NAMES IN THE NEWS

          In Denver, Norm Clarke writes that Broncos RB TERRELL
     DAVIS "dropped the ball during his acceptance speech" at the
     ESPY's for Pro Football Performer of the Year "when he
     thanked EAS first and his family second" (DENVER POST,
     2/19)....Sabres RW ROB RAY received the second annual NHL
     Foundation Player Award, which includes a $25,000 grant for
     donation to local charities (NHL)....Former First Lady
     BARBARA BUSH was at the Kroger St. Jude ATP event Wednesday
     to present a $735,000 check on behalf of Kroger to St. Jude
     Research Children's Hospital (ATP)....76ers President PAT
     CROCE, brother JOE CROCE, First Union Center President & CEO
     PETER LUUKKO and business partner MARK BENEVENTO have
     purchased Wildwood, NJ-based amusement facility Hunt's Pier
     for $3.8M (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 2/19)....TX Gov. GEORGE
     W. BUSH will serve as the Honorary Starter for the Primestar
     500 Winston Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in March (TMS).