In London, Ashling O'Connor reported LOCOG Chair SEBASTIAN COE will "become the next chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA) at a vote next month after his only rival pulled out of the running." Great Britain Hockey President RICHARD LEMAN "withdrew his candidacy turning the contest to lead the 43-member national Olympic committee into a one-horse race" (THETIMES.co.uk, 10/16).
AROUND THE RINGS: Nissan named Gold Medal-winning Jamaican sprinter USAIN BOLT honorary Dir of Excitement. Bolt unveiled a custom-edition of Nissan's GT-R at the company's HQs in Yokohama, Japan, "with interior bits coated in real gold." Nissan said that the car would be "auctioned on eBay and the money donated to Bolt's charity foundation" (JAMAICA OBSERVER, 10/12)....PMG Sports signed U.S. speedskaters PATRICK MEEK, JESSICA SMITH and BRITTANY BOWE for representation ahead of the '14 Sochi Games. PMG also reps U.S. freestyle skier EMILY COOK (THE DAILY)....Top Rank on Monday announced the signing of two-time Mexican Olympic boxer OSCAR VALDEZ to a five-year promotional contract with an undisclosed signing bonus (ESPN.com, 10/15)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer MISSY FRANKLIN will “play herself” in “a cameo on one of her favorite shows, ‘Pretty Little Liars’” (DENVERPOST.com, 10/16).
THE CHRONICLES OF JIMMIE: "On the Road," an exhibit by N.C.-based photographer MISSY MCLAMB, will be on view through Saturday at the Hart Witzen Gallery in Charlotte. The exhibit chronicles 10 weeks in the lives of NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON, wife, CHANDRA, and daughter, GENEVIEVE, during the '11 season. Additional photos are in the Johnsons' self-published coffee-table book of the same name (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/17).
NAMES: Rockets G JEREMY LIN appears on the cover of the November '12 issue of GQ (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/17)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT attended the Elton John AIDS Foundation's "An Enduring Vision Benefit" in N.Y. (BOSTON HERALD, 10/17)....Actor JEFF DANIELS last night sang "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of Yankees-Tigers ALCS Game 3 at Comerica Park. Daniels wore “a Tigers hat and jacket as he practiced before the game.” Daniels said his fandom is “borderline religious … like get some therapy for it” (NEWSDAY, 10/17)…. At Sunday's Colts-Jets game at MetLife Stadium, wrestler JOHN CENA watched "from the Jets’ VIP suite the Green Room," while "SNL" comedian JAY PHAROAH "arrived with a group" and actress HAYDEN PANETTIERE also attended (N.Y. POST, 10/17)....Lions LB STEPHEN TULLOCH yesterday "discussed leadership with about 200 ninth- and 10th-graders at the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy" in Detroit. Tulloch will "bring 55 students from the school to a Lions game." Students were "asked to write an essay about leadership, and the homeroom class with the best scores in each grade wins the tickets" (DETROIT NEWS, 10/17).
