Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON will be an honoree at the Echo Foundation's 16th annual awards program on Sept. 10, where he "will receive the Echo Award Against Indifference for his business and civic contributions, along with his often-anonymous and behind-the-scenes efforts to help others." Echo Foundation President STEPHANIE ANSALDO said that most of the public "has no idea how many people Richardson has helped." Ansaldo: "I have a packet of about 40 letters of congratulations and stories about what he has done" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/3).
TOM TERRIFIC: Saints Owner TOM BENSON yesterday was honored "with a statue of himself on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome's grand staircase, overlooking Champions Square." The bronze statue portrays Benson "in a suit smiling and holding the Vince Lombardi Trophy aloft." It was "sculpted by artist BRIAN HANLON" and stands about 10 feet, weighing 1,500 pounds (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 9/3).
YOU'RE ON MY LIST: In N.Y., Bart Hubbuch lists a "highly subjective ranking of the 50 most fascinating people in the NFL." No. 3 is Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES. The Cowboys "might be dull on the field, but their owner never is." If any other owner "is caught on film in compromising positions with comely young things, it’s a scandal." But for Jones, it is "just another day in Jerry World." Meanwhile, Redskins Owner DANIEL SNYDER is No. 9 on the list. You "can’t take your eyes off him because you never know when he’s going to say something stupid in defense of the Redskins’ name or come up with some innovative way to gouge his customers." Hubbuch: "Snyder is an awful owner and a petty, vindictive person, but rarely boring" (N.Y. POST, 9/3).
