The wife of Bills Owner RALPH WILSON said that he is “doing well and working with a personal trainer at his suburban Detroit home.” MARY WILSON said that her husband is “walking with his walker.” In Buffalo, Karen Robinson noted Wilson was “hospitalized briefly with what was believed to be an infection in early September” (BUFFALO NEWS, 11/11).
BANKERS' HOURS: Pacers Sports & Entertainment COO RICK FUSON in a Q&A said of his attendance for events at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, “I attend most of the events. I can't say I attend every one. I do go to every Pacers game and every Fever game. Out of the 200 big events we have, I'll be at about 80 percent of them. We are here a lot. This is not a traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 11/10).
NOT YOUR REGULAR JOE: In Akron, Nate Ulrich wrote about Browns CEO JOE BANNER under the subhead, “Ultra-competitive CEO Is A Tough Negotiator, Philanthropic Leader.” Ulrich: “To say Banner is complex might be an understatement.” Banner has “brought his expertise and multilayered identity to Northeast Ohio.” Proskauer Rose Chair JOE LECCESE said, “Joe is a very analytical person, so Joe makes his points with enormous research behind them and enormous logic behind them. So he’s tenacious” (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 11/11).
CHARITY STRIPE: Knicks F AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE on Saturday “spent part of the day giving out food, clothing and blankets” in several Rockaway and Far Rockaway communities affected by Hurricane Sandy (N.Y. POST, 11/12)….Trail Blazers G WESLEY MATTHEWS has partnered with supermarket chain Fred Meyer "to collect new and ‘gently used’ coats as part of what has become an annual effort to provide a little warmth for those in need.” Portland-area Fred Meyer branches since Nov. 2 have “featured donation bins with a ‘cheesy picture’ of Matthews asking for help” (OREGONLIVE.com, 11/9)….Golfer JIM FURYK and his wife, TABITHA, participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a golf-themed playroom for children with heart conditions at Wolfson Children’s Hospital Jacksonville. The Furyks “previously donated $75,000 to Wolfson through their foundation” (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 11/9)….
NAMES: In a special to the N.Y. TIMES, Brooks Sports President & CEO JIM WEBER discussed his life and career under the header, “Ice Skates To Running Shoes” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/11)….Flyers Chair ED SNIDER and Philadelphia Mayor MICHAEL NUTTER on Friday were “among those at the grand reopening of the completely renovated Tarken Ice Rink in Oxford Circle.” The event “marked the culmination of four city rinks that have been reconstructed and fully enclosed by a public/private partnership initiated by Snider, who spent $6.5 million on the project.” Snider said that the "state and city combined for another $6.5 million” (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 11/11)....D'Backs President & CEO DERRICK HALL has been named the ’12 recipient of the Goldwater Community Service Award, and was honored on Friday at the 29th Noche de Gourmet at the Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix (D'Backs)….Prosecutors have “dropped their year-old investigation of sexual-abuse allegations against" former Syracuse Univ. assistant basketball coach BERNIE FINE. U.S. Attorney RICHARD HARTUNIAN said the probe "revealed insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal charges" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/10)....The Lions announced that musician KID ROCK will perform during their Thanksgiving Day game against the Texans (AP, 11/9)....A Poland court ordered boxing HOFer MIKE TYSON to “pay $48,000 in compensation to the organizer of a boxing gala for which” he did not show up last year (AP, 11/9)….Packers WR DONALD DRIVER and his family are featured in People magazine’s holiday special edition (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 11/9).
IN MEMORY: NFLPA Travel Coordinator DANA GREEN passed away last week after battling cancer (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/11).
