Despite working together for "only a few years" in the late '90s, Nets and Barclays Center CEO BRETT YORMARK and Univ. of Kentucky men's basketball coach JOHN CALIPARI have "forged a strong friendship that has withstood all the successful moves they have made in their respective careers." Yormark: "I would consider [Calipari] one of my closest friends and a confidant." Yormark "consulted with Calipari before leaving the Nets for NASCAR" in '98, and asked him to "play in the first basketball game held at Barclays Center." Calipari: "To me, that loyalty and friendship means something. ... He’ll send emails at 4 in the morning. And I’m not going be up at 4 in the morning. If I’m up at 4 in the morning, it’s because I’m just coming in. In that way, we’re different" (ESPNNY.com, 12/19).
CHARITY STRIPE: Chiefs S ERIC BERRY "delivered approximately $3,500 in cash, $550 in gift cards, $400 in gift bags and $14,000 in toys to Children’s Mercy Hospital." The Eric Berry Foundation "teamed up with Baron BMW/Clore Automotive, whose donations equaled $10,000 in toys and cash" (KANSASCITY.com, 12/18)....Phillies President ANDY MACPHAIL on Friday was joined by VP & GM MATT KLENTAK and manager PETE MACKANIN at Our Brother's Place, a "homeless shelter for men," where they "helped serve meals" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/19)....Three families “were delighted to receive new furniture, toys and electronics at a special event Saturday” hosted by Heat G DWYANE WADE’s charity, The Wade’s World Foundation, the Miami Herald Wish Book program and Global Furniture in Miami Gardens (MIAMI HERALD, 12/20)....Stars C TYLER SEGUIN “teamed up with Uber” to raise money for the Dallas Stars Foundation (DALLASNEWS.com, 12/18).
NAMES: UFC fighter RONDA ROUSEY was profiled in the N.Y. TIMES’ Fashion & Style section for “The Year in Style 2015.” She has "begun to carve out a crossover career that has brought her fame well beyond the confines of her sport” (N.Y. TIMES, 12/20)....Knicks F DERRICK WILLIAMS “was robbed of $750,000 in jewelry at his Tribeca [N.Y.] apartment early Saturday -- and he’s blaming two women he took home from a Meatpacking District club earlier in the evening” (N.Y. POST, 12/20).
IN MEMORY: GEORGE MACOMBER, a member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard HOF who in ’48 and ’52 was named to the country’s Olympic ski team, “died in his sleep” last Monday in his Westwood, Mass., home at the age of 88 (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/20).
