In Austin, Laylan Copelin notes Texas Gov. RICK PERRY on Sunday attended the Italian Grand Prix, "touting Austin's inaugural Formula One race in November as he rubbed shoulders with automotive executives, racing officials, business leaders and the glitterati who follow the spectacle of Formula One." Perry said, "We hammered home the place to be in November is Austin, Texas" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 9/11). Meanwhile, Race Fans 4 Freedom, an independent nonprofit that aims to educate NASCAR fans on political issues, launched its "Race 2 the Polls" campaign this weekend at the Richmond Int'l Raceway during the Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400. The campaign, which will run through Election Day, will urge race fans to vote in November (Politico).
CURTAIN CALL: In Michigan, John Serba noted the play "Ernie," based on late Tigers radio announcer ERNIE HARWELL, will "get its first non-Detroit debut Sept. 12 at Grand Rapids' Wealthy Theatre, where it will run until Sept.23." The show debuted in April '11 in Detroit. "Ernie" was "wildly successful, and its run stretched into Sept. of last year, to the tune of more than 100 performances and nearly 30,000 tickets sold." It recently "wrapped a three-month return engagement" (MLIVE.com, 9/10).
THINK PINK: Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnasts GABBY DOUGLAS, MCKAYLA MARONEY and KYLA ROSS appeared on “THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW” yesterday wearing USA T-shirts to surprise singer PINK, who said their performance at the London Games was “amazing” and was a fan of the team. Maroney said of a tweet Pink sent out congratulating the team’s win in London, “It meant so much to us.” The gymnasts presented Pink with a signed Corn Flakes box featuring all five U.S. women’s gymnastics team members (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” 9/10).
CHARITY STRIPE: Twins C JOE MAUER and his fiancée MADDIE BISANZ yesterday “dedicated a new playroom that he donated to Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/11)....The wife and daughter of Baseball HOFer FRANK ROBINSON yesterday "delivered a check for $4,000" to the Los Amigos High School baseball team to "help pay for new equipment after thieves emptied out the Lobos' baseball storage locker on campus over Labor Day weekend" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 9/11)....Fox' TROY AIKMAN joined United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The Cooper Institute to "recognize schools fighting obesity" (DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 9/7 issue)....Patriots LB JEROD MAYO yesterday hosted his annual charity bowling tournament , which raises money and awareness for Boston Medical Center and Pitching for Kids (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/11).
NAMES: Lakers F PAU GASOL has ended his relationship with agents ARTURO ORTEGA and ENRIQUE RODRIGUEZ, "who until now were responsible for representing and conducting negotiations for the player." Gasol has chosen PABLO NEGRE to replace them. Negre also manages FC Barcelona F LIONEL MESSI (SPORT.es, 9/10)....Former MLBer JEFF KENT is one of 18 participants on "Survivor: Philippines," which he shot after appearing in Spring Training as a Giants guest coach. The show premieres on CBS on Sept. 19 (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/11)....Former Trail Blazers radio and TV announcer BILL SCHONELY was selected as the '12 Tom McCall Award winner by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters (OREGONLIVE.com, 9/10)....The inaugural Ryder Cup Captains & Celebrity Scramble event will be held on Sept. 25 and will feature BILL MURRAY, JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, MICHAEL PHELPS, GEORGE LOPEZ, ERNIE BANKS, RICHARD DENT, STAN MIKITA and SCOTTIE PIPPEN (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 9/10)....ESPN’s ANDY KATZ on Sunday participated in the Nation’s Triathlon in DC, finishing the 1.5K swim in the Potomac River, 40K bike and 10K run with a time of 3:19:44 (Competitor Group)....Golfer RORY MCILROY is expected to “spend this week training” with the Knicks (London TELEGRAPH, 9/10)....Nassau County resident IAN CUMMINGS is "asking for $2 million in compensations for 'severe' injuries, medical expenses and lost earnings" after being "zapped with a stun gun at a Jets-Cowboys game last year" (NEWSDAY, 9/9).
