The neuropathologist who oversaw Ewen's first test was an expert witness for the NHL in CTE-related litigationGETTY IMAGES
Late NHLer TODD EWEN was "posthumously diagnosed" earlier this year by a Boston Univ. neuropathlogist with CTE, a development that "contradicts the findings of a Toronto doctor two years ago" that stated Ewen did not have the disease. When Ewen's tests were initially negative, the NHL "pointed to his case as an example that the narrative about a connection between head trauma and long-term brain diseases was dangerously speculative" (TSN.ca, 11/30). The neuropathologist who oversaw the first test, LILI-NAZ HAZRATI, was an expert witness for the NHL in CTE-related litigation, a "potential conflict of interest" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/1).
POSITIVE INFLUENCE: Indiana State football player JAKE BAIN's "very public coming out last fall" was an act that "continues to shape his life." During a 13-minute speech to his entire high school last year, Bain "implored his classmates to be themselves." With that speech, Bain "became an accidental activist determined to change the national conversation about gay youths." He receives as many as "50 messages a week from as far as Australia and from teenagers in countries where it is illegal to be gay" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/2).
SHARK WEEK: GREG NORMAN made a minority interest investment in Denver-based tech company Edison Interactive and will also join the company's BOD. Norman and his investing partner, DAVID CHESSLER, will provide the company with $10.7M, including $9.5M in debt financing for new initiatives. Edison Interactive specializes in developing custom brand experiences for mobile environments. They focus on innovating the digital experience in rideshares, rental vehicles, golf cars, airplanes, corporate housing and other verticals (Edison Interactive).
Estopinal died in a private jet that crashed north of the Louisville International Airport Friday morningRON BATH
FAREWELL TO A FOUNDER: Orlando City SC and Louisville City FC Founder WAYNE ESTOPINAL, 63, was "among the dead" in a private jet that "crashed about 15 miles north of the Louisville International Airport Friday morning," The plane was "flying to Chicago Midway Airport when it disappeared from air traffic radar" (ABC7CHICAGO.com, 11/30). Orlando City CEO ALEX LEITAO called Estopinal a "gentleman, a friend, that deeply loved" the club. Estopinal "remained an active minority owner," as well as part of the club’s BOD (PROSOCCERUSA.com, 11/30).
NAMES: The N.Y. Times in its holiday books recommendations listed five sports titles. Those books were "THE LAST TEMPTATION OF RICK PITINO" by MICHAEL SOKOLOVE; "TIGERBELLE" by WYOMIA TYUS & ELIZABETH TERZAKIS; "TIGERLAND" by WILL HAYGOOD; "THE GAME" by GEORGE HOWE COLT; and "FOOTBALL FOR A BUCK" by JEFF PEARLMAN (NYTIMES.com, 11/29)....SERENA WILLIAMS visited the Yetunde Price Resource Center in Compton Friday, where she “spoke to a rapt audience of about 20 African American women” (LATIMES.com, 11/30)....NFL Panthers Owner DAVID TEPPER was in attendance for the Clemson-Pitt ACC Championship Game at Bank of America Stadium. Tepper, a Pitt Alumnus, was “fully clad in light blue Pitt colors” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/2)....Broncos LB VON MILLER and the team have committed more than $200,000 to Colorado Springs-based nonprofit Shield616. The donation “will provide more than 125 protective kits for first responders” to mass shootings (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/30)....Thunder G TERRANCE FERGUSON on Saturday “helped a family with eight children” on a grocery shopping trip, the “second of four such grocery shopping sprees the Thunder have scheduled for this season” as part of their Holiday Assist program. The team “pairs up one family and one player” (NEWSOK.com, 12/1).
