Blue Rider Press is "expected to publish" late ESPN anchor STUART SCOTT's memoir, "EVERY DAY I FIGHT," in early March. LARRY PLATT was "Scott's collaborator on the book," existence of which "was not widely known, even among some of Scott's closest associates." About half the book covers Scott’s life before his cancer diagnosis," while the rest "is a narrative about Scott’s recurring cancer." They signed a deal with Blue Rider in May and "created the book through a series of in-person interviews and phone calls." The publisher "is planning a sizable first printing of 100,000 copies" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/8).
CHARITY STRIPE: Rangers 1B PRINCE FIELDER in late January helped launch "Going To Bat Against Bullying," an educational program "designed to help students in grades four through eight in Texas schools create an anti-bullying environment." Fielder: "It’s tough on kids. It’s serious. Kids kill themselves over this. I just wanted kids to know to go talk to somebody. Don’t hold it in. I was able to talk to my parents about [bullying] when I was younger" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/8).
ETHICAL MOORINGS: Pierce County (Wash.) officials have asked the state Legislative Ethics Board to "weigh in on whether free tickets" to the '15 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay "would count as gifts that lawmakers can't accept under state law." Pierce County "has 300 free tickets it can give away." County officials "would like to offer some of those tickets to state lawmakers, especially those who represent districts in Pierce and South King counties." But in most cases, state employees -- including legislators -- "can’t accept gifts worth more than $50." Each daily ticket to the U.S. Open is valued at $110 (Tacoma NEWS TRIBUNE, 2/8).
CRIBS: Bills coach REX RYAN is selling his five-bedroom home in Summit, N.J., for $2.2M (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 2/7)....T'Wolves F CHASE BUDINGER has purchased a 2,600-square-foot townhome in Hermosa Beach, Calif., for about $2.31M (LATIMES.com, 267)....NBA Kings G DARREN COLLISON has purchased a home in Granite Bay, Calif., for $1.375M (LATIMES.com, 2/5)....Pro Football HOFer WILLIE ROAF has purchased a five-bedroom home in the Misty Ridge area of San Clemente, Calif., for $1.27M (LATIMES.com, 2/6).
NAMES: The Univ. of Arkansas "has rewarded football coach BRET BIELEMA with a two-year extension and raise that will make him a member" of the $4M club. His new six-year deal will run through '20 and see him average $4.25M in annual total compensation. Bielema "becomes the eighth head coach in the SEC with an average annual salary" of at least $4M (ESPN.com, 1/7).....When the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII, Owner STEVE BISCIOTTI "awarded" a commemorative Super Bowl ring to former NFLer JAMAL LEWIS. Now Lewis' ring "has been sold by Goldin Auctions to a Maryland collector for $50,820." The only difference between Lewis' ring and the ones the actual players received "is that Lewis' ring has the letters 'ROH' on the side" to note his status as being in the team's Ring of Honor (Baltimore SUN, 2/9)....Minneapolis planners on Friday "chose a 36-story tower and hotel complex proposed" by Twins Owner the POHLAD family’s real estate company for a city-owned block on the north end of Nicollet Mall (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 2/7)....Bruins D ZDENO CHARA "has been issued his license to sell real estate in Massachusetts" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/8).
