NASCAR execs BILL and BRIAN FRANCE will join drivers
JEFF GORDON, RICHARD PETTY, DARRELL WALTRIP, DALE EARNHARDT
JR., RON HORNADAY and KYLE PETTY for a Smithsonian-sponsored
discussion on the future of auto racing tonight in
Washington, DC. The event, hosted by MSNBC'S BRIAN WILLIAMS
and WRC-TV's GEORGE MICHAEL, will be held at George
Washington's Lisner Auditorium (WASHINGTON POST, 12/15).
...Microsoft announced that it will be investing $200M in
Qwest Communications. The Denver-based company, owned by
NHL Kings Co-Owner and MLS operator PHILIP ANSCHUTZ, is
working on a new fiber optic telephone network built around
Internet technologies (N.Y. TIMES, 12/15)....Kansas State
Univ. football coach BILL SNYDER was named the Walter
Camp/Street & Smith's '98 Coach of the Year. Snyder led the
Wildcats to their sixth straight year of winning nine or
more games (THE DAILY)....WILLIAM WASHINGTON, father of
tennis players MASHISKA and MALIVAI WASHINGTON has charged
the ATP Tour of racism. William claims Mashiska "has been
undermined by racist practices" on the part of the ATP Tour
directors, as "qualifying and main draws of tour-level
events have been withheld" from Mashiska and other black
players and "instead awarded to players with inferior
rankings." Washington's lawyer ELLIS RUBIN also criticized
IMG for "denying Mashiska and other black players wild-card
berths into events it owns" (N.Y. TIMES, 12/15)....USA TODAY
profiles agent DWIGHT MANLEY, whose six-client list includes
KARL MALONE and DENNIS RODMAN. Manley "comes to work in
golf shirts and shies away from the cameras and the
limelight," while his client list has earned him the
nickname "Agent of the Outlaws" (USA TODAY, 12/15).
