EPL club Tottenham Chair DANIEL LEVY has "turned down an official approach" from League Championship club Blackburn Rovers for his Technical Coordinator TIM SHERWOOD. Blackburn was ready to offer Sherwood "the job of reviving" its fortunes following STEVE KEAN's resignation (London DAILY MAIL, 9/30). ... UEFA President MICHEL PLATINI stated that his idea of playing the Euro 2020 finals in 12 European cities across the continent would be a "one-off for that tournament only." Platini said, "It is an idea and that concerns the 60th anniversary of the Euros in 2020" (Scottish DAILY RECORD, 10/1).
POKER FACE: Spanish golfers "got an unexpected surprise" when they walked up to the reception desk of their local club, and were greeted by a "hunky staffer who bore a striking resemblance to tennis pro RAFAEL NADAL." Yet, no matter how much the visitors insisted that he was the famous athlete, the reception guy just shook his head saying, "No, my name is Tony." Turns out, Tony was indeed Rafa, and he was playing his part in a campaign for Pokerstars out of creative agency McCann Erickson Barcelona. The branded content film portrayed Nadal as a trainee trying to develop his bluffing skills in the "sport" of poker, all part of his sponsorship agreement with the online gaming site (ADAGE.com, 9/28).
F1 ON THE K-POP BANDWAGON: "Gangnam Style" sensation Psy is set to perform at the Korean Grand Prix after being announced as an ambassador for the event. He will perform after the race on Oct. 14. His signing "is a big coup for the Korean GP organisers, who will be hoping that his presence at the event will help attract a bigger crowd on race day" (AUTOSPORT.com, 9/28).
CANADIAN SKATER PASSES: Canadian Olympic women's figure skating Gold Medalist BARBARA ANN SCOTT "died Sunday at the age of 84." Scott died at her Amelia Island, Fla., home with her husband, TOM KING, by her side. The cause of death is not known. Scott won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's top athlete in '45, '47 and '48. She was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in '55 and the Canadian Figure Skating Hall of Fame in '91. She became an officer of the Order of Canada in '91, was inducted into the Int'l Women's Sports Hall of Fame in '97 and was named to Canada's Walk of Fame in '98 (VANCOUVER SUN, 9/30).
