Capitals LW ALEX OVECHKIN announced Thursday on Twitter “that he will make the trip to Olympia, Greece to be the first Russian to carry the Olympic torch after it is lit there Sunday.” Ovechkin after a Capitals practice said, “It’s a very big honor for me to be the first guy.” Ovechkin “is the face of Russian hockey and he will be showcased throughout the 2014 Sochi Olympics.” He was “originally invited by the Russian Federation to participate in the torch lighting ceremony in August, but knew that his attendance couldn’t take away from his responsibilities with the Capitals” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/26).
BIG BIRD: The Pacers have commissioned “a massive bronze statue” of President of Basketball Operations and Basketball HOFer LARRY BIRD. The statue “will be unveiled at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Oct. 29” to coincide with the Pacers’ home opener. The “final resting place” for the statue will be Bird’s home town of Terre Haute, Ind. (IBJ.com, 9/25). Meanwhile, Bird has “put his fancy Florida mansion on the market,” with the home in Naples listed for $4.8M (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/27).
LEGAL WRANGLING: A New York state judge on Thursday ruled that Barclays Center developer and Nets investor BRUCE RATNER is “on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees shelled out by foes” of the $5B Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn. Sources said the figure owed “is expected to be at least $300,000” (NYPOST.com, 9/26)….Former MLBer JARET WRIGHT “is suing his former financial advisers at CSI Capital Management, SunTrust Bank and accounting firm Taylor & Faust for fraud, misrepresentation, negligence and other wrongful conduct.” Legal filings show Wright is “seeking to recover” $7.5M. The complaint “is the latest in a series of lawsuits that have been filed against SunTrust Bank and affiliated parties” since August ’12 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/26).
AWARDS & HONORS: IndyCar team Panther Racing Managing Partner & CEO JOHN BARNES has been named the recipient of the Spirit of Hope Award and will be honored Nov. 19 in DC (Panther Racing)….Golf HOFer JACK NICKLAUS will drop the ceremonial first puck for the Blue Jackets’ season opener against the Flames on Oct. 4 (Blue Jackets)….NASCAR driver DENNY HAMLIN was honored with the Champion for Babies award at Thursday night’s March of Dimes Volunteer Leadership Conference dinner in DC (March Of Dimes).
HOUSE & HOME: Nets and Barclays Center CEO BRETT YORMARK and his new wife ELAINA SCOTTO have “picked up the penthouse” at The Peregrine (N.Y. OBSERVER, 9/23 issue)…Fox NFL analyst MICHAEL STRAHAN is re-listing his N.Y. condo for $2.25M (WSJ.com, 9/26).
IN MEMORY: DENIS BRODEUR, the father of Devils G MARTIN BRODEUR, died Thursday at the age of 82. He was a “longtime photographer” for the Canadiens and Expos (NJ.com, 9/26). Brodeur had been in “delicate health for 19 months with brain tumors that required several operations” (Montreal GAZETTE, 9/27)….Former WHL Portland Winterhawks exec and Minority Owner JANN BOSS died last Friday at the age of 69. Boss worked for the team from ’76-‘07 (OREGONLIVE.com, 9/26).
