Golf HOFer JACK NICKLAUS and wife, BARBARA, who chairs the North Palm Beach-based Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, yesterday announced a $60M pledge to Miami Children’s Health System. The Miami-based pediatric hospital system will "change its name" to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, effective in March. Two pediatric medical centers in Broward County are "named for famous athlete-philanthropists: Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, and Chris Evert Children’s Hospital" in Ft. Lauderdale. But Nicklaus' "will be the first in Miami" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/4).
AWARDS & HONORS: Wizards and Capitals Owner TED LEONSIS on Monday received the U.S. Sports Academy's Theodore Roosevelt Meritorious Achievement Award in DC. The award is given annually to an individual who has excelled as a contributor to both sport and society over at least a decade (U.S. Sports Academy)....Nike CEO MARK PARKER was named the Portland Business Journal's CEO of the Year (PORTLAND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 1/30 issue).
NAMES: ECW Press of Toronto this week released "BLACK ICE: THE VAL JAMES STORY," about the first U.S.-born black NHLer. James and author JOHN GALLAGHER co-wrote the book, which "includes graphic descriptions of racist behavior directed at James" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/4)....Bears WR BRANDON MARSHALL was seen in NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL's suite on Sunday during Super Bowl XLIX. An NFL spokesperson said that Marshall "attended the Super Bowl in a separate suite near the commissioner's, and that Marshall stopped by [to] say hello" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 2/3)....South Carolina women’s basketball coach DAWN STALEY has been “sworn in as an Honorary Deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department” (South Carolina)....Season 10 of “THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY” will feature the spouses of Angels LF JOSH HAMILTON and former MLBer JIM EDMONDS (SI.com, 2/3)....Bucks F KENYON MARTIN has put his Woodland Hills, Calif., home on the market for $1.85M (LATIMES.com, 2/3)....Golfer HUNTER MAHAN “has sold his golf course home” in Coto de Caza, Calif., for $1.68M. Mahan “put the home on the market in November” for $1.799M after paying $1.52M for the property in ’08 (LATIMES.com, 2/3).
IN MEMORY: Golf HOFer CHARLIE SIFFORD, the “first African-American to play on the PGA Tour,” died yesterday in Cleveland at 92. His son, CHARLIE JR., said that he had “suffered a minor stroke three weeks ago.” Sifford in November “received the Presidential Medal of Freedom” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 2/4). Sifford "went on to win two titles" on Tour and was inducted into the HOF in '04 (OREGONLIVE.com, 2/3).
