Seats in MLB Giants President & CEO LARRY BAER's row at AT&T Park have over the years "become the baseball equivalent of the window seat at Le Central." Baer: "It’s become kind of fun. If you are in San Francisco, it’s become a thing to do." He has "hosted" a wide range of celebrities, including CHELSEA CLINTON, late actor ROBIN WILLIAMS, musician PAUL SIMON, political columnist GEORGE WILL and actor DANIEL RADCLIFFE. Baer said, "Radcliffe came in a big overcoat, dark glasses and a hat -- basically a disguise. And he knew nothing about baseball." Actor BENJAMIN BRATT "is a Larry row regular." Williams "had season tickets, but he would also sit with Baer" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 10/14).
TEX-MESS: Two Univ. of Texas officials "have been disciplined after an internal audit revealed the department’s top academic adviser oversaw purchases worth $28,727 over 16 years from her own antique store." UT Exec Senior Associate AD/Student Services RANDA RYAN "has received a letter of reprimand" and will not receive a 2.75% merit-based pay raise for FY '14-15. She "now oversees the football team’s academic concerns on top of her previous duties." Ryan "will not become eligible for any raises tied to those extra duties until January." UT Exec Senior Associate AD ED GOBLE also "will be reprimanded and suspended without pay for one month for 'failure to properly supervise these purchases and incorrectly advising' Ryan that the purchases were acceptable" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10/11).
THE NEXT STEP: After "a few discussions" with ATP World Tour If Stockholm Open CEO CHRISTER HULT, former tennis player ROBIN SODERLING signed on to be director of the tournament about six months ago, marking his "transition from tennis professional to tennis executive." Soderling "is primarily the face of the tournament," which began yesterday, "making regular appearances at tennis clinics and schools and other events designed to drum up interest." He has "been involved in all aspects of the tournament's planning." Soderling also has "been working on a few other projects, including the creation of his own brand of tennis balls." His tennis ball "will be used in the Stockholm Open beginning next year" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/14).
CLOSER TO THE HARTLINE: Dolphins WR BRIAN HARTLINE "studies profit margins, spreadsheets and investment risks with as much attention as he gives his passing routes." He and a grade school friend "bought two convenience stores in his native Ohio, and Hartline has been known to pitch in there" in the offseason. Dolphins Dir of Player Engagement KALEB THORNHILL, who teaches money management classes for players, said that Hartline "has been a leader in taking" the courses (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 10/11).
HONORS & AWARDS: Basketball HOFer KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR on Saturday at the Beverly Hilton presented fellow HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON with the Brass Ring award during the Carousel of Hope ball (VARIETY.com, 10/12)....Indians Owner LARRY DOLAN on Friday “will be honored with the St. Thomas More Award by the Catholic Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland” (OHIO.com, 10/12)....The Knicks named former NBAer FELIPE LOPEZ the recipient of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award for the month of October for his ongoing work to bring basketball to the five boroughs (Knicks).
CHARITY STRIPE: Former Olympians TOMMIE SMITH and JOHN CARLOS, along with Int’l Tennis HOFer BILLIE JEAN KING, “came together Saturday night at a swanky fundraiser for the athletic program at Cal State L.A.” (L.A. TIMES, 10/14)….The Surfboards on Parade event at the Waterfront Hilton in Huntington Beach, Calif., raised more than $100,000 Saturday night for “various charities” (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 10/14)….Former NHLer BRENT PETERSON recently started the “Pay it to Parkinson’s” campaign, and hopes it “catches on in the public eye like the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.” The campaign continued at Saturday night's Stars-Predators game at Bridgestone Arena when “17,500 green coins were distributed to fans in attendance.” The coins “direct the bearer to the website … where donations can be made to the Peterson Foundation for Parkinson's” (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 10/13).
NAMES: A source said that actor LUKE WILSON “is in negotiations” to play NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL in Sony’s “untitled football concussion movie, which stars WILL SMITH and is being produced by RIDLEY SCOTT” (THEWRAP.com, 10/9)….Hockey HOFer WAYNE GRETZKY “was in Calgary on Saturday afternoon to unveil his new Breitling limited-edition watch” (CALGARYSUN.com, 10/13)….Accumulated profits at Boyport Services, the commercial firm owned by golfer GRAEME MCDOWELL, “last year soared” by $3.29M to $13.2M. The value of the firm’s assets in ’13 “more than tripled,” increasing from $3M to $9.3M. McDowell’s career “has been steered” by CONOR RIDGE’s Horizon Sports Management agency “before McDowell recently announced that he wouldn’t be renewing the contract that runs to the end of the year” (IRISHEXAMINER.com, 10/11)….Sources said that the Univ. of Georgia “has arranged for more than $75,000 in insurance premiums to be paid” for RB TODD GURLEY in the case of an injury on or off the playing field, “including a nearly $40,000 policy this year through International Specialty Insurance” (ESPN.com, 10/12).
IN MEMORY: Former Rochester Democrat & Chronicle sports reporter ALEX LOJ, whose “passion was covering soccer as a reporter and radio analyst,” died Saturday at the age of 69 (DEMOCRATANDCHRONICLE.com, 10/12).
