In San Diego, Thomas Kupper writes that Padres Owner
JOHN MOORES "has stepped aside" as Chair of S.D.-based
Peregrine Systems, "a company in which his early inestments
yielded hundreds of millons of dollars as the company grew
and its stock soared." Moores owned 74% of the company as
recently as '97, "has been selling stock in recent years
while turning his attention to" the Padres and TX-based Neon
Systems, which he also Chairs. In the past year, Moores has
sold almost $300M of Peregrine stock while "giving away
shares worth more than" $30M (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/20).
SEAD DIZDAREVIC, President of JET SET SPORTS, a
"longtime provider of hospitality services" to the Olympics
and a $20M sponsor of the 2002 Games, acknowledged that his
company "made contributions" to the SALT LAKE CITY BID
COMMITTEE and that Jet Set execs are "cooperating" with the
Department of Justice investigation of the bribery scandal.
Bid leaders TOM WELCH and DAVE JOHNSON allegedly accepted
$130,000 in cash from Jet Set execs from August '94-May '95
(SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/20)....MICHAEL MANN, who will direct
WILL SMITH in a MUHAMMAD ALI biopic, has brought on ERIC ROTH
to "hone the script." Roth was Mann's collaborator on "THE
INSIDER" (DAILY VARIETY, 7/20)....FL prosecutors have
"reached a deferred prosecution agreement" with NJ-based
sports agent ANDY MILLER, who is accused of making "improper
phone calls" to former Univ. of FL basketball player MIKE
MILLER. Under terms of the deal, Andy Miller must pay $1,500
in "investigative costs and participate in a debriefing
session" with state investigators. Assistant State Attorney
BILL CERVONE, on the deal: "We want to get a better feel of
how these people operate" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 7/20).
