Bills and Sabres co-Owner KIM PEGULA has helped build two teams and "understands the role diversity plays in shaping the future of an organization." In a special to ESPN.com, Pegula shared her thoughts on the "importance of diversity and working to improve an organization's culture, gleaned from her experience" with the two teams. Pegula: "Two owners of professional sports teams aren't what many would think of as an example of 'diversity,' but I've come to appreciate the impact that our unique version of diversity in thought, experience, gender, race and ages can have on an organization. I recently shared with our staff how we rate as a diverse workforce and it was far from where I believe we should be. While we have a lot work ahead of us, we are taking deliberate steps to be a better and more diverse organization" (ESPN.com, 8/14).
HELPING HAND: Dodgers RF MOOKIE BETTS yesterday partnered with Pull Up Neighbor, a nonprofit created to aid disadvantaged communities, to "give necessities to people for free in Compton." Hand sanitizers, reusable face masks and food boxes were "handed out." Health screenings were "conducted." The event, which was staged with support from the Dodgers, also provided "voter registration services" (L.A. TIMES, 8/15)....Golfer JOHN DALY later this month "will launch a new foundation with an undisclosed partner." The 501C3 charity "will serve children and veterans, with some of the initiatives to benefit cities where Daly schedules golf appearances." Its first major donation "will be the construction of the new Boys & Girls Clubs in Dardanelle, Arkansas, where Daly lives and holds his annual golf tournament in support of that club." The new group also is "building a home for a veteran in Oklahoma" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/16)
NAMES: The NBA terminated a photographer covering games as an independent contractor "after he published an offensive meme of Democratic vice presidential nominee KAMALA HARRIS to his Facebook account." Houston-based photographer BILL BAPTIST was "let go from the NBA's COVID-19 protective bubble at Disney World." He has covered the Rockets "for decades." Baptist "changed the official logo of presidential nominee JOE BIDEN's campaign from 'Joe 2020' and used a derogatory term for women instead of the year" (N.Y. POST, 8/15)....Lions QB MATTHEW STAFFORD and his wife, KELLY, along with Univ. of Georgia football coach KIRBY SMART and his wife, MARY BETH, "have endowed a $500,000 program at the University of Georgia to focus on diversity, inclusion, equity and social justice" (ESPN.com, 8/14)....A pair of MICHAEL JORDAN's game-worn sneakers fetched $615,000 last Thursday at an "online auction that Christie's curated in partnership with retailer Stadium Goods, setting a new auction price record for a pair of sneakers" (BARRONS.com, 8/15).
