Executive Transactions

STARRING ROLE: The MetroStars named TOM NEALE as COO, effective August 6. Neale was previously Earthquakes GM. Neale will oversee all front office operations as well as start-up operations of the planned MetroStars Youth Development Academy (MetroStars). In San Jose, Barry Witt notes the move is "strictly for personal reasons," as Neale is scheduled to marry MLS Senior VP/Business & Legal Affairs JOANN LAURENTINO (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/24).

	Lori Hammamoto

EXECS: WILLIAM FARISH has resigned as Chair of Churchill Downs to become the U.S. ambassador to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Farish joined the BOD in '85, and succeeded WARNER JONES as Chair in '92 (Churchill Downs)....Knicks VP/PR LORI HAMAMOTO resigned yesterday (N.Y. TIMES, 7/24)....Michael Levine Search Consultants, an exec recruiting firm specializing in media & entertainment companies, named MARCUS BRAUER as a Principal. Previously, Brauer was Coca-Cola Marketing Dir at the '00 Sydney Games (CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS, 7/23)....FSN South named KEN RODRIGUEZ as Regional News Anchor. Rodriguez was FSN West Regional News Anchor and FSN Rocky Mountain Regional News co-Anchor. Also, FSN named MIKE HOGEWOOD as Host of the weekly series ACC LIVE. Hogewood will also serve as play-by-play voice for a variety of ACC-related telecasts (FSN).