ROGER BENNETT and MICHAEL DAVIES, the co-hosts for "MEN IN BLAZERS," opened the festivities Friday at the first BlazerCon, a "Comic-Con for soccer nerds." Hundreds of people assembled at the Brooklyn Expo Center, "mostly 30-somethings, many of them men wearing the unofficial Men in Blazers uniform: a blazer, sneakers and a scarf bearing the colors of a favorite European soccer club." BlazerCon was "equal parts academic conference and cultural happening." The 1,300 tickets "sold out quickly," with fans coming in "from all over the country for the event" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/16).
WOLF'S DEN: Pro Football HOFer RON WOLF on Friday "cut the ribbon on a new exhibit" at the Packers HOF that "traces his impact on the franchise on and off the field." Packers President & CEO MARK MURPHY said that the exhibit "highlights Wolf's incredibly successful career after walking into an organization considered 'the Siberia of the NFL' at the time." The exhibit "highlights his draft selections and an impressive list of proteges" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 11/14). Wolf on Sunday acknowledged the crowd at Lambeau Field during a "brief but warm halftime celebration, where he also received" his HOF ring (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 11/16).
MY WIFE & KIDS: In Nashville, Mike Organ profiled 247Sports.com Founder SHANNON TERRY, who recently "teamed with CASSIE MCCONNELL KELLEY, the wife of CHARLES KELLEY from the country band LADY ANTEBELLUM, to develop womanista.com and also launched comicbook.com, which probably will be his most successful venture of all." Terry's plan is to eventually "spend more time with his children." He said, "I feel I need six more years to get done what I need to get done with the businesses I've got. That puts me at 53 years old, and then I think it would be awesome to get into youth coaching; summer leagues and that type of thing" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 11/15).
TIME HEALS OLD WOUNDS: The PGA of America on Friday honored former PGA Tour Commissioner DEANE BEMAN with its Distinguished Service Award, despite the fact that the organization had "resisted many of Beman's initiatives." During Beman's 20-year tenure as Commissioner, the two golf bodies "often were gripped in bitter political squabbling" (GOLFWEEK.com, 11/13).
NAMES: Ohio Gov. JOHN KASICH, a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, sat down with Golf Channel's GARY WILLIAMS on Sunday's edition of "MORNING DRIVE" and "then moved to the in-studio simulator." He "hit several decent shots while absorbing some tips from CHARLIE RYMER" (GOLF WORLD, 11/16 issue)....NBA Kings C DEMARCUS COUSINS “has offered to cover the costs of a funeral service” for local high school basketball player JAULON CLAVO, who was shot and killed Friday afternoon. Cousins “wanted to keep his offer to the Clavo family anonymous, but word quickly spread during a candlelight vigil” on Saturday (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/16)....Cubs 1B ANTHONY RIZZO -- a cancer survivor himself -- saw his eponymous Family Foundation on Saturday raise $215,000 during the fourth annual Walk-Off For Cancer fundraiser (SUNTIMES.com, 11/15)....Free agent MLBer MIKE AVILES was "named the recipient of the Steve Olin-Frank Gibbons Good Guy Award by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/15).
IN MEMORY: NANCY IRSAY, the widow of former Colts Owner ROBERT IRSAY, "died Nov. 7" at the age of 65. Nancy Irsay and current Colts Owner JIM IRSAY, Robert's son, "fought over his estate, eventually agreeing to Nancy keeping the horse farm and other family properties and leaving the Colts franchise with Jim." The horse farm was "eventually sold to developers" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/14).
