Buzzer Beaters....

Arsenal investor Alisher Usmanov has "written to select small shareholders in a fresh bid to take his stake" in the EPL club over the 30% threshold, with a US$22,000 per share offer. Usmanov's Red and White Holdings currently owns 29.35% of the club and "is looking to purchase at least another 405 shares" (ESPNSOCCERNET.com, 10/12).

The Pirates today announced a multiyear flagship deal with KDKA-FM that will begin next season. KDKA will carry "at least 16 spring-training games plus all regular-season and any postseason games." Financial terms were not disclosed. WPGB-FM had been the team's flagship station the past five years (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/12).

Paciolan today announced that the Univ. of Colorado has agreed to a five-year renewal of its partnership with the company. Colorado and Paciolan first partnered in '85 (Paciolan).

SI this week features NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson on the cover with the copy, "NASCAR's Dream Chase ... Jimmie Johnson Cranks It Up" (THE DAILY). While answering questions yesterday at the NASCAR HOF, Johnson "sounded happy about the Sports Illustrated cover, professing not to even know of the longtime SI cover jinx." Johnson in a tone of "mock horror" said, "There's a curse?" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/12).