Names In The News

Lachlan Murdoch Reportedly Feuded With Peter Chernin

In N.Y., Richard Siklos writes despite his title as News Corp. Deputy COO, LACHLAN MURDOCH “did not work closely with” News Corp. President & COO PETER CHERNIN and the two men “had clashed in the past.” Murdoch resigned his post last week (N.Y. TIMES, 7/30). Chernin “will assume direct oversight of the traditional newspaper and TV station businesses” that Murdoch managed (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/1). Two sources said that relations between News Corp. Chair & CEO RUPERT MURDOCH and his older children “are severely strained, ... in part over the children’s unhappiness about their father’s relationship” with WENDI DENG, whom he married in ’99 (Peers, Angwin & Lippman, WALL STREET JOURNAL, 8/1).

MODELS, INC.: N.Y. POST’s Page Six reported IMG Owner TED FORSTMANN is “considering buying Elite Europe from ALAIN KITTLER, GERALD MARIE and their partners.” IMG’s modeling division reps GISELE BUNDCHEN, KATE MOSS and HEIDI KLUM, among others (N.Y. POST, 7/31).

HOCKEY HARDWARE: St. Louis Post-Dispatch hockey writer DERRICK GOOLD was awarded first place for the ’03-04 BEST HOCKEY NEWS STORY OF THE YEAR in the inaugural PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY WRITERS’ JOURNALISM CONTEST. Second place went to ROBIN BROWNLEE of the Edmonton Sun. The Ottawa Sun’s BRUCE GARRIOCH won third (OTTAWA SUN, 7/31).

NAMES: D’Rays RF ROCCO BALDELLI has dismissed his agent, SCOTT BORAS. Baldelli has not named a replacement (NEWSDAY, 7/31)....Yankees P RANDY JOHNSON will make a guest appearance on an episode of Fox’ “THE SIMPSONS” during the upcoming season (USA TODAY, 8/1)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY will appear on the cover of GQ next month (N.Y. TIMES, 8/1).