Alabama head football coach NICK SABAN's number was leaked to the public as the football program has become a "lightning rod" for criticism after the CFP selection committee put Alabama into the playoff at No.4 over Florida State. Saban: “I’ve had probably over 250 anonymous callers today, calling me every name in the book, talking about how we shouldn’t be in the playoff.” Saban added, “Most of these people are from Florida. I don’t know how in the hell they got my number, but it is out there” (TUSCALOOSA NEWS, 12/4).
IT'S AN HONOR: Texas Rangers VP/Baseball Communications RICH RICE was named the recipient of the 2023 Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence. The award, named after the longtime baseball exec, goes to the “active, non- uniformed representative of Major League Baseball whose ethics, character, dedication, service, professionalism and humanitarianism best represent the standards propounded by Robert O. Fishel" (MLB).
NAMES: Rangers broadcaster ERIC NADEL is teaming up with Heritage Auctions to sell mementos from his storied career with the franchise. Proceeds from Nadel’s collection "will go to the Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas." The collection includes the 1989 Rangers scorebook (including SAMMY SOSA'S debut), books from Nadel’s collection signed by him and the headset worn by Nadel during the Rangers World Series championship run among other items (FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12/4)....MLB’s SVP/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion BILLY BEAN has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. MLB launched its winter meetings charity auction, which benefits Stand Up To Cancer, in honor of Bean and CATALINA VILLEGAS, MLB’s Dir/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, who was diagnosed in March with breast cancer. Bean spoke in a recorded video and said that he received the diagnosis on Sept. 1 (AP, 12/4)....A fan died during the Kings nationally televised game against the Pelican on Monday night at Golden 1 Center. During the first quarter of the Kings-Pelicans game, the fan experienced a medical emergency and paramedics responded to provide medical aid but "were unable to resuscitate the victim" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/4).
