In San Jose, Marcus Thompson II profiles Warriors co-Owner JOE LACOB, who four years into his tenure "still sees" his purchase of the franchise "as a dream come true." Lacob: "I did say in five years, my goal is to totally turn this thing around." Thompson writes Lacob is "pulling off what he said he would." Thompson: "Even if in his own way. Four years after he took over, the Warriors are no longer a punch line, but a good team and a respected organization. ... He's boisterous. He's demanding. He can rub some the wrong way. But it's born of an exaggerated, foam-at-the-mouth passion -- and that's what's powered the revitalization of the Warriors" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 11/14).
GET WELL SOON: Big 12 Commissioner BOB BOWLSBY had a detached retina in his left eye discovered by doctors "in early October, and his first surgery for the condition "put Bowlsby in a bed, face-down for two weeks." Bowlsby then "had another surgery in late October followed up by what he termed two 'minor' procedures." Bowlsby said that as a result, he "was forced to cancel 'nine or 10' trips because of his procedures and recovery," including last month's Big 12 basketball media days in K.C. (FOXSPORTSSOUTHWEST.com, 11/11).
WELCOME TO THE CLUB: IBM CEO VIRGINIA ROMETTY "has joined" former U.S. Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE and South Carolina-based financier DARLA MOORE as the third female member of Augusta National. Rice and Moore in '12 "were invited to be Augusta's first female members." Two Augusta National members said that Rometty "was seen hitting balls at the range last Friday at the club." With the "exception of its landmark announcement of Rice and Moore joining as members, the club has not commented on club memberships" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 11/13).
DELIVERING A MESSAGE: The SEC and the Big East "will both post a public service announcement on online social media platforms, including YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, imploring young men to intervene and help prevent sexual assaults." The PSA, narrated by actor JON HAMM, "will also be displayed at the SEC’s football conference championship game and during the Big East’s men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments" (THEHILL.com, 11/13).
NAMES: Oilers subsidiary Ontario Major Junior Hockey Corp. filed a $4.5M suit in U.S. District Court in Erie, Penn., against OHL Erie Otters Owner SHERRY BASSIN, claiming that Bassin "failed to carry out a 2011 deal to sell the Otters" to it. The Oilers subsidiary "would have moved the team to Hamilton, Ontario." The subsidiary is claiming that it loaned Bassin $4.2M in advance of the sale, but that Bassin "never completed his part of the deal, including getting" the OHL's approval (ERIE TIMES-NEWS, 11/13)....NASCAR team Owner RICK HENDRICK said that he “will encourage the business community to provide more sponsorships and volunteers” for his company’s new project, partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank for “Together We Feed Charlotte” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/14)....Royals GM DAYTON MOORE and LF ALEX GORDON “will take part in a Kansas City tradition this Thanksgiving -- flipping the switch at the 85th annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony” (K.C. STAR, 11/14)....Royals P AARON CROW on Thursday "pitched in with a crew from the Royals' work force to serve a Thanksgiving meal to folks in need" at K.C.'s City Union Mission (MLB.com, 11/13)....Late Baseball HOFer HARMON KILLEBREW is “being considered to be immortalized on a stamp” by the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/14)….D-Backs Chief Baseball Officer TONY LA RUSSA “has purchased a home” in Monrovia, Calif., for $717,500 (L.A. TIMES, 11/13).
