Sources said that following the Red Sox’ World Series win on Sunday, the team received a “police escort” to the West Hollywood club Nightengale. A source said, “One neighboring VIP-client was so excited, he sent over $100,000 in champagne to the players.” Also in the club that night were players from both the Rams and Clippers (NYPOST.com, 10/29). Meanwhile, the Red Sox’ victory “settled a friendly wager” between Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo and the L.A. Zoo, which has “agreed to name a baby kangaroo 'Sox'" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 10/30).
MORE THAN AN ATHLETE: Showtime has "released a trailer for its compelling new documentary series, 'SHUT UP AND DRIBBLE.'" The series, which was executive produced by LEBRON JAMES and SpringHill Entertainment CEO MAVERICK CARTER, "examines how pro basketball players, over time, have taken control of their own brands and have helped to bring about social change while using their platforms for a broader purpose." The trailer "spotlights a number of NBA players who have spoken out against social injustice." The series premieres on Saturday at 9:00pm ET (MERCURYNEWS.com, 10/29).
RAISING AWARENESS: NFL Jets TE JORDAN LEGGETT is honoring the memory of late high school player TAYLOR HAUGEN with his "Touchdowns For Taylor" campaign, whre he will work with Haugen's parents and the Taylor Haugen Foundation to "raise awareness about abdominal injuries in youth football and trying to educate parents, players and coaches about how to better prevent them." Haugen died in '08 after sustaining an abdominal injury during a game. Leggett started "Touchdowns For Taylor" last season through the sports fundraising platform Pledge It, with donors "contributing money for every touchdown catch by the Jets this season" (AP, 10/30).
NAMES: Rockets Owner TILMAN FERTITTA, along with Catch Hospitality Group partners MARK BIRNBAUM and EUGENE REMM, launched Catch Las Vegas at Aria Resort & Casino on Friday. VIP attendees at the restaurant opening included FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. and Yankees DH GIANCARLO STANTON (CHRON.com, 10/29)....ESPN’s JESSICA MENDOZA was voted into the National Softball HOF in Oklahoma City on Sunday (ESPN.com, 10/28)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast ALY RAISMAN will be a keynote speaker at this year’s Massachusetts Conference for Women, held Dec. 5-6 (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 10/29)....Austin City Council member LESLIE POOL was "among the spectators" on Sunday for the Crew’s regular-season finale at Mapfre Stadium. Her visit to Columbus was "more about closing the loop on an emotional year." Pool has been a "critic" of Crew Owner ANTHONY PRECOURT and what she has described as a lack of transparency" in his efforts to bring an MLS team to Austin (DISPATCH.com, 10/29)....NFL Cardinals President MICHAEL BIDWILL attended Georgetown Prep’s annual reunion weekend in DC (N.Y. TIMES, 10/29).
