Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES is headed into the Pro Football HOF, but he "didn't make it there without a ton of debate." The Dallas Morning News' RICK GOSSELIN, a voter on the HOF committee, "presented the case for Jones." He said, "I felt really good about the presentation, I felt really good about the homework, and I had a lot of rebuttal stuff to counter anything (other panelists) wanted to talk about his term as GM." Gosselin said that the Jones debate was a "'good give-and-take' with some pushback along the lines of Jones' term as GM but not much" (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/7).
SEEING REDS: Microsoft Founder BILL GATES and Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT were "offered the chance to buy" EPL club Liverpool "as the reign of TOM HICKS and GEORGE GILLETT came to an end" in April '10. This information was "revealed in court documents from an ongoing legal battle between a company called Mill Financial and Gillett and the Royal Bank of Scotland." Hicks and Gillett "agreed to sell Liverpool" when they were "unable to keep up with repayments of the money borrowed to purchase the club" in '07. Gates "did not respond to the approach," while Kraft "rebuffed the opportunity" (ESPNFC.com, 2/7).
ON THE DOCKET: Daytona Int'l Speedway and NASCAR have "settled a lawsuit" from Pennsylvania resident ALLEN DAVIS, who was "seriously injured when debris blasted through a fence" during an Xfinity Series race in '13. The notice of settlement "does not list the settlement amount." Davis' attorney said that his client was "left with life-altering injuries from a traumatic brain injury" (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 2/8)....New York state and federal authorities yesterday sued a company that they say "scammed sick 9/11 responders and NFL players who are receiving payouts for concussion-related injuries." The suit alleges that N.J.-based RD Legal Funding lured former NFL players with brain injuries "into costly advances on their settlements" (AP, 2/7).
GOING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: Longtime N.Y. Daily News baseball writer BILL MADDEN has made a donation of his files and research materials to the Baseball HOF and Museum. They include audio cassettes, correspondence and other items from his almost 40 years at the Daily News. The files will be preserved at the HOF’s Library, which also holds the work and papers of WENDELL SMITH, SID MERCER, JAMES ISAMINGER and DICK YOUNG (HOF).
PHIL THE THRILL: A group led by PHIL MICKELSON is “buying Chandler’s Ocotillo Golf Club with its 27 holes surrounded by man-made lakes.” Mickelson is “purchasing the links” with his long-time coach and agent STEVE LOY, his brother, former Arizona State golf coach-turned agent TIM MICKESLON and developer SPIKE LAWRENCE (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/8).
NAMES: In its Super Bowl ad for the Daytona 500, Fox “got creative” by “turning DALE EARNHARDT JR. into an animated character with ‘THE SIMPSONS.’” Earnhardt and his wife AMY were "caught off guard when they first saw it during Sunday’s game” (USATODAY.com, 2/7)....Basketball HOFer ISIAH THOMAS will “showcase Isiah Imports’ newest product, Cheurlin Thomas Champagne” during a visit today to The Palace of Auburn Hills. Palace Sports & Entertainment Vice Chair ARN TELLEM said that the champagne “would be offered at the Palace through the rest of the season” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 2/8)....Chargers.com Senior Producer JORDAN BEANE “decided to stay in San Diego and run for city council after the team relocated” to L.A. He is “switching from sports to politics, planning to run for City Council” in June ‘18 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/8)....Celtics F JAYLEN BROWN “met with middle school students” on Monday afternoon at Randolph Middle school for the “unveiling a new media arts room.” The Celtics and Alex & Ani’s Charity By Design “purchased iPads, art materials and other supplies for the media room” (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/8)....LEBRON JAMES yesterday had breakfast "at Le Pain Quotidien in Georgetown” after the Cavaliers beat the Wizards on Monday. A source said that several patrons "attempted to approach him but his body guard (gently) blocked their approach” (POLITICO.com, 2/8).
IN MEMORY: Univ. of Minnesota play-by-play announcer RAY CHRISTENSEN, a member of the College Football HOF, died Sunday afternoon at the age of 92. Christensen's son, JIM, said that his father "died of respiratory failure" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 2/7).
