Former SFX Chair ROBERT SILLERMAN, "backed by the deep
pockets" of Mavs Owner MARK CUBAN, has acquired the "highly-
influential music-management company The Firm," according to
Haring & Petrikin of INSIDE.com. Although figures on the
deal "were not announced, a source close to the situation
suggests that Cuban has contributed approximately" $50M for
this and future acquisitions. Cuban has talked publicly of
his desire to start new record label (INSIDE.com, 11/13).
Meanwhile, Cuban was in L.A. filming an episode of
"Politically Incorrect" that will air on Thanksgiving. The
show features all sports guests, including KEITH OLBERMANN,
TODD ZEILE and LENNOX LEWIS (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/14).
NIKE ADS LEAD TO A BROADWAY SHOW: DAILY VARIETY's
Robert Hofler reports that writer-director CHARLES RANDOLPH-
WRIGHT has signed a deal to direct and co-write "BALL," a
musical about "street basketball that is based on the
successful ad campaign for NIKE NYC." The project is being
produced by Willing Partners, a new production company
formed by commercial production company (at)radical.media
and Wieden & Kennedy, the group behind Nike's ad campaign.
Randolph-Wright is co-writing "Ball" with WIEDEN & KENNEDY
creative JIMMY SMITH (DAILY VARIETY, 11/10).
ARE TICKETS IN THE MAIL? SAMUEL L. JACKSON will host
the ninth annual ESPY Awards from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas
on February 12. Jackson was the ESPY's host in '99 (ESPN).