Brady will become a global ambassador for the organization that assists people with disabilitiesGETTY IMAGES
TOM BRADY is "stepping down" as honorary co-Chair of the charitable organization Best Buddies Int'l. Patriots WR JULIAN EDELMAN and Celtics F JAYSON TATUM now will become a co-Chairs. Edelman and Tatum will join current co-Chairs chef GUY FIERI and Massachusetts Congressman JOSEPH KENNEDY III in the new roles and Brady will "become a 'global ambassador' for the organization that assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities." Brady had served as an honorary co-Chair for 16 years (NBCSPORTSBOSTON.com, 12/10).
ALL-TIME TEAM: TIME named the USWNT its Athlete of the Year for '19. TIME's Sean Gregory writes sports are "often an engine of change in the messy world outside the arena," which has "long been apparent to the members" of the USWNT. They may have won the '19 World Cup in July, but they were "playing for more than a trophy" (TIME.com, 12/11).
HEIGHTENED SECURITY: International athletes have been caught up in PRESIDENT TRUMP's bid to "more tightly control access to the U.S." It has become "significantly harder in the past three years to get green cards for the would-be coaches, training partners and teammates of Americans through the longstanding 'extraordinary ability' route." The approval rate for individual immigrant petitions for "permanent residence based on 'extraordinary ability,' a category used by professional athletes, scientists, professors and industry executives," fell from 82.1% in FY '16, the last full year of PRESIDENT OBAMA's administration, to 69.4% for FY '18. It stood at 56.3% for FY '19 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/11).
NAMES: Custom footwear brand ISlide has closed its most recent investment round by adding three new major investors, which brings the company valuation to more than $10M. The new investors include Bucks President PETER FEIGIN, Grizzlies F JAE CROWDER and former Adidas and LIDS exec DAVID BAXTER (ISlide)....Pro Football HOFer RONNIE LOTT and his wife, KAREN, hosted the 555 California Street Tree Lighting Celebration and a "culinary klatch benefitting All Stars Helping Kids." Lott was joined by JOE MONTANA, former 49ers exec CARMEN POLICY, NFL Network's STEVE MARIUCCI and Gold Medal-winning former U.S. skater KRISTI YAMAGUCHI (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/11)....Buccaneers QB JAMEIS WINSTON hosted about 2,500 kids at Raymond James Stadium for his Famous Jameis Jamboree, put on by his Jameis Winston Dream Forever Foundation (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 12/11)....Two Univ. of Michigan students named a well in the Mirpur Khas District of Sindh, Pakistan, after LEBRON JAMES (L.A. TIMES, 12/10).
