In N.Y., Ken Belson writes NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER "exudes empathy and seems eager to blend in as best he can," which included him "running the first leg of a relay that was held parallel" to the TCS New York City Marathon yesterday. The event, which included two dozen execs and former NBAers, was "designed to promote fitness and the NBA All-Star Game weekend" in N.Y. in February. Silver "felt the need to get in front of it." Silver "hoped that a season-long string of clinics, workshops and other events like the marathon relay would enable the NBA to reach a half-million children in the five boroughs." The relay within a race "was not designed to sell basketball tickets, but the NBA donated $26,200 ($1,000 for each mile) to Team for Kids, which raises money for the youth fitness program of New York Road Runners." Commissioners "routinely appear at schools, athletic events and elsewhere," but few "lace up their shoes and take part in events themselves" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/3).
PLACE YOUR BETS: UFC Exec VP & COO LAWRENCE EPSTEIN last week said that with "proper regulation, expanded legalized sports betting in the U.S. would benefit all sports." Epstein: "I think it will enhance the game as opposed to doing anything to hurt it. Sports wagering done in a way, like Nevada, that is properly regulated will give more confidence to fans that games and fights aren't fixed." He added, "To the extent that there's nothing illegal about taking bets on UFC in the state of New Jersey, we'd be absolutely fine with it" (ESPN.com, 10/31).
FINDING THE ROUGH: Golfer DUSTIN JOHNSON in a lawsuit filed against law firm Morris Hardwick Schneider claims that he is "out" $3M. The lawsuit alleges that NATHAN HARDWICK, with MARK and GERARD WITTSTADT, "misappropriated Johnson's money to cover 'shortages in the firm's account created by Hardwick himself, who allegedly embezzled at least $30 million from the firm's accounts'" (GOLF WORLD MONDAY, 11/3 issue).
I GO TO EXTREMES: MSG "reported a better-than-expected" 12% rise in revenue in its Q3 ended Sept. 30. Revenue reflects a 128% "jump at the entertainment division that includes the newly refurbished arena, where BILLY JOEL has been playing a once-a-month concert series to sold-out audiences since January." Shares rose as much as 3% Friday, "hitting an all-time high of $76.45." Meanwhile, revenue at MSG Media, which "houses the flagship sports network, fell" 14% (NYPOST.com, 10/31).
NOTHING BUT NET: In N.Y., Andrew Keh profiles Nets supporter JEFFREY VANCHIRO, who through his "sheer will" and "such vaguely scientific methods, has become one of the Nets’ most visible fans." Vanchiro at Barclays Center can be seen "dancing in the aisles, posing for pictures and generally hamming it up." Barclays Center CEO BRETT YORMARK: "I think he’s a great representation of what Brooklyn means to us and the fandom we’re looking for from all Brooklynites" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/3).
READING RAINBOW: Hockey HOFer GRANT FUHR has released a book, "GRANT FUHR: THE STORY OF A HOCKEY LEGEND."
Along with his on-ice success, the book "touches on Fuhr's substance
abuse and racial tensions that arose when he started playing" in the
U.S. (CP, 10/31)....Writer TOMMY TOMLINSON has signed a deal with Simon & Schuster for a book "about weight," to be released in late '16 or early '17 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/1).
NAMES: Wizards G JOHN WALL decided to "give out pairs of his new shoes, J Wall 1," instead of candy on Halloween (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 11/1)....Former Auburn AD PAT DYE and former Univ. of Georgia football player BEN ZAMBIASI were inducted into the City of Jacksonville's Georgia-Florida HOF over the weekend (AP, 11/2)....The DALAI LAMA on Saturday "got a tour" of TD Garden while wearing a Bruins cap (FANSIDED.com, 11/1)....The Heat have "helped pay for the funeral" of a teen "electrocuted in a horrific accident this week at a Florida Power & Light substation" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/31)....NASCAR driver JAMES BUESCHER and his wife KRISHTIAN have launched the Buescher Foundation, which provides financial support to families looking to adopt (Buescher Foundation)....The helmet used by Auburn CB CHRIS DAVIS in last year’s Iron Bowl "sold for $47,190” yesterday. The auction was conducted by New Jersey-based Goldin Auctions (ESPN.com, 11/2)….Former MLBer CARLOS LEE sold his 9,117-square-foot home in Sugar Land, Texas, for $1.56M (L.A. TIMES, 11/2)….Dodgers 2B ALEX GUERRERO has “purchased a lakefront home in Weston, Fla.,” for $2.5M (LATIMES.com, 10/31)….Rutgers AD JULIE HERMANN “was in attendance” at Friday’s Nebraska-Rutgers volleyball match. Hermann is a former NU volleyball player (Lincoln JOURNAL STAR, 11/1).
