The JEWISH JOURNAL's Joshua Resnek profiles Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT, writing he has "reached a level of success where the vultures circle, waiting for opportunities to attack, no matter how unjustified the attacks may be." He is "portrayed by some as mercenary, ruthless, a caricature of the self-indulgent rich guy -- even attempting to turn his generosity into a negative." The Jewish community in Newton, Mass., "doesn’t have a king," but Kraft "comes as close to Jewish royalty as anyone." WES GARDENSWARTZ, the rabbi at Newton's Temple Emmanuel, said, "Robert Kraft is the ultimate mensch. ... He embodies incredible values. He does good. He gives his philanthropy away in ways that never make headlines. He cares about all human beings, Jewish and not Jewish. He changes lives for the better. I have never met a finer human being" (JEWISH JOURNAL, 10/8 issue).
CAN OF CORN: Cubs P JAKE ARRIETA "gained more than 20,000 Twitter followers" after the team's win over the Pirates in the NL Wild Card on Wednesday. His account, @JArrieta34, "had 102,300 followers as of Tuesday," and after striking out 11 Pirates batters, Arrieta "woke up Thursday morning to more than 124,000 followers" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 10/9).
NAMES: Private equity firm the Stagwell Group, "founded with a quarter-billion dollar check" from Clippers Owner STEVE BALLMER, "has made its first purchase" and will acquire SKDKnickerbocker, a PR firm that works for prominent Democratic clients. Ballmer is "not expected to be as involved in the operations of Stagwell as he is" with the Clippers (N.Y. TIMES, 10/9)....The Univ. at Albany on Thursday received the "largest gift ever given" to the school from The Bernard and Millie Children's Foundation. The foundation made a $10M donation, and in return, the school "named its 2-year-old football and soccer stadium" after TOM and MARY CASEY, the parents of SHARON DUKER, who started the foundation (TIMESUNION.com 10/8)....IndyCar driver PIPPA MANN on Thursday helped "breast cancer survivors paint the start/finish line pink" at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Mann is an "ambassador for Susan G. Komen" (INDYSTAR.com, 10/8)....La Liga club FC Barcelona F LIONEL MESSI and his father have "been charged with three counts of tax fraud in Spain." A trial date "has not been set" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 10/8).
