Saints and Pelicans Owner TOM BENSON was "doing very well" yesterday morning after spending Sunday night at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. Benson is scheduled to return home today and will be "back in the office at some point in the latter part of the week" (NOLA.com, 10/30).
FOAM PARTY: Former NFLer NATE LAWRIE "debuted The Morph foam roller on Sunday night's episode" of "Shark Tank" on ABC. Lawrie, a Yale grad, "told investors he started to use foam rollers to relieve tension and pain in his lower back following a back injury that kept him out of the playoffs" in '06. Lawrie and his business partner, TOM HOPKINS, accepted a deal from SARA BLAKELY and LORI GREINER, who "offered a combined $250,000 investment in exchange" for a 20% ownership stake in the company (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 10/31).
GIVING BACK: Warriors G KLAY THOMPSON said that his agent, Wasserman's GREG LAWRENCE, "gave him the idea of making a donation to aid Northern California fire victims." Thompson then "took it to the next level" and partnered with Redwood Credit North Bay Fire Relief Fund "through a performance-based donation." Total pledges through Thompson’s Points with Purpose "reached nearly $305,000 from nearly 100 donors late Sunday night." The goal is to raise $350,000 (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 10/30)....Golfer CHARLEY HOFFMAN, who went to UNLV and lives in Las Vegas, will "donate his entire earnings" from this week's PGA Tour Shriners Hospital for Children Open to victims of the Oct. 1 mass shooting (GOLF.com, 10/30).
NAMES: A trial in the civil lawsuit that accuses Giants QB ELI MANNING of memorabilia fraud has been "rescheduled to start on March 26" (NEWSDAY, 10/31)....Florida football coach JIM MCELWAIN was fired yesterday, but the school and coach are "still on the hook for annual payments" to Colorado State under terms of the $7M buyout for breaking McElwain's contract with CSU following the '14 season (COLORADOAN.com, 10/30)....Fox Sports Exec VP/Communications TERRI HINES will be honored by Women in Cable Telecommunications at the '17 LEA Awards on Thursday night in L.A. (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 10/30 issue)....Former Marlins Owner JEFFREY LORIA before selling the team sued private jet company JPS, claiming it “showed up with low-quality replacement planes when the main jet broke down” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/30)....The Chiefs “named their broadcast booth” for Pro Football HOFer and longtime radio broadcaster LEN DAWSON (KANSASCITY.com, 10/30)....A's C BRUCE MAXWELL has been “arrested after a female food delivery person alleged he pointed a gun at her.” He was “held in custody pending an initial appearance.” Maxwell was the only player in MLB this year to “take a knee during the national anthem” (AP, 10/29)....F1 driver LEWIS HAMILTON “celebrated at Miami club LIV” following the Mexico Grand Prix on Sunday, where he secured his fourth F1 title (NYPOST.com, 10/30).
IN MEMORY: Former San Diego State Univ. AD FRED MILLER passed away on Oct. 22 at his home in Oregon. Miller was hired by SDSU in December '85. Before coming to SDSU, Miller was AD at Arizona State and Long Beach State. He is in the athletic HOF of “all three schools.” Miller had “extensive experience serving on the NCAA TV Committee.” SDSU’s on-campus basketball facility and student center "became Miller’s most visible impact at the university" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/31).
