In Oklahoma City, Jason Kersey noted Vikings RB ADRIAN PETERSON yesterday pledged $1M to the Univ. of Oklahoma athletic department, "the largest gift ever to OU from a former Sooners football player." The donation "will go toward the construction of Headington Hall," a new dorm for student-athletes, and "will establish the Adrian Peterson Football Scholarship Endowment." In recognition of Peterson's gift, the football program "will rename its meeting room currently referred to as 'The Red Room,' to 'The Adrian Peterson Team Meeting Room'" (OKLAHOMAN, 4/5).
MASTERS DIVISION: In Charlotte, Ron Green Jr. notes The Masters has a “new, sprawling hospitality facility called Berckman’s Place” behind the fifth green and 16th hole, where a parking lot used to sit. If it is “possible to be understated and spectacular at the same time, it is.” It is “not small and it’s not open to everyone, but it’s very impressive” (CHARLOTTE OBSREVER, 4/6). Augusta National Chair BILLY PAYNE earlier in the week indicated that Berckman's Place "will be a substantial contributor to Masters Foundation for the growth of the game" (AUGUSTA.com, 4/4)....IBM CEO VIRGINIA ROMETTY "is expected to attend" The Masters this weekend in a move "that will likely bring more attention to a now-raging controversy over whether the all-male golf club should admit female members" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/6).
FRESH, MAN: In Louisville, Kyle Tucker notes Univ. of Kentucky C ANTHONY DAVIS appeared on ABC’s “JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE” Thursday night and “cracked a few jokes and successfully deflected Kimmel’s repeated attempts to get Davis to acknowledge his plans about staying in school or heading to the NBA.” Asked if UK basketball players “have to go to classes,” Davis said while smiling, “Coach Cal is forcing us to go to class. I don’t know why. We just won the national championship." Asked what the first thing he wants to buy when he goes to the NBA, Davis responded, “The first thing I’m going to buy is a car” (COURIER-JOURNAL.com, 4/6). For more on Davis' appearance, see Friday's issue of Morning Buzz.
NAMES: Lightning Owner JEFF VINIK "is part of a group that submitted an offer Wednesday to purchase the financially troubled Channelside Bay Plaza," the entertainment complex adjacent to the Tampa Bay Times Forum (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 4/6)....Yankees 3B ALEX RODRIGUEZ is officially on Facebook. While he established the page last September, Rodriguez "didn't start updating it until March 30" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/6). Rodriguez said, "I just felt the time was right. Social media has gotten so big now." He "already has 716,000 'likes'" (ESPN.com, 4/5)....Rapper NAS and guitarist GARY CLARK JR. will collaborate on music for ESPN’s live coverage of the NFL Draft, which airs April 26-28. Two songs, “Train” and “The Don,” from Nas’ upcoming album and Clark’s “Bright Lights” will be used “in highlight packages of draft prospects and as commercial bumpers.” Nas will also “add some original lyrics” to Clark’s song (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 4/5)....In New Jersey, Rich Mardekian notes Yankees 2B ROBINSON CANO and Fuchs EMS and Medical Transportation Services of Fair Lawn are “collaborating on an ongoing goodwill initiative that is helping to standardize professional emergency medical care throughout the Dominican Republic.” Cano traveled to the Dominican Republican on Jan. 20 to “secure, donate and deliver seven modern ambulances to the City of San Pedro de Macoris” (Bergen RECORD, 4/6)....IndyCar and NASCAR team Owner CHIP GANASSI and Steelers coach MIKE TOMLIN attended Thursday’s Phillies-Pirates game. Tomlin was “wearing a No. 22 ANDREW MCCUTCHEN jersey and Aviator sunglasses” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/6).
