (THE DAILY).
NAMES: Rays investor RANDY FRANKEL “signed a contract Wednesday to purchase The Palencia Club" in St. Augustine, Fla. The closing is “expected to take place in the final quarter of this year” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/31)….Colts Owner JIM IRSAY and USA Football gave Indianapolis area youth and high school football teams grants totaling $10,000 on Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium (Colts)….The Detroit Economic Club will host NCAA President MARK EMMERT Sept. 21 at Ford Field. Univ. of Michigan AD DAVID BRANDON is the presiding officer for the event (MLIVE.com, 8/30)….Cal football coach JEFF TEDFORD listed his 8,900-square-foot home in Blackhawk, Calif., for $5.35M (SFGATE.com, 8/29).
