GOLF.com's Josh Sens reviewed TIGER WOODS' new Florida restaurant and noted it has "been killing it," with crowds "as thick as a Tiger gallery." The vibe at The Woods Jupiter "verges on euphoric," and all of the staff "wears sports attire adorned with swooshes." The decor is "understated, the splashiest feature being a glassed-in wine collection set into a wall." In a "welcome departure for a restaurant of this genre, The Woods holds off on fascistic celebrations of its namesake." Instead, displays of memorabilia "are tastefully restrained." The restaurant is "a debonair setting, despite the 40 flat screens arrayed around it: a sports bar gone to finishing school" (GOLF.com, 8/26).
LARRY'S TRAVELS: Warriors Corporate Communications Assistant MASSIMO DEGAUDENZI this summer is the "caretaker" for the Larry O'Brien championship trophy, which has been "traveling all around the country to represent" the team. The trophy has "even been to a Costco bathroom in Coralville, Iowa." The trophy's schedule "picks up in September," as it is going to a Washington State football game with Warriors G KLAY THOMPSON, a Vanderbilt football game with C FESTUS EZELI and a North Carolina football game with F JAMES MICHAEL MCADOO. The trophy also is "scheduled to appear" at Charlotte Christian high school with Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY. Someone from the Warriors' PR department is with the trophy "every step of the way." Warriors VP/Communications RAYMOND RIDDER is "the gate-keeper." The trophy "slept with" Warriors co-Owner JOE LACOB and his fiancee, NICOLE CURRAN the night the team won the title. Warriors Assistant GM KIRK LACOB, Joe's son, said, "I told (director of team services) ERIC HOUSEN to give that thing a Purell bath" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 8/27).
CAPITAL GAINS: Sources said that WME-IMG co-CEOs PATRICK WHITESELL and ARI EMANUEL are "launching a venture capital fund." The move to "raise what a source pegs" at about $150M "would allow WME, which is majority owned by private-equity fund Silver Lake, to formalize its startup-backing strategy and create a designated pool from which to invest." WME has been "making startup investments over the last several years guided by the leadership" of Head of Digital DAN PORTER. Investments coming out of WME Ventures during the past few years "include Uber, reservations app Reserve, valet parking company Luxe and live broadcasting app Meerkat" (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 9/4 issue).
LEAGUE INITIATIVES: Baseball HOFer FRANK ROBINSON appeared in Baltimore yesterday with MLB Commissioner ROB MANFRED and Mayor STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE at "one of the first of scores of Play Ball youth clinics being hosted around the country" by MLB and the U.S. Conference of Mayors (Baltimore SUN, 8/27)....NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL last night in Fairfield, Conn., was “holding tackling dummies as young Pop Warner players worked on their technique.” Goodell “spent about two hours at the field, talking with coaches and administrators, touring the drills for different age groups” (STAMFORD ADVOCATE, 8/27).
NAMES: The legacy of late Mount St. Joseph basketball player LAUREN HILL and the fight to raise funds for pediatric cancer “will continue with an annual women's basketball classic,” as Xavier and Hill’s former team “will open their respective seasons Nov. 14 at Cintas Center in the first Lauren Hill Tipoff Classic.” The event “will be televised” on FS Ohio, and ticket proceeds “will benefit The Cure Starts Now Foundation” (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 8/27)....NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE and his wife, AMY, have donated $1M to Providence Day School in Charlotte, the private school their kids attend (The Luke & Meadow Foundation)....Former U.S. Olympic runner SUZY FAVOR HAMILTON “will release a memoir next month that will touch on the mental-health issues that compelled” her to “lead a double life as a Las Vegas call girl.” It is titled “FAST GIRL” (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 8/27).
IN MEMORY: CFL B.C. Lions co-Founder VICTOR SPENCER “has died at the age of 90” (CP, 8/26).
