Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES and LRMR Management Founder MAVERICK CARTER are supporting an exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture that honors the life of MUHAMMAD ALI with a $2.5M donation. The exhibit is called "Muhammad Ali: A Force for Change." James and Carter "join the list of founding donors" to the museum that includes Hornets Owner MICHAEL JORDAN, who donated $5M, and Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON, who donated at least $1M. American Express CEO KEN CHENAULT "reached out to James during the summer to gauge his interest" (USA TODAY, 11/17).
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Scully said he was surprised to get the call
about receiving the medal
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PRESTIGIOUS HONOR: PRESIDENT OBAMA's administration yesterday named 21 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Basketball HOFer KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, Jordan and VIN SCULLY. The awards will be presented at the White House next Tuesday, with the event streamed live at whitehouse.gov (White House). Scully: "When I heard about it, I said something like, 'Are you sure you're calling me?' It's not like I invented penicillin. I can't stand in a spotlight as if I just saved a child from drowning" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 11/17).
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Former U.S. Olympic track & field medalist TOMMIE SMITH will light the Raiders' ceremonial AL DAVIS torch prior to Monday's Texans-Raiders game at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Smith "gained acclaim" alongside former Olympian JOHN CARLOS for "raising black-gloved fists on the medal stand" at the '68 Mexico City Games. Raiders Owner MARK DAVIS said that Smith was "his personal choice for the honors in Mexico City" (EAST BAY TIMES, 11/17).
ONE STEP AT A TIME: Univ. of Oregon multisport athlete DEVON ALLEN will “forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility in football and track to focus professionally on his hurdling career.” Allen, who competed on the U.S. hurdles team in the Rio Games, “hasn't signed an agent yet.” He said that he will “start making calls on that soon.” He will then “have to figure out where he wants to train full time” and “what endorsement deals to sign” (Portland OREGONIAN, 11/17).
CHARITY STRIPE: Pistons F TOBIAS HARRIS received the October NBA Cares Community Assist Award in recognition of his leadership and dedication to mentoring at-risk youth throughout the Detroit community (NBA)....The CFP’s charitable foundation yesterday “partnered with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl” in announcing one of its first grants, a $50,000 donation that "helped bolster a record $222,766.01 check delivered” to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 11/17).
NAMES: Longtime Blue Jays radio broadcaster JERRY HOWARTH is being "treated for prostate cancer and is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to have a small tumour removed” (CP, 11/16)....Toyota and Paralympic snowboarder AMY PURDY's company Adaptive Action Sports have agreed to stage an adaptive snowboarding event at the Dew Tour’s winter stop Dec. 8-11 in Breckinridge. The companies are working with Dew Tour organizer The Enthusiast Network to build a course and promote the event, which will include 23 adaptive snowboarders competing for the best time (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer)....UFC fighter BEN ROTHWELL recently spent three days with NASCAR at Texas Motor Speedway and shadowed several departments during the Sprint Cup Series AAA Texas 500 on Nov. 6 (UFC)...Stars Owner TOM GAGLARDI’s restaurant business Moxie’s Grill and Bar is “opening its first U.S. location at The Crescent in Dallas this Saturday” (NHL.com, 11/16)....Charlotte-based restaurant chain Bojangles’ major shareholder, Advent Int’l, is “preparing to sell” its 69.8% stake in the company, or $464.6M of shares. The proposed sale is “accompanied by proposed stock sales from three other investors,” including Tri-Arc Food Systems, whose investors include NFL Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON. Tri-Arc is “selling 150,000 shares” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 11/16).
