Names In The News
Saints QB DREW BREES and Chargers RB LADAINIAN TOMLINSON have been
named co-winners of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. Tomlinson, who
was recognized for his foundation based in Waco, Texas, said, “Growing up, WALTER
PAYTON was the reason I wanted to play football. ... We are going to keep
on trying to change the world one day at a time.” Brees, who was recognized for
his work in the New Orleans area and on behalf of cancer research and youth education,
called the award “maybe the biggest honor you could truly achieve. ... It’s a
tremendous honor and I will carry with me for the rest of my life” (THE DAILY).
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Miami Police Interview Johnson (c)
As Part Of Murder Investigation |
OFF-FIELD NEWS: Miami Police confirmed that homicide detectives interviewed
Bengals WR CHAD JOHNSON this week as “part of an investigation into the
shooting death” of 27-year-old CURTIS TAVARES DOPSON in Brownsville, Florida
(MIAMI HERALD, 2/2)....A federal judge ruled that former Vikings OT
KOREY STRINGER’s widow, KELCI, can “proceed with her negligence lawsuit
against the NFL and equipment maker RIDDELL INC. over his heatstroke death”
in ’01 (AP, 2/1).
ILITCH: Little Caesars Pizza co-Founder and Tigers and Red Wings Owner
MIKE ILITCH has given Iraq war veterans ROBBIE DOUGHTY and FLOYD
ALLARD a free Little Caesars Pizza franchise. The new $250,000 store is “specially
designed to accommodate [Doughty] who lost both legs in a roadside bombing three
years ago.” Ilitch has also started the Little Caesars Veterans Program, which
will offer “deep discounts” to veterans opening franchises (DETROIT NEWS, 2/2).
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT: SERENA WILLIAMS will provide the voiceover
for a character in an upcoming episode of WB Animations’ “LOONATICS UNLEASHED.”
The episode will premiere on February 17 at 8:00am ET on CW (ANIMATIONMAGAZINE.net,
2/1)....RANDALL EMMETT and GEORGE FURLA are producing a sports-themed
reality show called “THE REAL DEAL” that features Dolphins DE JASON
TAYLOR and former Playboy Playmate STEPHANIE HEINRICH. Emmett said
that the show will “put NFL stars in situations where they’re ‘confronting their
fears in environments in which we don’t usually see them’” (DAILY VARIETY,
1/26)....Heat G DWYANE WADE is hosting the official NBA All-Star Game
party on February 16 at the rumjungle at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS
REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/1).
IN MEMORY: PGA Tour VP/FedExCup GEORGE BURGER died Wednesday at
the age of 50 from complications from the recent onset of bacterial spinal meningitis
(PGA Tour).
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