ESPN.com's Dan Rafael cited sources as saying that Boxing HOFer MIKE TYSON and Acquinity Sports co-Founder & CEO GARRY JONAS, "who partnered 17 months ago to found promotional company Iron Mike Productions, are in the midst of a split." The sources said that Tyson and Jonas "have had a falling out and are going their separate ways." Jonas "apparently will have some of his fighters begin working with powerful adviser and manager AL HAYMON and plans to remain in boxing promotion." Tyson "also may remain in the promotional business and it would seem logical that he would retain the name of the company" (ESPN.com, 12/13).
SOUTH PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE: Former MLBer MARK GILBERT on Friday officially became the first former player in league history to become a credentialed U.S. ambassador after being named to the post for New Zealand and Samoa. He was nominated by PRESIDENT OBAMA in October ’13 (MLB.com, 12/14).
AWARDS & HONORS: The Charlotte Business Journal named Hornets Owner MICHAEL JORDAN its Business Person of the Year. Jordan "will be honored at CBJ's Book of Lists Gala" on Jan. 20 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/12)....Florida Citrus Sports CEO STEVE HOGAN received the Dick Pope Legacy Award from the Orlando Chapter of the National Association of Catering & Events (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 12/14)....Univ. of Missouri AD MIKE ALDEN is among the ’15 Missouri Sports HOF inductees who will be enshrined Jan. 25 (K.C. STAR, 12/13).
FROM THE OWNER'S BOX: New Jersey Gov. CHRIS CHRISTIE last night was at the Cowboys-Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field as a guest in Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES' box (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/15)....Actor BRADLEY COOPER also was in attendance, sitting beside Eagles Owner JEFFREY LURIE. Meanwhile, CBS President & CEO LES MOONVES yesterday sat next to Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT in his suite at Gillette Stadium (THE DAILY)
NAMES: TBS and MLB Network analyst RON DARLING "is producing a Syrah wine" with N.Y. restaurant owners STEVE MCFADDEN and PAUL FAVALE at the Donelan Vineyard in California. All proceeds from “Darling Reserve” will go toward battling "type 1 diabetes, which afflicts Darling’s son," JORDAN (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/14)....Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES yesterday attended Bengals-Browns “to see his friend and business client” JOHNNY MANZIEL make his first regular-season start, while the Cavs “hosted a team watch party at Cleveland Clinic Courts” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 12/15)....Stars Owner TOM GAGLARDI “was fined $140,000 on Friday for polluting a lake during renovations on his Kamloops vacation property.” He “was found guilty on two counts of harmful alteration of a fish habitat for work done” in ’10 (AP, 12/12)....Chicago-based lawyer RICH LENKOV “is producing a new documentary” about the ’85 Bears as the 30th anniversary of the team's Super Bowl win approaches. Former NFLer OTIS WILSON “is a co-producer, and the film will be narrated by JIM BELUSHI.” The film is expected to be released “just prior” to the start of the ’15 season (CHICAGOSUNTIMES.com, 12/14)....NBA TV analyst CHRIS WEBBER sold his Malibu house for $3.485M after buying it in ’07 for $3.75M (LATIMES.com, 12/12)....Cubs P JON LESTER and some friends last week were spotted having dinner at Giordano’s on Rush Street in Chicago (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 12/12)....Golfer ADAM SCOTT and his wife MARIE KOJZAR are "expecting their first child in February" (AP, 12/12).
IN MEMORY: Former NFLer FUZZY THURSTON died yesterday at the age of 81. He was a player on VINCE LOMBARDI’s five NFL championship teams in the ‘60s, “admired by teammates, respected by opponents, treasured by the Packers organization and beloved by fans.” He “became one of the team’s most beloved ambassadors and was a fixture at Lambeau Field and team-related events” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/15).
