Yesterday was Aaron Rodgers Day in Wisconsin, honoring Packers QB AARON RODGERS, who "seemed genuinely appreciative of the gesture." Rodgers said, "I want to thank all of the kids out there wearing my jersey to school today." What "pleased Rodgers most was his special day helped raise money for the MACC Fund, his favorite charity that aids children with cancer" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/13).
HOOPS AMBASSADOR: The AP's Doug Feinberg writes WNBA Lynx F MAYA MOORE is "leaving her mark on the Chinese women's basketball league." Averaging 45 points per game for the Shanxi Flame, Moore has "helped bring new fans to the women's game in a basketball crazed nation." Moore said, "They show maybe five NBA games a week here. They get a good amount of coverage and people love it. We are starting to get a little more interest about our game." Moore, a "former UConn star," is earning in the "mid-six figures" (AP, 12/13).
BELOW THE BELT: During boxer MANNY PACQUIAO’s knockout loss to JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ, Getty photographer AL BELLO was “standing ringside and immediately began snapping pictures when Pacquiao hit the canvas.” Bello was then “attacked by members of Pacquiao’s entourage.” Bello said that Pacquiao adviser MICHAEL KONCZ and assistant trainer BUBOY FERNANDEZ “kicked and punched him before he jumped off the apron” (SFGATE.com, 12/12).
COURT REPORT: Saints QB DREW BREES and his foundation are "suing one of the former organizers of his celebrity golf tournament in southern California." The lawsuit, filed yesterday against DAVID MILLER and Integrated Sports Marketing in San Diego Superior Court, said that Miller "negotiated a favorable hotel rate for celebrity guests at the La Costa Resort earlier this year, then collected higher room rates, keeping the difference" (AP, 12/12).
AWARDS & HONORS: Hockey HOFer MARK MESSIER is among the ’13 class of Distinguished Honorees of the Order of Hockey in Canada (NHL.com)….ESPN’s SCOTT VAN PELT will host the Jan. 24 Greater Cleveland Sports Awards (CLEVELAND.com, 12/12)....The DC Chamber of Commerce yesterday honored Nationals manager DAVEY JOHNSON with its Hometown Hero award for being “integral to the success of DC’s baseball franchise, (the impact of which) has been felt by the District residents, businesses and fans alike” (WASHINGTONTIMES.com, 12/12)….Univ. of Tennessee women's basketball head coach emeritus PAT SUMMITT received the ’13 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s College Basketball Award (THE DAILY)….Former Blue Jays GM PAT GILLICK is among the nominees for induction to the Ontario Sports HOF (TORONTO SUN, 12/13).
CHARITY STRIPE: Red Wings GM KEN HOLLAND and coach MIKE BABCOCK raised $13,462 “during two hours of bell ringing for the Salvation Army.” Club personnel raised $24,438.69 in total for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/13)….NFL Jets G BRANDON MOORE on Tuesday held his third annual Moore Family Foundation Christmas Carnival at the Boys & Girls Club in Newark, hosting “about 150 children” (NYPOST.com, 12/12)….Celtics players AVERY BRADLEY, JARED SULLINGER and COURTNEY LEE served dinner “to about 150 guests at Rosie’s Place” in Boston, while teammate JASON COLLINS and former NBAer KEYON DOOLING read to kids at the Kenny School in Dorchester, Mass. (BOSTON HERALD, 12/13).
NAMES: Knicks F AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE and ALEXIS WELCH yesterday were married in a "super-private" ceremony on the rooftop of his apartment (N.Y. POST, 12/13)....Former NFLer FRANCO HARRIS and documentarian JOHN ZIEGLER yesterday attended an L.A. event to “ask NCAA President MARK EMMERT a question about the Penn State sanctions, and the police were called after Ziegler and others with him refused to stop recording with a handheld camera” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/13)….Bobcats Owner MICHAEL JORDAN is “preparing to move into his new 28,000-square-foot home worth $12.4 million on Jupiter Island in Florida.” The three-acre home includes “11 bedrooms, a pool house, a basketball court and a two-story guard house” (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 12/12)....Univision Radio announced that Heat players LEBRON JAMES, CHRIS BOSH and DWYANE WADE will be Three Kings Parade Grand Marshals for the Jan. 20 event in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami (MIAMI HERALD, 12/13)….Basketball HOFer DAVID THOMPSON “netted about $164,000 recently by auctioning off a lot of basketball memorabilia he had collected over his hall of fame career” (CHARLOTTE.com, 12/12).
