The AP's Aaron Beard reports that Chicago-based charity watchdog AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHILANTHROPY has recently questioned why about $3M donated for a charitable fund in the name of DALE EARNHARDT is "still sitting in a bank account" and "criticized the way the fund is being administered." Dale Earnhardt Inc. COO DOUG SWANSON said, "You don't just sit down and say, 'Let's give away some money today.' You have to investigate and explore very thoroughly to make sure it gets in the right hands. It takes time to do it right" (AP, 5/6).
LPGA ON TV: LPGA Commissioner TY VOTAW and MICHELLE WIE appeared on CNBC's "The News on CNBC" last night, where Votaw discussed having Wie play some tour events, including this weekend's Michelob Ultra Open in Kingsmill, Virginia. Votaw, on Wie still being a amateur: "When the time is right for (Wie) to make her next step in terms of professional golf we'll welcome her with open arms, but while she's developing as a person and a player we really enjoy her when she's out here. She can play six times this year on our tour under sponsor exemptions and she really does bring a breath of fresh air to the tour when she's out here" ("The News on CNBC," CNBC, 5/5)....ANNIKA SORENSTAM last night appeared on SportsCenter's "Michelob Ultra Hot Seat" — which is usually called the "Budweiser Hot Seat" but was rebranded yesterday since it was filmed at the LPGA's Michelob Ultra Open. Sorenstam, when asked whether she would compete on the PGA Tour again, said, "I'm not going to play in any more PGA events ever. I might play in a skins game or some funny invite
 |
| Avery Reportedly Seeing Rachel Hunter |
like that but not an official PGA event. ... Once was enough. It was wonderful, therefore I don't want to do it again" (
ESPN, 5/5).
NAMES: Olympic Gold Medalist CATHY FREEMAN will be the first to carry the Olympic torch when it begins its journey to Athens on June 4 in Sydney. Others carrying the torch include: NBA HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON, track & field athletes CARL LEWIS, GAIL DEVERS, MICHAEL JOHNSON and EDWIN MOSES, and actresses JENNIFER ANISTON and ANGELINA JOLIE. Aniston is of Greek descent (AP, 5/5)....The N.Y. POST's Page Six reports supermodel RACHEL HUNTER "has been billing and cooing" with NHL Kings RW SEAN AVERY (N.Y. POST, 5/6).
