A South Florida SUN-SENTINEL editorial states PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP's pick of NHL Panthers Owner VINCENT VIOLA to serve as Secretary of the Army "isn't a head-scratcher at all." Viola has the "background and credentials to do the job," and "equally important, he lacks the negative baggage carried by some of Trump's other appointments." While "not a Cabinet-level post, the job requires U.S. Senate confirmation, and this pick should sail through." The editorial: "Talk to people who have interacted with Viola and you get the picture of a man extremely qualified for his new position" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/23).
JUST NAME THE CITY AFTER HIM: Edmonton Mayor DON IVESON is "floating the idea" of honoring Hockey HOFer WAYNE GRETZKY by renaming Northlands Coliseum, where Gretzky played while with the Oilers, the Gretzky Centre. Edmonton City Council members this fall "voted to move forward with the idea of transforming the Northlands Coliseum ... into a sports complex with ice sheets and fields for the public to use." Council members next year are "expected to move forward with the plan." Before a name is discussed, city officials will "meet with Hockey Canada, and local soccer and lacrosse groups" (CTVNEWS.ca, 12/20).
THE GOOD STUFF: Hockey HOFer TED LINDSAY's foundation gave the Hands-on Parent Education Center in Southfield, Mich., a $1M gift that will help to "provide more services under one roof to children" with autism spectrum disorder and other learning or developmental disorders (OAKLAND PRESS, 12/22)....Packers QB AARON RODGERS gave a "sizable donation of $110,862 to the Salvation Army of Greater Green Bay's annual Red Kettle Campaign." Rodgers "matched money that was raised at five autograph signings featuring Packers players at the Lambeau Field Atrium." Those Monday night events, which "ended this week, brought in $38,018." Rodgers’ support "doubled that to $76,036" (JSONLINE.com, 12/22)....For the past several years Lions QB MATTHEW STAFFORD and his wife KELLY have “adopted families for Christmas.” This year, they “selected the families” of MYRON JARRETT and KENNETH STEIL, two Detroit police officers who “lost their lives in the line of duty.” Meanwhile, former NFLer CALVIN JOHNSON “posted a photo of dozens of gift bags” he was delivering to a “shelter for families of domestic violence and sexual abuse” (DETROIT NEWS, 12/23)....As part of Basketball HOFer SHAQUILLE O'NEAL’s jersey retirement ceremony in Miami on Thursday, the Heat “made a $50,000 donation to O’Neal’s charity, Odessa Chambliss Qualits of Life Fund.” The Heat also “presented him with a framed replica jersey banner” and “greeted him on the court with a smaller replica of the ‘Diesel Power’ 18-wheeler that first delivered him to Heat fans” in ’04 (ESPN.com, 12/22).
NAMES: Richard Petty Motorsports “may be shrinking,” but its speed shop Petty’s Garage “continues to grow.” Petty’s Garage has announced it will “expand its shop” at the site of the old Petty Enterprises NASCAR operation with a $2.4M investment (FOXSPORTS.com, 12/21)....Recently retired Dodgers broadcaster VIN SCULLY will be “honored with the Southern California Sports Broadcasters’ Lifetime Achievement Award that will be renamed in his honor” on Jan. 30 at Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank (VENTURA COUNTY STAR, 12/22)....The Boston Globe Magazine named its top 10 most popular stories of ’16, which included cover stories on FS1's KATIE NOLAN and The Ringer’s BILL SIMMONS (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 12/22).
