Some passengers at Reno-Tahoe Int'l Airport are "not happy" that 49ers QB COLIN KAEPERNICK's memorabilia is "included in a display" of Univ. of Nevada photos and memorabilia. According to VP/Marketing & Public Affairs BRIAN KULPIN, the airport has "received many calls and comments on social media requesting that Kaepernick's helmet, photos and other memorabilia be removed." Kuplin said that the airport "doesn't want to completely remove the display, because that's up to the university" (RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 8/31).
FASHION SENSE: A Gold Medal is turning U.S gymnasts SIMONE BILES and ALY RAISMAN into "style influencers." Fashion designer SHERRI HILL has "snagged Raisman as a front row guest" for her spring show at N.Y. Fashion Week and fashion designer KENDRA SCOTT has "touted Biles as a fan of her jewelry." The attention from designers "heightens the anticipation that the Olympians could procure lucrative fashion and beauty deals." From the U.S. women's gymnastics team that competed in Rio, Raisman is "enjoying an early lead as a fashion fixture." She is "featured in Aeropostale's back-to-school denim campaign" (WWD.com, 8/30).
CRACKER JACKS: Yesterday at Fenway Park, a "life-size Lego model" of Red Sox DH DAVID ORTIZ was "unveiled in the right-field bleachers" before the game against the Rays. Comprised of "34,510 Lego bricks, the 6-foot-7 inch model nailed the likeness" of Ortiz down to the "polarized sunglasses and the neon trim around his batting gloves" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/1)....Tigers Owner MIKE ILITCH's "public appearances have become increasingly rare the last several years." However, he was in attendance yesterday to "watch the Tigers finish a sweep" of the White Sox (DETROIT NEWS, 9/1)....Former MLBer DEREK JETER and his Turn 2 Foundation yesterday “teamed up with Nickelodeon to bring the network's ‘Road to Worldwide Day of Play’ campaign to Jeter's hometown” of Kalamazoo, Mich. (MLIVE.com, 8/31)
NAMES: Watkins Glen Int’l yesterday announced that players and coaches from Maine-Endwell's world champion Little League team will “serve as the grand marshals” for Sunday's IndyCar race (Elmira STAR-GAZETTE, 9/1)....U.S. District Judge JANE TRICHE MILAZZO on Tuesday "pushed back a trial" in Saints and Pelicans Owner TOM BENSON's team ownership fight to February. In the meantime, lawyers in the case "have until Oct. 28 to question" NFL reps and the NBA in depositions (NOLA.com, 8/31)....Texans DE J.J. WATT is featured on the cover of the October issue of Men's Journal (CHRON.com, 8/31)....A lawsuit filed in Federal Court in S.F. this week claims that the Warriors' free app "secretly uses the microphones on fans' smartphones to listen to and record their conversations." The suit states that the app "asks for permission to access fans' microphones, but doesn't disclose the extent that it listens in." The suit names the Warriors, N.Y.-based Signal 360, which licenses the technology at issue, and Pennsylvania-based Yinzcam, which developed the app, as defendants (SILICONBEAT.com, 8/31)....Late Hockey HOFer GORDIE HOWE’s ashes will be “interred in a statue” at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. A city official yesterday said that the city has “received permission from the province to inter the cremated remains of Howe and his wife, COLLEEN, at the base of a statue that honors him” (AP, 8/31).
