NHL Commissioner
GARY BETTMAN on Thursday accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge “while in Columbus to help promote” the ‘15 NHL All-Star Game at Nationwide Arena. Bettman said that Bruins Owner
JEREMY JACOBS, NHL Jets Exec Chair
MARK CHIPMAN and ESPN anchor
JOHN BUCCIGROSS “were among those who issued the challenge.” Bettman then challenged Maple Leafs President
BRENDAN SHANAHAN, Flames President
BRIAN BURKE, NHL Kings Assistant GM
ROB BLAKE and Blue Jackets Owner
JOHN MCCONNELL (
NHL.com, 8/14).
ETCHED IN STONE: MLSE is “erecting a team monument” ahead of the Maple Leafs' 100th anniversary in ’17. About 10 players “are to be sculpted in all, in various game poses behind a 30-foot granite Leafs bench.” Chosen by “former players and members of an MLSE committee, they will be gradually introduced leading up to the centennial.” Provisions “will be made for at least one more player, should the Leafs produce a worthy candidate in coming seasons.” Brendan Shanahan said, “Whatever decade you grew up in as a Leafs fan, you’ll see your favourites, but also learn about players you probably didn’t get a chance to see play” (
TORONTO SUN, 8/15).
AWARDS & HONORS: Former MLBers PEDRO MARTINEZ, NOMAR GARCIAPARRA, ROGER CLEMENS and longtime broadcaster JOE CASTIGLIONE on Thursday were inducted into the Red Sox HOF (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/15)....World Golf HOFer NANCY LOPEZ on Thursday was inducted into the Legends HOF in French Lick, Ind., as part of the Legends Championship being played in the market this week (ENQUIRER.com, 8/14).
NAMES: NASCAR driver JEFF GORDON and his wife INGRID on Tuesday visited the White House and were involved in discussions at a summit on Africa. The couple "helped build a children's cancer hospital" in Rwanda (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 8/15)....Louisville AD TOM JURICH on Wednesday “signed 700 Maker’s Mark bottles designed with his likeness” and the ACC logo. The Jurich bottles are "the third in a series that aids fundraising for U of L’s Academic Center of Excellence.” The partnership thus far has generated $2.5M (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 8/14)....Bruins F SHAWN THORNTON, Red Sox 1B MIKE NAPOLI and Patriots DE JARVIS GREEN on Sunday will be among those on the catwalk for "Rescue The Runway: Featuring Boston's Finest." The event will benefit PAWS New England, Last Hope K9 Rescue, Lucky Lab Rescue and the MSPCA (BOSTON HERALD, 8/14)....The USTA Foundation has partnered with JPMorgan Chase to award 10 National Junior Tennis & Learning programs with $10,000 each to go toward tennis and education programming (USTA)....Knicks President PHIL JACKSON bought a 2,600-square-foot co-op at The Osborne in midtown Manhattan for $4.85M (LATIMES.com, 8/14)....Phillies P COLE HAMELS has listed his 8,124-square-foot home in Newtown Square, Pa., for $1.55M (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/14)....Trail Blazers F NICOLAS BATUM on Thursday was found "in contempt of court and breach of contract" by a Clackamas County (Ore.) judge for "failing to make divorce settlement payments" (Portland OREGONIAN, 8/15)....Actor MARK WAHLBERG was recently spotted at the Red Sox store across from Fenway Park while in town to film "TED 2" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/14).
