Dodgers P CLAYTON KERSHAW helped one fan win $20,000 for his college education during an appearance yesterday on syndicated talk show "ELLEN." Kershaw helped the fan throw baseballs at targets in a contest to win money for his college fund. Kershaw said, "The first thing we're going to do is take a deep breath, and you just ride the pony." He then mimicked riding a horse. Kershaw himself later threw at a target and won $10,000 for his charity ("Ellen," 5/14).
Barber (c) has previously worked in the Pentagon and with the Red Cross, and taught at GeorgetownNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
RENAISSANCE WOMAN: In Indianapolis, Dana Hunsinger Benbow profiled WNBA Indiana Fever President & COO ALLISON BARBER, who is charged with reinventing the team as it "enters its 20th season." Leading the Fever represents Barber's "eighth career," which has included stints at the Red Cross, DC-based PR firm Hill & Knowlton and the Pentagon. She has also taught at Georgetown (INDYSTAR.com, 5/13).
HONORS & ACCOLADES: BOB COSTAS tomorrow will return to his Long Island roots in the town of Smithtown as he is inducted into the Suffolk Sports HOF. Other inductees include NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN and former WNBA Liberty player BRIA HARTLEY. Bettman "will be unable to attend" (NEWSDAY, 5/15)....Flyers mascot GRITTY "took home the internet’s highest honors at the Webby Awards" in N.Y. on Monday night after being named the '19 People's Voice Award winner for social media in the athletes and sports team category. Gritty "slayed on the red carpet in a custom-made black suit, orange-and-black tie, orange pocket square, and hockey helmet" (PHILLY.com, 5/15).
NAMES: Chiefs QBs PATRICK MAHOMES, CHAD HENNE and CHASE LITTON yesterday "visited the Kansas City Regional Police Academy" as part of National Police Week. The police "showed the quarterbacks a range of tactics and tools used to do their jobs." All three also "got to drive police cruisers around a track; later, they took turns controlling the bomb squad’s robot" (K.C. STAR, 5/15)....DIRK NOWITZKI yesterday "traveled to Austin" to meet with Texas Gov. GREG ABBOTT and "appear before the Texas House and Senate." He "received a standing ovation in the House, and members lined up to take a photo with him" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/15)....Vikings coach MIKE ZIMMER on Monday held his first "Golf Classic" event in Eden Prairie, Minn., to raise money for college scholarships for high school seniors (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 5/14)....Nationals 1B RYAN ZIMMERMAN's foundation on Monday held its 10th annual "A Night At The Park" fundraiser inside Nationals Park. The event raised $300,000 to help fight multiple sclerosis (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 5/14)....CNBC published its annual list of 50 "disruptor" companies, with Peloton coming in at No. 9 and Fanatics at No. 25 (CNBC).
