Japanese baseball club Orix Buffaloes Owner YOSHIHIKO MIYAUCHI will serve as acting commissioner of Nippon Professional Baseball through the end of the year. Because an owner "cannot double as commissioner," Miyauchi's post with the Buffaloes will temporarily be filled by former Orix VP SHUNSUKE TAKEDA (KYODO, 10/21). ... GREG MCCALLUM "has emerged as the frontrunner" to replace DANIEL ANDERSON as the National Rugby League's referees' boss "in a move that would allow the whistleblowers to again be run by one of their own." Another former referee, TONY ARCHER, "has been appointed as the interim boss although it is understood he does not want the role on a full-time basis." The NRL "is on the hunt for a replacement" for former Parramatta coach Anderson, who "has returned to the Eels to take up an executive role" (SYNDEY MORNING HERALD, 10/22). ... Warned-off jockey DANNY NIKOLIC "is being investigated by police for allegedly stalking Racing Victoria staff after he was told to leave its Flemington headquarters on Monday." Police have been told Nikolic, wearing a hooded jumper and sunglasses, "allegedly followed two staff members in his car and pulled alongside them after they left work'' (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/22). ... Talks "are underway" to get world No. 3 MARIA SHARAPOVA on a court in the Australian state of Queensland. Sharapova "has previously committed three times" to tournaments in Queensland. Brisbane Tournament Dir CAMERON PEARSON: "I've had some discussions with [Sharapova's agent/manager] MAX (EISENBUD)" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/22). ... Sixteen descendants of the English FA's ''Founding Fathers,'' from as far afield as New Zealand and the U.S., "will attend the unveiling of a plaque at Wembley Stadium on Monday as part of the association's 150th anniversary celebrations." The world's first football association was formed on Oct. 26, 1863 and "a gala dinner will be held in London on Saturday to mark the actual date of its establishment." In March, the FA "launched a search to find living descendants of the eight men who formed it and managed to uncover relatives" in Britain as well as in the U.S. and New Zealand (REUTERS, 10/21). ... BT Sport "has been forced to apologise" after former France midfielder DAVID GINOLA "was captured making an offensive hand gesture live on air" during the build-up to Liverpool’s Premier League match against Newcastle (INDEPENDENT, 10/21). ... A basketball shoe formerly belonging to NBA Houston Rockets player JEREMY LIN "is being auctioned on one of Taiwan's main online auction platforms, with the proceeds to go to the local Down Syndrome Foundation" (CNA, 10/21).
