ROGER FEDERER , who "believes he has more to do, not only for himself but for the charitable foundation he started 15 years ago to promote education as a means to empower children in southern Africa and his native Switzerland." Federer this week in San Jose "participated in an exhibition" with Microsoft Founder BILL GATES , NBC'S SAVANNAH GUTHRIE and tennis player JACK SOCK and raised $2.5M. This was the "fourth such event, which has raised a total" of $10M for the foundation. Sock said, "Everyone thinks about him as the [greatest of all time] of tennis and everything he does on court but I think he does just as much off the court. It's really incredible" ( L.A. TIMES, 3/9 ).
WHY CAN'T WE BE FRIENDS? Cal State Northridge on Wednesday fired men's basketball coach REGGIE THEUS and AD BRANDON MARTIN "less than 24 hours after" a reported fight between the two men. Theus on Wednesday "filed a complaint of battery against Martin." A news release from CSUN President DIANNE HARRISON on the firings made "no mention of a physical altercation" ( DAILYNEWS.COM, 3/8 ).
NAMES : TOM BRADY on Thursday at Granite Telecommunications' offices in Boston got a "fresh cut benefiting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute" as Granite pledged $5M to Dana-Farber if "1,000 others agreed to shave their heads or beards" ( BOSTONGLOBE.com, 3/8 )....The Int'l Association of Business Communications of Toronto selected Raptors President of Basketball Operations MASAI UJIRI as its Communicator of the Year ( IABC )....The National Fantasy Football Convention is “set for a second year” in Dallas from July 13-15 and will “feature more than 200 players.” Some headliners for the event include EZEKIEL ELLIOTT , LESEAN MCCOY , MICHAEL IRVIN , KAREEM HUNT , MELVIN GORDON and JASON WITTEN ( STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 3/8 )....Pirates Owner BOB NUTTING ’s Ogden Newspapers “apparently changed its mind about buying the bankrupt Charleston Gazette-Mail” ( POST-GAZETTE.com, 3/8 ).... SHAQUILLE O’NEAL will “put his DJ skills on display at his own carnival-style event” after the three-day Ultra Music Festival, an electronic dance music event in Miami. “Shaq’s Fun House” will “debut March 24” during Miami Music Week ( AP, 3/8 )....Clippers F SAM DEKKER and ESPN reporter OLIVIA HARLAN will “tie the knot on July 14.” Instead of a wedding gift, the couple is “asking guests and fans alike to donate to Children’s Cancer Family Foundation” ( USATODAY.com, 3/7 ). Olivia is the daughter of TNT/CBS broadcaster KEVIN HARLAN and granddaughter of former Packers President BOB HARLAN ( THE DAILY ).
