PAUL WESTPHAL, a HOF player who coached in the NBA and in college, died in Scottsdale, Ariz., at 70. He was diagnosed with brain cancer last August. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement said, “He will be remember for his generosity, leadership and love for the game, which defined his many years in the NBA” (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/3). In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote, "As great a player as he was ... you need to know he was a much better man." CHARLES BARKLEY said, "I’ve been around the NBA since 1984, and there are very few people I would consider selfless. But Paul was one. He never cared who got the credit. He just loved this game” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/3). In Phoenix, Kent Somers wrote under the header, "Paul Westphal Succeeded As A Player, Coach And Man" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/3).
MORE LOSSES: JOHN HOGAN, a "hugely respected pioneer in the Formula 1 sponsorship and marketing world," died of a COVID-related illness at 76. Hogan was "best known for his work with Philip Morris, overseeing deals with McLaren and Ferrari." He was a "key player in moving the goalposts and showing what could be done" as BERNIE ECCLESTONE "expanded the sport's horizons, and TV coverage became more important" (MOTORSPORT.com, 1/4)....BOB BROWN, who spent 35 years as the Orioles’ PR Dir, died at a hospice in Charlotte at 89. Baseball HOFer BROOKS ROBINSON said, ”He had a long stretch with the Orioles and was a terrific PR man.” Brown joined the club in 1957 and retired in 1993. Former MLB Senior VP PHYLLIS MERHIGE said, “There was the Oriole way of baseball and Brownie was the Oriole way of PR. He and LARRY SHENK of the Phillies, BOB FISHEL of the Yankees, and BOB WIRZ of the commissioner’s office were the oracle.” The Orioles press box is named in Brown’s honor. A "festival of remembrance" for Brown will be "held in late spring" (BALTIMORE SUN, 12/29).
NAMES: The AHL Chicago Wolves are "donating $250,000 to five Chicago-area organizations -- $50,000 per charity -- to help them continue to provide important services to the community." The Wolves have "selected A Just Harvest, Common Pantry, Northern Illinois Food Bank, PAWS Chicago and South Suburban Humane Society as the beneficiaries of these donations" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 12/31)....A niche industry for halftime entertainers has "disappeared during the pandemic." Though a few NBA teams began the season with limited numbers of spectators -- and some are "allowing their dance teams to perform in the aisles" -- none are "hiring halftime entertainers." Halftime entertainers "typically make $1,500 to $5,000 a show" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/4).
