Ole Miss AD ROSS BJORK said that a fund set up to cover an SEC field-storming fine and stadium repairs following Saturday's win over Alabama "in less than four hours exceeded the $75,000 goal by more than $20,000." Ole Miss "is giving fans keepsakes for their money." For $5, fans "receive a thank you letter" from Bjork (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/9).
SILVER SCREEN: A new documentary about the "less-known side" of MUHAMMAD ALI, entitled, "I AM ALI," hits theaters tomorrow. It "offers what may be the most intimate look at his life yet seen onscreen, fashioning a portrait of Ali as not just a globally renowned sports hero but as a father, friend, husband and brother" (L.A. TIMES, 10/8)....Actor CASEY AFFLECK will “star and produce a film” about the ‘13 Boston Marathon bombing, based on the book “BOSTON STRONG,” by CASEY SHERMAN and DAVE WEDGE. Affleck is “producing along with his partner, JOHN RIDLEY, and DOROTHY AUFIERO” (VARIETY.com, 10/8).
CHARITY STRIPE: The NBA, the Heat and FedEx yesterday held a skills camp for Brazilian youths "at the rickety, American-high-school-sized gym where the Cavaliers and Heat will practice this week" leading up to Saturday's exhibition in Rio De Janeiro. The "biggest ‘name’ at the clinic" was Basketball HOFer ALONZO MOURNING. Heat G SHABAZZ NAPIER and F JAMES ENNIS "were the players in attendance" (CLEVELAND.com, 10/8)....Bauer Hockey and Hockey Canada on Tuesday launched The First Shift, a new learn-to-play hockey program designed to introduce kids and families to the game. The initiative will be available in 30 markets across Canada and is part of Bauer Hockey's global Grow the Game initiative to add 1 million new families to the game by ’22 (Bauer)....Golfer RORY MCILROY has donated US$1.27M from his charitable foundation to "open a new support centre," the Daisy Lodge in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, for children with cancer (INDEPENDENT.co.uk, 10/8).
NAMES: Pro Football HOF President & Exec Dir DAVID BAKER and an investment group he is part of yesterday held a "ceremonial groundbreaking" for their health complex in Henderson, Nev. The $1.2B, 155-acre development is "slated to include hospitals, retail, entertainment and office space, and senior housing" (LASVEGASSUN.com, 10/8)....Members of the Clippers last night dined at Tao, Las Vegas, including CHRIS PAUL, DEANDRE JORDAN, BLAKE GRIFFIN, MATT BARNES, GLEN DAVIS and JORDAN FARMAR (LAS VEGAS SUN, 10/9)....Montclair State Univ. police are "investigating a burglary at a museum honoring YOGI BERRA" yesterday morning. Authorities "would not say what, if anything, was taken" (AP, 10/8).
