SI.com's Ian Thomsen wrote "amid the polarization of America there is one outcome on which we can all agree ... BARACK OBAMA's re-election is a victory for basketball." Basketball will "continue to be more prominent because he is in the White House." The sport had "stood last in line and largely neglected among presidents for the last century." The "larger goal now for Obama is to emulate the champions of the sport he loves." He needs to "somehow pull together the talent around him and create a sense of team" (SI.com, 11/7).
AUCTION BLOCK: Basketball HOFer OSCAR ROBERTSON's jersey from the '60 Rome Games and his '64 NBA MVP trophy will be available in an online basketball auction beginning Nov. 14. Fellow HOFers DAVID THOMPSON and SAM JONES will also have memorabilia in the auction. Jones' collection includes his '59 and '69 NBA championship rings. Thompson led North Carolina State Univ. to the NCAA championship in '74 and his "ring commemorating that is among the 49 lots from his personal collection" (AP, 11/8).
NAMES: A's VP & GM BILLY BEANE was named Sporting News' MLB Exec of the Year. Beane was "presented with the award" last night at the league's annual GM meetings. It is the first time Beane has won the award (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/7)....Blackstone Group is "seeking to block subpoenas from former [Dodgers] owner FRANK MCCOURT's ex-wife, JAMIE MCCOURT, in her bid to set aside a divorce settlement." Jamie McCourt, who "claims her $131 million settlement is unfair, issued subpoenas that seek information related to valuation of assets" (N.Y. POST, 11/8)....CBS has “given script orders for ‘THE CLUB,’ a comedy set in the golf world.” The show “revolves around a flamed-out bad-boy golf pro and the out-of-control employees at a country club who are forced to change their ways when the owner brings in a no-nonsense woman to run the place” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 11/7)....Tour de France winner BRADLEY WIGGINS has been "left with rib injuries and a dislocated finger after being hit by a van while out training" last night. The injuries "are not thought to be serious and he is expected to make a full and speedy recovery" (GUARDIAN, 11/8)....CAA Sports has signed Bengals OT ANDRE SMITH. Smith, who was formerly represented by ALVIN KEELS, will now be represented by CAA Football's BEN DOGRA (Liz Mullen SportsBusiness Journal).
VIEWING FOR DURHAM: The family of ESPN Radio NBA announcer JIM DURHAM, who died earlier this week, will “receive visitors during a viewing" Sunday at 2:00pm CT at Salem Lutheran Church’s Old Parish Hall in Rose Hill, Tex. Funeral services will be at 10:00am CT Tuesday at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, with burial in Prairie Dell Cemetery near Watseka, Ill. Charities “designated by the family for memorials include the V Foundation, the American Red Cross disaster relief fund and Chicago Bulls Charities” (CHRON.com, 11/7).
