LEBRON JAMES has landed "another scripted show" with NBC, as his SpringHill Entertainment on Thursday announced it has "inked a deal" for a project titled, "THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD." The half-hour comedy series would "follow the first white family to move into a 'predominantly black, newly gentrifying neighborhood in Cleveland.'" This is SpringHill's second deal with NBC in as many weeks (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 9/23).
HOUSTON'S FINEST: In Houston, Dale Robertson profiles Texans President JAMEY ROOTES, who likely "wears more hats and has more plates in the air this fall than does any other franchise president in any sport." Rootes "insists the business side and the football will always be joined at the hip." He has helped add "all the wonderful amenities" at NRG Stadium, including a new WiFi system and "fancy food spots." Texans Owner BOB MCNAIR: "(He is) so critical to our organization. That's our lifeblood" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/23).
GIVING BACK: Orioles P KEVIN GAUSMAN "presented a check" for $31,776 to the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, the results of a fundraiser that he and several former LSU baseball players "spearheaded then matched as a way to support the region after last month's floods" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 9/22)....Steelers QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER this week announced a grant from the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund for the Willingboro Township Police. They will use the grant funds to add a dual purpose K-9 to their unit (The Giving Back Fund)....Former MLBer TORII HUNTER on Nov. 14 will host the Urban Youth Foundation Celebrity Golf Invitational at Wilshire Country Club in L.A. The fundraising event is in support of the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. (MLB).
RECOGNIZING GREATNESS: Wisconsin AD BARRY ALVAREZ on Jan. 11 in Houston will be presented with the '17 Paul "Bear" Bryant Lifetime Achievement Award (Wisconsin)....Former Jackson Clarion-Ledger sports columnist RICK CLEVELAND is being inducted to the Mississippi Sports HOF (CLARIONLEDGER.com, 9/22).
NAMES: Chargers LB MELVIN INGRAM has signed with Roc Nation Sports for representation (THE DAILY)....MICHAEL PHELPS and BILL MURRAY will join actors KURT RUSSELL, ROB RIGGLE and other stars in the Ryder Cup’s "Celebrity Match on Tuesday in Chaska, Minn.” (Baltimore SUN, 9/23)....Film company Roadside Attractions has “acquired the U.S. rights to golfing origins movie ‘TOMMY’S HONOUR’ from Gutta Percha Productions.” The story “centers on Scottish golfer TOM MORRIS’ relationship with his son TOMMY” (VARIETY.com, 9/22)....THE BAND PERRY will perform prior to this year’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 20 (Homestead-Miami Speedway)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY and wife GISELE BUNDCHEN on Wednesday attended the premiere of the National Geographic Channel series "YEARS OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY" at the American Museum of Natural History in N.Y. (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 9/22).
IN MEMORY: Former USA Hockey President and Minnesota North Stars Founder WALTER BUSH "died Thursday" at the age of 86. He was enshrined in the U.S. Hockey HOF in '80, the Hockey HOF in '00 and the IIHF HOF in '09. Bush also won the Lester Patrick Trophy in '73 "for his contributions to the sport" in the U.S. As USA Hockey President, Bush "played a large role in the addition of women's hockey to the Olympics" in '98 (AP, 9/22).
