Vikings fan MILLIE WALL, 99, was at Sunday’s Divisional playoff game with her granddaughter, ASHLEY, and was "approached by NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL," who gave her two tickets to Super Bowl LII. Wall had been "surprised by the Vikings" with tickets to the Vikings-Saints game and fans "counting on Millie’s good luck want to send her to Philadelphia for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game." Ashley Wall said that the Vikings yesterday "officially invited Millie to the game," but she "declined." Ashley Wall cited Millie's "age and the importance for her to create memories with her family" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/16).
MODERN ART: In N.Y., Zach Schonbrun profiles sculptor BRIAN HANLON, creator of many iconic sports statues, who last year "unveiled 30 new monuments" in what was his busiest year to date. Hanlon's phone "keeps ringing because sculpture seems to be enjoying a renaissance." A statue by Hanlon can cost anywhere from $125,000-180,000 (N.Y. TIMES, 1/16)....The El Dorado Arts Council in Placerville, Calif., opened a new art exhibit on Friday that celebrates the '60 Squaw Valley Games. The exhibition “runs through March 9.” The exhibit, titled “The Games of Winter,” uses “items on loan from the Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics, and collector STAN BATISTE” (TAHOEDAILY.com, 1/11).
NAMES: USAIN BOLT “poked fun” at PRESIDENT TRUMP while partying in Miami with Predators D P.K. SUBBAN and Toronto FC F JOZY ALTIDORE over the weekend. Altidore posted a picture of the three of them, tweeting, “Three #s-hole dudes just living the dream, @realdonaldtrump @PKSubban1 @usainbolt” (NYPOST.com, 1/15)....AARON RODGERS and DANICA PATRICK were “spotted dining together Saturday night at a Mexican eatery in Scottsdale.” It was later confirmed that Patrick is “dating Rodgers” (NYPOST.com, 1/15)....DNC Chair TOM PEREZ and Monumental Sports Network VP & GM ZACH LEONSIS were seen last night at the Bucks-Wizards game sitting together in Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair & CEO TED LEONSIS' seats (POLITICO.com, 1/16).
