During a pre-game tailgate ahead of the Miami's appearance in the Russell Athletic Bowl against West Virginia on Wednesday, Camping World CEO and CNBC personality MARCUS LEMONIS, a Miami native, announced he will "match donations" from UM fans to the athletic department, resulting in up to a $1M gift himself. Lemonis "kick-started the campaign" by presenting UM AD BLAKE JAMES with a $250,000 gift. The campaign's goal is to raise $2M to "enhance the student-athlete experience" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 12/29).
THE GOOD STUFF: Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY "handed out boxes of food and personal care items to Oakland community members" on Wednesday as part of a charity campaign for the holiday season. The boxes were from international nonprofit Feed the Children. It is the fourth year Curry has been "working with Feed the Children to distribute food and other necessities in Oakland." Curry has "tripled his involvement over that time" (EAST BAY TIMES, 12/29)....The Bulls on Wednesday signed 17-year-old BENNIE TREY FLOWERS to a "one-day contract with the team through the Make-A-Wish Foundation." Flowers in '15 "underwent an eight-hour liver transplant" (Portland OREGONIAN, 12/29)....The Sharks made a $30,000 donation to a "special needs hockey group." Sequoia High School in Redwood City, Calif., received the donation from the Sharks Foundation as "part of the foundation's Big Give Program" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/29).
NAMES: Eagles QB CARSON WENTZ and Angels CF MIKE TROUT "hunted duck and geese in New Jersey over the weekend." Trout is a "devoted Eagles fan with field-level season tickets behind the end zone" (PHILLY.com, 12/29)....PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP on Wednesday had an "impromptu exchange with reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort," with boxing promoter DON KING standing next to him as he answered questions (POLITCO.com, 12/28)....CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers CB MAURICE LEGGETT will perform in the "THE NUTCRACKER" with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Leggett is among 17 people "selected for walk-on roles this year." Other amateurs include NHL Jets C MARK SCHEIFELE (WINNIPEG SUN, 12/29).
