Lakers Exec VP/Business Operations JEANIE BUSS and Knicks President PHIL JACKSON have "called off their four-year engagement." Jackson last night "announced the decision by posting a joint statement with Buss on Twitter." Buss "did not watch" last night's Jazz-Lakers game from her "regular seat at Staples Center." The pair met during the '99-'00 season "when Jackson first began coaching the Lakers," and got engaged in December '12 (L.A. TIMES, 12/28). Largely due to his relationship with Buss, Jackson has "frequently been linked to a front-office position with the Lakers should he decide to bolt the Knicks." The breakup "puts a damper on such a move" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/28).
BEST OF THE BEST: Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES has been named AP Male Athlete of the Year, an award he also won in '13. Among the 59 AP editors voting on the award, James "collected 24 first-place votes," beating out Olympians MICHAEL PHELPS and USAIN BOLT. Cubs 3B KRIS BRYANT "tied for fourth" with Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY, who won the award last year. La Liga club Real Madrid MF CRISTIANO RONALDO, Broncos LB VON MILLER and tennis player ANDY MURRAY "also received votes" (AP, 12/27).
NAMES: A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Des Moines on Friday alleges former Drake Univ. assistant women's basketball coach COURTNEY GRAHAM was "forced to resign from her job" after coach JENNIE BARANCZYK "learned that she was gay." Graham's lawsuit also "claims that her sexual orientation and mental health became the focus of office gossip that was started by Baranczyk" (DESMOINESREGISTER.com, 12/27)....Panthers QB CAM NEWTON yesterday "flew to Atlanta on his day off to meet TAYLOR DECKARD, a 10-year-old Auburn fan with a 'severe heart condition,' whose Christmas wish it was to meet Newton" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/28)....Hawaii Pacific Univ. conferred upon former Padres Vice Chair & CEO JEFF MOORAD the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (Hawaii Pacific).
