BOOKS OF THE MONTH: Univ. of TN football coach PHILLIP
FULMER has joined with MS-based PROJECT EXEC'S to release
Fulmer's first CD Audio Book, "NATIONAL CHAMPION HEAD COACH
PHILLIP FULMER: OVERCOMING ADVERSITY." The scheduled
release date is December 23 (Project Exec's)....NFL HOFer
LAWRENCE TAYLOR has signed a $200,000 contract with HARPER
COLLINS to write his memoirs. The book is tentatively
titled "TO HELL AND BACK" and focuses on the end of his
football career and drug problems (SI, 12/25 issue).
NOTES: In Philadelphia, Phil Jasner reports that 76ers
Senior Advisor SONNY HILL is working as a consultant to
scriptwriter AARON ZATHMARY on a "prospective" movie in
which pro basketball in '10 is "out of control." Jasner:
"The NBA 'out of control'? What a concept!" (PHILADELPHIA
DAILY NEWS, 12/22)....USA TODAY reports that boxer OSCAR DE
LA HOYA is being sued by his ex-wife, SHANNA MOAKLER, for
$62.5M. The suit claims he was "an abusive alcoholic" to
Moakler and 18-month old daughter. De La Hoya's attorney,
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, called the allegations "completely and
totally false." The suit also seeks $350,000 to cover
support since September (USA TODAY, 12/22). Moakler: "I
have nothing now. I put all my eggs in one basket with
Oscar and he just left." In a "strongly worded statement to
'ET' just before our deadline," De La Hoya wrote, "I am
confident that when the true facts are presented Shanna's
allegations will be exposed as completely false and her
legal claims will be unsuccessful" ("ET," 12/21)....SI
reports that Mets C MIKE PIAZZA "has broken up with" his
girlfriend, Playboy model DARLENE BERNAOLA. The two had
each other's initials tattooed onto their ankles "only a
few" months ago (SI, 12/25 issue).
