LeRoy Neiman, noted artist of sports events as well as a contributor to Playboy magazine, died at a Manhattan hospital, at the age of 91. Neiman’s publicist, Gail Parenteau, confirmed his death. The artist left behind his 55-year-old wife. Playboy boss Hugh Hefner, paid his tribute to the artist who was his “long time friend” on Twitter. A chance encounter in 1953 brought Hefner and Neiman together and the two…