Golfer PETER JACOBSEN yesterday was "named the recipient of the 2013 Payne Stewart Award, presented annually to the professional golfer who best exemplifies the values of character, charity and sportsmanship." The award is named for the late PAYNE STEWART, "one of Jacobsen's closest friends." Jacobsen has "contributed to countless charitable endeavors with both time and resources over the years." His longtime marketing and management firm, Peter Jacobsen Sports, has "hosted more than 250 events worldwide and contributed" more than $40M to a host of nonprofits across the U.S. He said, "I can't tell you how much this means to me" (Portland OREGONIAN, 9/18).
CLIMBING THE HILL: Gold Medal-winning U.S. snowboarder SHAUN WHITE yesterday appeared live in-studio on "CBS This Morning" to discuss his preparations for the '14 Sochi Games. CBS' Gayle King asked White about cutting his hair, which he donated to Locks of Love. King: "When you cut your hair did you lose your superpowers?" White replied, "I hope not. No, it's been good." White noted one of his biggest competitors at the Olympics likely will be Russian YURI PODLADCHIKOV. White: "I'm treating it like it's the 'ROCKY' scenario" ("CBS This Morning," 9/17).
GET IN THE HOT TUB TIME MACHINE: Actor STEPHEN RANNAZZISI appeared on TBS' "Conan" last night and reminisced on his time working on MTV's "PUNK'D" when Yankees 3B ALEX RODRIGUEZ was the target. Rannazzisi said, "He kind of got upset and charged at me and was going to swing." Rannazzisi played a waiter from Boston who served Rodriguez and his dinner party around the time when the Rangers were trying to trade Rodriguez to the Red Sox. Rannazzisi said he "basically crapped on him the entire time, telling him we didn’t want him in Boston, that's he never won anything, that I'd take JETER over him, and he was a really great sport. He was taking it, and taking it and taking it. Then at the very end, I came over and dropped the check and told his wife, 'I know he's a millionaire, but if you ever want to get a real man I'm right over here.'" Rannazzisi: "He comes at me and I'm like, 'You're on 'Punk'd!'" ("Conan," TBS, 9/17).
THAT'S HOLLYWOOD: Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast GABBY DOUGLAS is "getting a TV biopic." Lifetime network has "greenlighted 'THE GABBY DOUGLAS STORY' (working title), an original movie starring" IMANI HAKIM and SYDNEY MIKAYLA as Douglas, REGINA KING as her mother and S. EPATHA MERKERSON as her grandmother (DEADLINE.com, 9/16)....Directors MICHAEL HAMILTON and COREY OGILVIE have "launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $110,000 in funding to market 'NASH: THE DOCUMENTARY,'" based on Lakers G STEVE NASH. Contributions will "be accepted until Oct. 16" (LATIMES.com, 9/17).
NAMES: ESPN Exec VP & Chief Technology Officer CHUCK PAGANO served as Fenway Park's guest PA announcer during Saturday's Yankees-Red Sox game. Pagano, an original ESPN employee, said, "It was exhausting, exhilarating and had an air of romance to it" (ESPN). IndyCar driver RYAN HUNTER-REAY will "join about 2,500 riders" in the fourth Dolphins Cycling Challenge, peddling to "raise money for cancer research" at the Univ. of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 9/17)....WNBA Fever F TAMIKA CATCHINGS and IndyCar driver CONOR DALY were named to the Indianapolis Star’s Super Single Series, which highlights the city’s “coolest local singles.” Catchings said of asking guys out on dates, “I do not ask guys out. If I like somebody, I’ll let them know I like them” (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 9/18)....NASCAR driver DANICA PATRICK is joining country singer TRACE ADKINS as co-host of the Dec. 10 American Country Awards (AP, 9/17)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and his girlfriend, RICKI LANDER, on Monday attended Patriots LB JEROD MAYO's charity event, the Mayo Bowl (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/18)....Clippers coach DOC RIVERS sold his 1,801-square-foot, two-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom luxury condo on Boston's Boylston Street for $3M on July 26 (WEEI.com, 9/17).
