The first game of the PATRICK EWING era at Georgetown yesterday saw "various NBA luminaries and notable Hoyas alumni part of a lively Capital One Arena crowd" of 9,212 for the new coach's debut. Among those in attendance were Basketball HOFers MICHAEL JORDAN, DIKEMBE MUTOMBO and ALONZO MOURNING, Wizards coach SCOTT BROOKS and ESPN's JEFF VAN GUNDY (WASHINGTON POST, 11/13). Jordan was also at DC-based Cafe Milano's 25th anniversary celebration over the weekend, as was N.Y. Times columnist MAUREEN DOWD (POLITICO.com, 11/11).
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Kraft's party at Gillette Stadium
featured a performance by Elton John |
OWNERS IN THE NEWS: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT last week hosted a party at Gillette Stadium that featured a performance by his "good friend" SIR ELTON JOHN, who played "without a band" for about 90 minutes. Among those in attendance were former GE CEO JACK WELCH and wife SUZY WETLAUFER, Celtics Managing Partner WYC GROUSBECK and wife EMILIA FAZZALARI, Bank of America Vice Chair ANNE FINUCANE, Viacom Vice Chair SHARI REDSTONE and ACE Ticket CEO JIM HOLZMAN (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/11)....Wild Vice Chair JAC SPERLING has "moved from Minneapolis to Denver and divested his interest" in the team (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 11/12)....Bears VP BRIAN MCCASKEY, who "suffers from hearing loss," recently shared his "passion for advocacy as an ambassador for HearStrong, a foundation supporting hearing healthcare" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/11).
VIABLE OPTION? Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN said that he has “corresponded on multiple occasions” since the ’16 election with former White House Chief Strategist STEVE BANNON. Sources said that the two have “been in touch for months" about a possible ’20 presidential bid. The sources said that Bannon “encouraged Cuban to run and to consider doing so as a Democrat, seeing it as a realistic path to a viable presidential run” (THEDAILYBEAST.com, 11/10).
CHARITY STRIPE: For every assist recorded by Rockets G JAMES HARDEN, Adidas will "pledge $100 to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund." The company's donations are "projected to reach $80,000" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/10)....Astros C BRIAN MCCANN and his wife ASHLEY "hosted the Rally Foundation’s annual Benefit Bash on Friday night at the Georgia Aquarium." The foundation is a nonprofit organization that “raises awareness and funds for childhood cancer research.” The silent auction Friday raised over $1M (AJC.com, 11/11).
NAMES: Penn State AD SANDY BARBOUR has received a raise, making her yearly salary $735,420 (Penn State)....Hornets GM RICH CHO in July launched a website called bigtimebites.com, where he can “recommend where you should eat.” The site “bills itself the ‘Arena for Food Scouts,’ and everything about it is sports-themed” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/12)....The NBA Kings yesterday “made an excursion” to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in DC. The team plays the Wizards at Capital One Arena tonight (SACRAMENTO BEE, 11/13)....The IOC last week said that it is “looking into allegations of sexual assault and harassment” against former IOC member ALEX GILADY stemming from his work as a TV exec in Israel (AP, 11/9)....Red Sox RF MOOKIE BETTS bowled a 300 in qualifying for the GEICO PBA World Series of Bowling yesterday (PBA)....UFC President DANA WHITE and DAVID SPADE "posed for a picture" at The Chelsea in The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas over the weekend. The two were there to see ADAM SANDLER perform (BOSTON HERALD, 11/13)....NHL Panthers Exec Chair PETER LUUKKO last night received the Business of Hockey Institute's Certified Hockey Professional designation, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the business of hockey (BHI).
