Bristol County (Mass.) Superior Court documents show that Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and head coach BILL BELICHICK "may testify as prosecution witnesses in the upcoming murder trial" of former NFLer AARON HERNANDEZ. Their names were included on a list of more than 300 potential witnesses that prosecutors might call next month during Hernandez’ first-degree murder trial. The list also includes Bills LB BRANDON SPIKES and Dolphins C MIKE POUNCEY (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/2).
FIRM HAND: The SEC yesterday announced it has hired executive recruitment firm Korn/Ferry Int'l to "help in finding a replacement" for outgoing Commissioner MIKE SLIVE. Korn/Ferry has "claimed responsibility for identifying successful candidates" for the Big 12, MLB and the NFL. Korn/Ferry's’s search will be led by Vice Chair JED HUGHES, who was a "key figure" in the hiring of Pac-12 Commissioner LARRY SCOTT. Arkansas Chancellor DAVID GEARHART is the Chair of the search committee. Presidents from Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Missouri also will be involved with the search committee (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/1).
FULL SLATE: In Birmingham, Alan Alexander profiles second-year Alabama AD BILL BATTLE and who "helped revolutionize the world of athletic licensing" during his tenure at CLC. Battle looks to continue Alabama's growth "with a slew of projects for new athletic facilities on the table, but won't let those projects distract from his overall mission." Asked about his biggest challenge, Battle replied, "There are so many moving parts to the department. Our business is event management, and we participate in almost 400 events every year, and we host half of those. ... Our teams are playing from August until June, so it never stops." Battle said of what the SEC Network means for the school, "It'll mean incredible exposure for all sports, but particularly for our Olympic sports that haven't gotten that much exposure" (BIRMINGHAM BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/28 issue).
SPACE JAM: In Indianapolis, Anthony Schoettle profiles new Indiana Sports Corp. CEO RYAN VAUGHN, who took over on Nov. 1, and notes Vaughn's "short-term to-do list is jam packed." In addition to the Big Ten Football Championship, the Sports Corp. is "helping to host the Men’s Final Four in April and the U.S. national gymnastics championships in August." Additionally, Vaughn and Senior VP SUSAN BAUGHMAN are going to Dallas to watch the first CFP championship game to "determine if the Sports Corp. will bid to host the event at Lucas Oil Stadium" (INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/1 issue).
NAMES: Spurs F TIM DUNCAN donated $247,000 to the San Antonio 1000 Cancer Genome Project, a Texas not-for-profit Open Science research project launched in '12 by START (Tim Duncan Foundation)....A game-worn jersey autographed by Baseball HOFer ERNIE BANKS “is up for auction this week." Experts say that it is "expected to sell for as much as $150,000 ... as it is likely one of less than a dozen such Banks jerseys” (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 12/1)....Packers LB CLAY MATTHEWS “recently spent a day at Sledehammer Games, working as an intern with the developers of "CALL OF DUTY: ADVANCED WARFARE” (GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE, 12/2)....Former MLBers SCOTT and WILLIE EYRE “were inducted into the Cyprus High Hall of Fame during a recent ceremony” (DESERET NEWS, 12/2)....Padres P TYSON ROSS and his brother, Padres minor league P JOE ROSS, sold their 2,400-square-foot Sequoyah Heights, Calif., property for $905,000 (L.A. TIMES, 12/2).
