In Washington, Greg Gordon noted Republican presidential candidate NEWT GINGRICH has "raised $54 million over five years" for his campaign. Gingrich has received contributions from several figures in the sports world including: NASCAR Vice Chair & Exec VP JAMES FRANCE ($264,000); late Las Vegas casino operator FRANK FERTITTA JR, and his sons FRANK III and LORENZO, who own UFC ($250,000); and Reds Owner ROBERT CASTELLINI ($146,000) (THE OLYMPIAN, 12/20).
GIVING BACK: The AP's Pat Graham notes Broncos QB TIM TEBOW is "just as devoted to his engagements off" the field as he is to "improving on the field." Tebow "doesn't mind all the attention" associated with Tebowmania. It "gives him a platform for his causes, such as the Tim Tebow Foundation's 'Wish 15' program." Tebow's foundation is partnering with CURE Int'l "to build a children's hospital in the Philippines, where Tebow was born." He also "inspires inmates through jailhouse talks." Tebow said, "Ultimately, that's taking my platform and using it for something good, more so than any 'SNL' skit or any magazine" (AP, 12/21).
CHARGES FILED: In Chicago, Art Golab reports former NFLer and U.S. sprinter WILLIE GAULT yesterday "denied charges by federal regulators that he took part in a scam to artificially pump up the stock price of a medical device company he helped to manage." Gault was one of six people charged yesterday in an SEC suit that alleged he was "hired as a figurehead co-CEO of Heart Tronics to generate publicity and boost investor confidence" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/21).
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT: The Bruins yesterday took part in their “annual holiday toy delivery to local hospitals” (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/21)….UConn's men’s basketball team Monday “passed out 1,000 turkeys and bags of fixings to needy families” (HARTFORD COURANT, 12/20)….Fireman Capital Partners Founder ANDY SPELLMAN and wife RACHEL hosted a party with Patriots WR WES WELKER for the Wes Welker Foundation, which “uses athletics to help at-risk kids.” Guests included Raptor Capital Management's ROB BROGGI and JOHN BURNS, Celtics Minority Owner STEVE LEWINSTEIN, SAC Capital’s SOL KUMIN, Highland Capital Partners’ BOB DAVIS and Celtics G RAY ALLEN with his wife SHANNON (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/21).
NAMES: KEVIN DANIELS has been cast as MAGIC JOHNSON in the upcoming Broadway production of "MAGIC/BIRD." The 6-foot-5 Daniels has appeared on "HOUSE," "MODERN FAMILY," and as music producer SUGE KNIGHT in the off-Broadway production of "UP AGAINST THE WIND" about the late rapper TUPAC SHAKUR (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 12/21)....UFC fighter BROCK LESNAR yesterday paid a fine to resolve hunting charges against him in Canada. Lesnar pleaded guilty to failing to affix a tag to a mule deer he had shot on a filmed hunt in Alberta in Nov. '10 (AP, 12/20)....NASCAR driver GREG BIFFLE will ride on the Natural Balance Pet Foods float at the '12 Tournament of Roses parade on Jan. 2 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/20)....Patriots President JONATHAN KRAFT’s car was recently broken into at Gillette Stadium, but nothing was taken (MYFOXBOSTON.com, 12/20)....Former racehorse FINDERS KEY is "one of the stars of STEVEN SPIELBERG's highly anticipated screen adaptation" of the play "WAR HORSE," set to open Sunday (THOROUGHBREDTIMES.com, 12/19).
