Penguins VP/Communications TOM MCMILLAN has written a book on Flight 93, which crashed in Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. In writing "FLIGHT 93: THE STORY, THE AFTERMATH, AND THE LEGACY OF AMERICAN COURAGE ON 9/11," McMillan estimates he "made about 20 trips to the crash site." He was "fascinated by the story of what happened when passengers tried to take back the hijacked plane," and writing a book was "not part of his plan." That began when family members of the crash victims "asked the Penguins to honor Somerset coroner WALLY MILLER, a season ticketholder, at a game." Originally, McMillan "expected to self-publish the book, but quickly realized there was enough interest in this event to attract an agent and a mainstream publisher" in Lyons Publishing (USA TODAY, 12/1).
NEXT IN LINE: A former Illinois high school QB "followed in the steps of one-time pro and college players Saturday by suing a sports governing body -- in this case the Illinois High School Association -- saying it didn't do enough to protect him from concussions when he played and still doesn't do enough to protect current players." The lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Cook by former Notre Dame College Prep QB DANIEL BUKAL, is "the first instance in which legal action has been taken for former high school football players as a whole against a group responsible for overseeing prep sports in a state" (AP, 11/29).
MIC CHECK: Cubs radio play-by-play man PAT HUGHES has "put together individual CDs capturing the greatest audio highlights from some of the most influential baseball broadcasters of all-time." He calls it, “Baseball Voices, Hall of Fame Series.” He has "created CDs for legends" such as late Cubs broadcaster HARRY CARAY, late Yankees announcer MEL ALLEN and late Phillies announcer HARRY KALAS. His "most recent one" is of late Orioles play-by-play man CHUCK THOMPSON, which also includes a "few Baltimore Colts calls and a snippet" of Thompson's Baseball HOF speech (BALTIMORESUN.com, 11/29).
AWARDS & HONORS: Washington State Univ. on Saturday inducted former NFLer STEVE GLEASON into its Athletic HOF (THENEWSTRIBUNE.com, 11/29)....Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON will receive the second annual American Icon Award from Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital on Jan. 15 at The Diplomat Resort & Spa in Hollywood (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 11/28)....Members of the CFL Ottawa RedBlacks ownership group, including ROGER GREENBERG, JEFF HUNT, JOHN PUGH, JOHN RUDDY and BILL SHENKMAN, were presented with the '14 Commissioner's Award on Thursday. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan Roughriders President & CEO JIM HOPSON was honored with the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award (CFL).
NAMES: Pirates CF ANDREW MCCUTCHEN and fiancee MARIA HANSLOVAN were married Nov. 22 (TRIBLIVE.com, 11/24)....Tennis player ANDY MURRAY and girlfriend KIM SEARS got engaged last week (SI.com, 11/26)....NHRA driver COURTNEY FORCE on Thursday via Twitter announced her engagement to Verizon IndyCar Series driver GRAHAM RAHAL (AP, 11/27)....Colts Owner JIM IRSAY yesterday pledged $1M to the United Way during halftime of Redskins-Colts. His daughter, KALEN, "now serves" on the United Way BOD. Jim Irsay has "donated a portion of ticket sales from one Colts game a year for several years, totaling nearly $500,000" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 12/1)....The Buccaneers have donated $2,500 to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital in honor of Bengals DT DEVON STILL’s daughter, LEAH (CBSSPORTS.com, 11/30)....Former LOCOG Chair SEBASTIAN COE declared his candidacy to run for presidency of the Int'l Association of Athletics Federations next year, “setting up a likely election battle” against former Ukrainian Olympic pole vaulter SERGEI BUBKA (AP, 11/27)....Islanders C JOHN TAVARES and RW KYLE OKPOSO today will buy gifts at a Toys “R” Us in Long Island for kids in area hospitals (NYPOST.com, 11/30)....Former MLBer DAVID WELLS listed two mansions in the Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. area. The first was a 9,670-square-foot property that listed for $7.69M in October. The second was a 12,400-square-foot property last listed in May for roughly $8M (WALL STREET JOUNRAL, 11/26)....ESPN NBA analyst AVERY JOHNSON sold his Woodlands, Texas, home for $6.1M -- about “32% less than his original commanded price” (LATIMES.com, 11/28).
