Belichick upon receiving an award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance praised the leadership of John WootenGETTY IMAGES
Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK was "given an unexpected honor" at the NFL Combine on Thursday, "receiving the Game Ball award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance for his commitment to diversity." Belichick was "surprised to learn he won the award, and was not able to accept it in person, as he did not arrive in Indianapolis until Friday." Belichick "thanked the Alliance in a video message that was played at the luncheon" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 3/2). Belichick in the video "praised the leadership" of retiring FPA Chair JOHN WOOTEN, as well as Exec Dir HARRY CARSON, who is "set to expand his presence with the organization" (ESPN.com, 3/2).
HONORS & AWARDS: Bucks GM JON HORST, 35, was named to the Milwaukee Business Journal's 40 Under 40 list. Horst is the "second-youngest" GM in the NBA, and one of only three who are under age 40 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/1)....PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH will be "honored posthumously" when he is inducted into the Fishing HOF on Sept. 14 (DALLASNEWS.com, 2/28).
NAMES: The T'Wolves were in DC for a game against the Wizards this weekend and made a "team outing to the National Museum of African American History and Culture," with several players visiting the museum Saturday. T'Wolves G JOSH OKOGIE said that he was "particularly moved by an exhibit devoted to EMMETT TILL" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 3/3)....Celtics Assistant GM MIKE ZARREN "finished as the runner-up in the Curling Expo's 'Beat the Pro' event" at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Before losing to Gold Medal-winning U.S. curler TYLER GEORGE in the championship, Zarren "beat out the likes" of Kraft Analytics Group CEO JESSICA GELMAN, Grizzlies Exec VP/Basketball Operations JOHN HOLLINGER and Rockets GM DARYL MOREY in a "bracket-style tournament" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/3)....Cowboys LB LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH donated a "brand new weight room" to Salmon River High School in Idaho, his alma mater (IDAHOPRESS.com, 2/25)....Celtics F JAYSON TATUM joined students from Winthrop Middle School's STEM Club at the JetBlue hangar at Boston Logan Int'l Airport on Thursday as the kids "celebrated completing JetBlue Rookie Flight Crew program" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/4).
