In Milwaukee, Don Walker noted Bucks Owner and U.S. Sen. HERB KOHL (D-Wisc.) on Thursday in his farewell speech after 24 years in the U.S. Senate "thanked his fellow senators, his staff in Washington and Milwaukee, and the people of Wisconsin." When Kohl leaves public office, he is "expected to spend more of his time" with the Bucks. Kohl also has said that it is "time for a new multipurpose arena in Milwaukee to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center, and has promised that he would make a personal financial commitment to get it jump-started" (JSONLINE.com, 12/13). Meanwhile, Steelers Chair Emeritus DAN ROONEY Friday will resign as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland “after more than three years serving” as the top diplomat in Dublin. The resignation, which has been expected for some time, will allow Rooney “to return home to Pittsburgh" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/14). Several NFL team owners said that they “welcomed the news that Dan Rooney would return to a more active role in league business” (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 12/14).
PAPER JAM: Basketball HOFer JULIUS ERVING will guest-star as himself on the Jan. 17 episode of NBC's "The Office." In the episode, Erving "becomes an investor in the sports marketing business that Jim (JOHN KRASINSKI) is trying to launch in Philadelphia (EW.com, 12/13)...."The Office" star JENNA FISCHER has purchased Baseball HOFer CASEY STENGEL's 4,600-square-foot estate in Glendale for $1.9M (LATIMES.com, 12/10).
FOR A GOOD CAUSE: MLB Giants P BARRY ZITO and his wife, AMBER SEYER, appeared in-studio on NBC’s “Today” Friday representing MLB and announcing MLB licensees National Design, PPW Toys and Oyos Sportstoys will donate toys and stationary to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Zito said MLBers “are all trying to come together for the toy drives across the country. It’s a great cause and we just love being involved in something bigger” (“Today,” NBC, 12/14).
NAMES: Director EDWARD BURNS said that his movie about former NHLer DEREK SANDERSON "is still in the works." Burns: "The script is being rewritten now, and it's a great script. Once that draft is done, the big thing we have to get done is to find an actor to play Derek" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/14)....Ole Miss football coach HUGH FREEZE's salary "has been raised" to $2M for the '13 season. Assistant coaching salaries "will increase" by 10%. In addition, the school announced renovations to the Indoor Practice Facility, which are "expected to cost" $12.5M (CLARIONLEDGER.com, 12/13)....Coyotes Development coach DAVE KING has been named to the ’13 class of Distinguished Honorees of the Order of Hockey Canada (AZCENTRAL.com, 12/13)….Blue Jays broadcaster JERRY HOWARTH on Thursday was named the winner of the Canadian Baseball HOF 2012 Jack Graney award (TORONTO SUN, 12/14)....Red Sox manager JOHN FARRELL and "more than 40 front office staff" helped to "rebuild a Union Beach, N.J., store that was devastated by Hurricane Sandy" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 12/13)....AFL Commissioner JERRY KURZ said that the league “will not make any official inquiry into gambling" by former San Antonio Talons co-Owner PAUL ROSS. The league does “prohibit owners from gambling” on AFL games, but Ross said that he “did not bet” on league games. Kurz said that Ross' group "still is a minority owner in" the Talons (OKLAHOMAN, 12/12)….Duke Univ.’s athletic department has “received another $10 million gift.” The latest is from Duke Trustee Board Vice Chair and Carlyle Group co-Founder & Managing Dir DAVID RUBENSTEIN (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 12/14).
