T'Wolves F KEVIN GARNETT, on his former agent ERIC
FLEISHER's lawsuit against N.Y.-based WSPORTS for allegedly
using questionable "incentives ... to lure away" Fleisher's
clients (see THE DAILY, 12/15): "Business is crazy. It's
unfortunate that things like this happen. Things happened
between me and Eric and didn't work out. [WSports'] ANDY
MILLER is an up-and-coming agent, and I decided to go with
him. There are a lot of things said [in yesterday's Wall
Street Journal article] that are not true" (Minneapolis STAR
TRIBUNE, 12/16). T'Wolves F ANDRAE PATTERSON, "one of four"
T'Wolves to drop Fleisher for Miller, said that he has
"never met a Wilhelmina model" -- as Fleisher charged
WSports with providing to lure clients -- and "hardly knew"
Fleisher. Patterson: "The only thing [Fleisher] did for me
was one deal ... a basketball card deal. And I already paid
him for that" (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 12/16). FSN's KEITH
OLBERMANN, on Fleisher's allegations against WSports:
"Romantic liaisons between an agency's athletes and its
models brings a new meaning to that word synergy. Mr.
Garnett, Ms. Twiggy. Ms. Twiggy, Mr. Garnett" (FSN, 12/15).
OTHER NAMES: HBO Sports Senior VP LOU DIBELLA hosted a
fund-raiser for GOP Presidential candidate JOHN MCCAIN the
other night at ESPNZone in N.Y. ESPN's CHARLEY STEINER and
boxing adviser SHELLY FINKEL were among those in attendance
(N.Y. POST, 12/16)....Each member of the '99 RYDER CUP TEAM
will receive $200,000 from the PGA OF AMERICA, with $100,000
of that amount "to be donated to charity" and $100,000
directed toward "collegiate golf developmental programs"
(N.Y. TIMES, 12/16)....A TV documentary on WILLIE MAYS is
being produced by LEE MENDELSON, who hopes to have the film
done by spring. Mendelson is in talks with the networks
(N.Y. POST, 12/16). ...In Chicago, Rick Telander attended a
pre-screening of "ANY GIVEN SUNDAY" and writes, "As the
story unfolds -- forever, it seems ... [Oliver] Stone brings
us some riveting truths about the elite pro game." But the
"trouble for any film about football is that try as it may,
it can't duplicate ... the marvelously recorded violence of
the real thing" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 12/16)....On "ET," Bob
Goen reported that L.L. COOL J and RUBIN "HURRICANE" CARTER
attended the L.A. premiere of the new Norman Jewison film
"THE HURRICANE." DENZEL WASHINGTON, who plays Carter in
the film: "It's a film about helping people and the strength
of the human spirit" ("ET," 12/15)....Athletes included
among People Magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People of '99"
are LANCE ARMSTRONG and SERENA WILLIAMS. The issue hits
stands on Friday ("Dateline," 12/15)....USA Today Baseball
Weekly Senior Writer BILL KOENIG "died unexpectedly" Tuesday
at his home in VA. Baseball Weekly Editor Paul White: "Bill
was one of our originals and the soul of our organization"
(Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 12/16).
