NFL Panthers Dir of Pro Personnel MATT ALLEN is the last member of former Owner JERRY RICHARDSON's family to be "with the organization." One Panthers official said that he is "not sure" Owner DAVID TEPPER even knew Allen was Richardson's grandson when he bought the team. That is "not surprising to current and former Panthers players and officials, who say Allen has never flaunted his famous family connections while working." Panthers C RYAN KALIL said, "He's put in a lot of work here. He wasn't gifted the position he has today. He's been a hard worker since as long as I've known him" (THEATHLETIC.com, 10/31).
Records show Jones gave Pete Sessions' campaign the $2,700 maximum for the Republican primary election
TEXAS TWO STEP: Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES has "spent thousands" in support of Texas State Rep. PETE SESSIONS, a Republican who "represents his wealthy and exclusive neighborhood north of downtown Dallas." Running against Sessions for the 32nd District of Texas is former NFLer COLIN ALLRED, who is "backed" by the NFLPA. Polls show the race as a "toss-up." Records show Jones "gave the Sessions campaign the $2,700 maximum for the Republican primary election this year and another $2,700 in September." His wife, GENE, daughter CHARLOTTE JONES ANDERSON and son JERRY JONES JR., also each "gave the individual maximum of $2,700 to Sessions for the primary election and again for the general election." The NFLPA's PAC "donated the committee maximum of $5,000" to Allred's and other campaigns after "collecting contributions from many NFL players," including Patriots QB TOM BRADY and 49ers CB RICHARD SHERMAN (USA TODAY, 11/1).
SHOE WORLD: Footwear News released its annual "Power List," which ranks the "most powerful people in the footwear business." The list included Adidas CEO KASPER RORSTED (2), Footlocker Chair, President & CEO DICK JOHNSON (4), New Balance Chair JIM DAVIS and outgoing President & CEO ROB DEMARTINI (14), Puma CEO BJORN GULDEN (33), Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK (46), Dick's Sporting Goods Chair & CEO ED STACK (45), Fila Chair GENE YOON and Fila North America President JON EPSTEIN (62), Brooks Running CEO JIM WEBER (63), Asics America President & CEO GENE MCCARTHY (76) and SERENA WILLIAMS (108) (FOOTWEARNEWS.com, 10/30).
NAMES: Several Red Sox players celebrated their World Series win by "hitting Boston nightclub Icon on Tuesday," including RF MOOKIE BETTS, DH J.D. MARTINEZ, SS XANDER BOGAERTS, 2B EDUARDO NUNEZ, LF ANDREW BENINTENDI and P RICK PORCELLO. A source said that the group "rolled up to the club at around midnight and 'took turns spraying the crowd with champagne.'" The players "partied with over $300,000 worth of booze" (NYPOST.com, 10/31)....MLB Commissioner Emeritus BUD SELIG will be the Univ. of Wisconsin's winter commencement speaker on Dec. 16 at the Kohl Center (JSONLINE.com, 10/31)....BSE Global CEO BRETT YORMARK yesterday told Manhattan federal court jurors that he "never agreed to a contract for bulk ticket sales" that former WFAN-AM host CRAIG CARTON used to persuade a hedge fund to invest in his ticket resale business. Former BSE COO FRED MANGIONE "echoed Yormark" (NEWSDAY.com, 10/31)....The late PAT TILLMAN will be among the Arizona Sports HOF's six-member ’18 class set to be inducted tonight (AZCENTRAL.com, 10/31)....Zoo Miami said that if fans of ESPN Radio’s "DAN LE BATARD SHOW” could raise $10,000 during Communications Dir RON MAGILL's weekly appearance on the show Tuesday, it would “name its new baby hippo after Le Batard.” But Le Batard said that Disney lawyers "stepped in and rejected the idea.” He said the company has a “policy against naming animals after personalities” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 10/31).
IN MEMORY: Baseball HOFer WILLIE MCCOVEY, 80, died yesterday at Stanford Hospital after a “battle with ongoing health issues.” McCovey “spent 19 of his 22 major-league seasons with the Giants and became one of the most beloved players in franchise history.” When the Giants moved into AT&T Park in ’00, the name McCovey Cove -- an idea of sportswriters MARK PURDY and LEONARD KOPPETT -- “quickly took hold” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 11/1). More than 30 years after his retirement, McCovey "endured as a Giants presence.” Although using a wheelchair, he “attended virtually every Giants home game as a senior adviser” (N.Y. TIMES, 11/1). Any “longtime local fan” will say that McCovey was the “first non-inherited Giants star” (MERCURYNEWS.com, 10/31). The Giants said that a public celebration of McCovey’s life "will be announced at a later date” (MERCURYNEWS.com, 10/31).
