In Miami, Evan Benn noted Brightstar Communications CEO MARCELO CLAURE, along with DAVID BECKHAM and XIX Entertainment Founder SIMON FULLER, is "leading the charge to bring" an MLS franchise to Miami, and it is Claure's "second attempt" to do so. He partnered with La Liga club FC Barcelona on a $40M bid in '08, but the effort "fizzled." Claure said that the "timing and economics of the deal weren't right." Claure "has proven himself a capable club owner." The Bolivian-born Claure bought La Paz-based Club Bolívar in '08 and the franchise has "won several league titles since then and is the most-winning team in Bolivia" (MIAMI HERALD, 3/16).
HEALTH NEWS: Pro Football HOFer JIM KELLY "has been diagnosed with cancer again, nine months after having surgery to remove cancer from his mouth and jaw." The recurrence was "found this week, during a follow-up visit" to his doctors. Kelly is "expected to go to a hospital" in N.Y. today "to seek further treatment" (BUFFALO NEWS, 3/15)....Baseball HOFer MIKE SCHMIDT is “recovering from an advanced form of skin cancer” and is scheduled for a scan today to “see how far his recovery has progressed.” Schmidt “still plans to join the Phillies’ television crew to work 13 home Sunday games this season, and to return to camp next year to work with hitters” (AP, 3/16).
BOOK SHELF: CBS’ SETH DAVIS has written a book on late Basketball HOFer JOHN WOODEN called “WOODEN: A COACH’S LIFE.” Davis said, “There has been a lot written about him. … This is the first one in 40 years that’s from the perspective of a journalist” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/16)….Writer ALAN MAIMON is publishing a book about Red Sox RF SHANE VICTORINO called, “THE FLYIN’ HAWAIIAN” (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/16).
NAMES: Heat F LEBRON JAMES “has joined the burgeoning number of celebrities who are teaming up with the White House to encourage Americans to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act” (WASHINGTON POST, 3/15)….Iowa State men’s basketball coach FRED HOIBERG earned $100,000 in contract incentives this past weekend, as he gets $50,000 for winning the Big 12 Tournament and $50,000 if his team is selected for the NCAA Tournament (DES MOINES REGISTER, 3/16)….Heat President PAT RILEY and Pro Football HOFer DON SHULA were “on stage together at Heat announcers ERIC REID’s and TONY FIORENTINO’s outstanding annual charity event, which benefit’s Lauren’s Kids” (MIAMI HERALD, 3/16)….An opera titled “BUM PHILLIPS ALL-AMERICAN OPERA” recently opened, with the theme being about the late NFL Oilers coach & GM, who “never reached the Super Bowl and whose team no longer exists.” The opera is being performed at La MaMa in Lower Manhattan through March 30 (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 3/14)….Seahawks QB RUSSELL WILSON is “allegedly going to have a guest feature in the upcoming feature film "ENTOURAGE," based on the hit HBO show of the same name” (SI.com, 3/15). Meanwhile, it "appears" that Patriots QB TOM BRADY also is involved in the film (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/17). Brady had a cameo in an '09 episode of the show (THE DAILY)....Yankees RF CARLOS BELTRAN’s two-bedroom home on the 38th floor of 325 Fifth Ave. in N.Y. is available for rent at $7,995 a month (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/16).
