Snyder should give USA Badminton new commercial and fundraising avenuesGETTY IMAGES
Filmmaker ZACK SNYDER has been "appointed as an ambassador for USA Badminton in a move that officials believe will raise the sport's profile and create new commercial and fundraising avenues." The move comes at a "critical time" for the Anaheim-based NGB. The USOPC began "proceedings last month to decertify USA Badminton." Snyder, a "long-time badminton enthusiast," has directed nine films that have earned nearly $3.2B at the box office (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 12/7).
WELCOME HOME: Former MLBer DAVID ORTIZ yesterday made his "first public appearance in the Dominican Republic" nearly six months after he was "shot in what authorities called a case of mistaken identity." The Dominican native was "greeted by a standing ovation and raucous cheers" when he entered the Quisqueya Stadium Juan Marichal for the Game of Legends, a "charity exhibition and home run derby featuring Dominican major league players and retired stars" (AP, 12/8).
NAMES: During the MAC Championship game on Saturday, which saw Miami (Ohio) defeat CMU, a seat in Ford Field's press row "sat empty" for late CMU football and men's basketball radio voice DON CHIODO, who died in a two-vehicle crash last Wednesday. Chiodo had spent 10 years with the Chippewa Sports Network as the play-by-play broadcaster. He leaves behind his wife and two adult children (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 12/8)....The Mavericks' practice facility was "transformed into a Christmas wonderland for 50 at-risk kids" on Friday evening. The "entire Mavericks roster turned out," with all of the players "wearing blue Santa hats" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/7)....CBS during the third quarter of the Chiefs' 23-16 win over the Patriots showed ViacomCBS Chair SHARI REDSTONE sitting next to Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT in his box at Gillette Stadium (THE DAILY)....Grizzlies F ANDRE IGUODALA made a cameo appearance in the series finale of "SILICON VALLEY" on HBO last night (THE DAILY).
