Boston Marathon organizers announced runners this year raised an "unprecedented" $38.4M for charities, "nearly double last year's tally." On race day, 3,150 of the 32,408 runners were "given slots because they were running for charity, compared with 2,600 the year before." The Boston Athletic Association and sponsor John Hancock Financial "provide nonprofit organizations with bibs so runners could raise money on behalf of charities." Many runners who qualify to participate in the race "based on their performance in other marathons also raise money for charity," but the BAA said that it "tracks only the contributions raised by those who were wearing one of the charity bibs" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/2).
GAME OF THRONES: Free agent F LEBRON JAMES lands as the "top athlete on Forbes' Celebrity 100," while BEYONCE is the "only celebrity across all categories to finish in front" of James on the list. Forbes' list "ranks the top stars from the worlds of music, movies, sports, TV, books and modeling based on a mix of money and fame." Boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. ranks "second among athletes and No. 7 overall." Rounding out the top five "is a trio of athletes," including Lakers G KOBE BRYANT at No. 15, tennis player ROGER FEDERER at No. 16 and TIGER WOODS at No. 21. Each of these stars "banked at least" $55M from prize money, salary and endorsements (FORBES.com, 6/30).
NAMES: Former UNLV AD JIM LIVENGOOD said of the idea of taking another AD job, "I've had opportunities to go back in and do it and said no every time. That's somebody else's gig right now. Now, if someone offered a six-month position? Maybe. I like the ability to be as flexible as I can. When somebody calls, I try to help" (LAS VEGAS SUN, 7/2)....Former Pacers Sports & Entertainment execs JUSTIN HUNT and MATT COOPER have formed their own marketing agency, Benchwarmers Marketing. It is a full service marketing agency with a focus on the sports and entertainment industry (Benchwarmers)....After "several failed attempts to rename busy Ashland Avenue" in Ashwaubenon, Wisc., after Packers coach MIKE MCCARTHY, village officials are "scaling down their efforts." They are "instead proposing Potts Avenue be renamed Mike McCarthy Way" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 7/2)....Sources said that a “knife-wielding homeless man went nuts” yesterday outside ABC’s N.Y. studios and said he wanted to “kill MICHAEL STRAHAN.” A source said that the man was “instantly detained by police and authorities recovered a serrated knife at the scene” (N.Y. POST, 7/2)....A fire “badly damaged a recently-renovated" Baltimore County building owned by Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK (Baltimore SUN, 7/2).
