The Bengals' win over the Ravens sent the Bills to their first playoff berth since '99, and fans in Buffalo "found time to open their wallets and donate" to Bengals QB ANDY DALTON's foundation after his game-winning drive. Dalton said that so far the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation has received $37,000 from 1,600 donors to "make a huge impact" for seriously ill and physically challenged children and their families (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 1/2).
TRAGIC LOSS: Compass Group CEO RICHARD COUSINS was "among the six people killed when a seaplane went down" just north of Sydney on Sunday. Also among the fatalities were Cousins' "two sons, his fiancée, her daughter and the pilot of the plane." Cousins "led Compass for more than 11 years," and he "had been expected to leave" at the end of March. His planned successor, COO for Europe DOMINIC BLAKEMORE, "will take over immediately" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/2).
HAPPY NEW YEAR: Mets broadcaster KEITH HERNANDEZ "attended the pricey New Year's Eve party" at PRESIDENT TRUMP's Mar-a-Lago golf estate in Palm Beach (NYPOST.com, 12/31)....Real Madrid F CRISTIANO RONALDO “ended up partying” with actress EVA LONGORIA in Miami (NYPOST.com, 1/1)....Yankees DH GIANCARLO STANTON “celebrated his last New Year’s Eve in Miami -- surrounded by 30 women -- ahead of his much-anticipated arrival at the Yankees this spring” (NYPOST.com, 1/1)....
NAMES: Outback Bowl President & CEO JIM MCVAY's '15 compensation "totaled $993,458," which is "more than Tampa taxpayers pay the mayor, the seven members of City Council, the police chief and the fire chief -- combined." McVay is the "longest-tenured bowl director in the country, and bowl organizers say he delivers value for the money" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/1)....Patriots WR JULIAN EDELMAN was profiled in the Wall Street Journal’s “Weekend Confidential,” which noted he plans to “come out with more books.” A season-ending injury prior to '17 “could be the basis" of his next book. The story of Super Bowl LI was the subject of Edelman’s most recent children’s book, “FLYING HIGH 2.” The first installment was “FLYING HIGH” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/30)....FAU football coach LANE KIFFIN is making the rounds on ESPN today being interviewed wearing a CAA Sports T-shirt (THE DAILY)....SI web producer ELIZABETH HOLLOWAY MARSTON and BRIAN SPENCER CANTER were married Sunday at the Tampa Museum of Art (NYTIMES.com, 12/31).
