Univ. of South Carolina women’s basketball coach DAWN STALEY used a conversation at Columbia’s Black Expo on Saturday to talk about the themes in her book, titled “UNCOMMON FAVOR”. Staley said that the book “centers on ’13 life lessons’ taught by what she called three pillars: basketball, her upbringing in North Philadelphia and her mother.” Staley also “recounted the process she followed as she sought equal pay.” She said that she viewed the matter as “a question of principle.” Staley said that she “ultimately asked her agent to ‘stand down’ and hired a local lawyer who understood the university’s decision-makers and community dynamics.” Staley said, “It took about six months to get it done.” Now earning $4M a year, Staley is the highest paid college women’s basketball coach in the country (Columbia STATE, 5/16).
HANGING IT UP: The Patriots’ longest-tenured employee, Dir/Scouting Administration NANCY MEIER, is retiring at the end of May and was “given a grand send-off Monday acknowledging her widespread contributions to the franchise.” Hundreds were in attendance inside the GP Atrium, including current players such as QB DRAKE MAYE, coaches, staff, former players and family. A highlight of the event was a video tribute, which included team owner ROBERT KRAFT, President JONATHAN KRAFT, VP/Player Personnel SCOTT PIOLI, former NFLers TOM BRADY, TEDY BRUSCHI, WILLIE MCGINEST and Texans GM NICK CASEIRO among the 60 who contributed. In a behind-the-scenes tribute to Meier on the final day of the 2026 NFL Draft, EVP ELIOT WOLF gave Meier the honor of calling the team’s fifth-round draft pick, Wake Forest CB KARON PUNTY (ESPN.com, 5/17).
NAMES: Former NBAer RICK FOX has been appointed to the Bahamian Senate, taking up one of four seats reserved for members of the opposition. The appointment of Fox to the Senate came days after he “lost a bid to be elected to the Bahamian House of Assembly" (REUTERS, 5/17)....Nike co-founder PHIL KNIGHT and his wife PENNY have given $90M to Stanford “for research into brain resilience and aging” (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/16)....Morehouse College and Spelman College celebrated Sunday as the HBCUs collectively graduated more than 1,000 students. To commemorate the day, Morehouse hosted former NBAer CHRIS PAUL as its keynote speaker (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/17)....Oscar-winning director PAOLO SORRENTINO is developing an “intimate portrait” of soccer coach CARLO ANCELOTTI, “going behind the scenes of his five-decade career and culminating in the 2026 World Cup this summer” as he coaches Brazil’s national team (DEADLINE, 5/15).
