With last night's debut of Disney XD's "
BECOMING," which includes Cavaliers F
LEBRON JAMES as Exec Producer, it is "becoming quite clear what the superstar’s life might look like post-basketball." James "didn’t dismiss the thought of an expanded movie career when he’s done playing." He said, "It’s a real interest. To be able to put together things like that for people to either relate to or watch for fun, I think it’s pretty cool just to be able to jump outside the box" (
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 10/27). Meanwhile, James said that he "will seek fan input on social media in order to make the call" on whether to bring back his pregame chalk-toss ritual. James: "I'm going to let the fans decide and see what they think. If they want me to, I will do it" (
ESPN.com, 10/24). James yesterday also "was in a loge at FirstEnergy Stadium" for Raiders-Browns, and "when he was shown on the stadium video boards, he received an enthusiastic response" (
Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 10/27).
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: The Crimson Tide Foundation, a private organization set up to help fund Univ. of Alabama athletics, in March '13 "bought the Tuscaloosa home" of football coach NICK SABAN for nearly $3.1M. The Sabans "continue to live" in the 8,759-square-foot home, which they bought in '07 when they came to Alabama. The foundation "has paid the property taxes on the home since the purchase." Crimson Tide Foundation Assistant Secretary SCOTT PHELPS said that the school "owned both of the homes" that late coach BEAR BRYANT "lived in with his family." He added that Saban "lives in that house and will continue to live in it as long as he wants to, even after he retires, 'in the same fashion coach Bryant did'" (AL.com, 10/26).
BEST LAID PLANS: NBC Sports Exec Produer SAM FLOOD on Thursday in southern Virginia "addressed local business leaders at Chatmoss Country Club during the 55th annual Martinsville-Henry County Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and leadership recognition dinner." Flood "spent much of his talk discussing the plans of NBCSN regarding NASCAR and the network's renewed coverage of the sport -- starting in July 2015 -- after an eight-year hiatus" (MARTINSVILLEBULLETIN.com, 10/24).
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL: LSU on Friday "approved a two-year contract extension and pay raise" for men's basketball coach JOHNNY JONES, whose deal now extends through '18-19 season. His salary "will go up $400,000 in the TV/Multimedia/Radio portion of his contract to bring his total compensation" to $1.5M (SHREVEPORTTIMES.com, 10/24).
NAMES: Former MLBer PAUL KONERKO and Phillies SS JIMMY ROLLINS on Friday before World Series Game 3 were named co-winners of the Roberto Clemente Award. The award "is given to major league players who make positive contributions to the game and their communities on and off the field" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/25)....JIM THORPE’s body “will stay in the Pennsylvania town where he was laid to rest six decades ago after a federal appeals court on Thursday threw out a ruling that could have resulted in his reburial on American Indian land in Oklahoma” (AP, 10/23)….Rays manager JOE MADDON opted out of his contract last week, but his partnership with Ava, the Italian restaurant scheduled to open in South Tampa next month, "remains unchanged” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/24)....Bears TE MARTELLUS BENNETT “plans to release his first animated short film, ‘ZOOVIE,’ next year.” Bennett is “focusing on short films rather than full length movies” (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 10/25)....Providence College alums GERALD and PATRICIA MARSOCCI have pledged $120,000 to support the men’s basketball program (PC)....Golfer RETIEF GOOSEN dropped the sale price of his Orlando, Fla., home from $2.195M to $2M (LATIMES.com, 10/25)….Former MLBer BARRY BONDS has finalized his divorce from ELIZABETH WATSON (PHILLY.com, 10/25).
