Braves Pitchers TOM GLAVINE and JOHN SMOLTZ are trying to
raise money through players donations for the widow and infant
daughter of replacement player DAVE SHOTKOSKI, who was murdered
in a robbery attempt during spring training ("Baseball Tonight,"
ESPN, 5/8)....According to the CHICAGO TRIBUNE's TERRY ARMOUR,
there is a "huge contingent" of Univ. of Michigan fans pushing
for MIKE DITKA to be the school's next football coach (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 5/8)....ERNIE BANKS, has been hired by HA-LO industries
of Niles, IL to be a National Sales Executive and Company
Spokesperson (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/8)....Royal Caribbean has hired
PGA Senior Tour Star GARY PLAYER as its spokesperson (MIAMI
HERALD, 5/8).... DALLAS MORNING NEWS baseball beat writers GERRY
FRALEY and JEAN-JACQUES TAYLOR are learning spanish in an attempt
to better communicate with MLB's Latin players. Fraley: "It's
never going to break a story. But it gives you a little more
rapport" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/7)....Former Chicago Bear DAVE
DUERSON has purchased Brooks Sausage Co. and changed the name to
Fair Oaks Farm Co. Brooks had $30M in annual sales and is "one
of the nation's largest black-owned food companies" (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 5/8)....Six sporting goods execs have been confirmed as
speakers for the first Retailer Financial Forum at the NSGA World
Sports Expo in Chicago on Monday, July 17. They are: BRIAN
CARMACK, President, Pro Image, Inc.; MERVYN BENJET, CFO Rentrak
Corp., parent company of Pro Image, Inc.; ANDREW HOCHBERG,
President, Sportmart Inc.; ALVIN LUBETKIN, Vice-Chair & CEO,
Oshman's Sporting Goods; RALPH PARKS, President FOOTACTION USA;
and HAROLD RUTTENBERG, President, Just For Feet (NSGA)....The
10th annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular has announced its
award winners. Among them: RAUL MONDESI, '94 NL Rookie of the
Year, Football Man of the Year JUNIOR SEAU, and Lifetime
Achievement Awards to JOE NAMATH and GEORGE FOREMAN (Cedars
Sinai).
