Names In The News

MISBEHAVING: Roll Call reported that a Red Sox fan “hauled off and hit” U.S. Rep. and Yankees fan JOHN SWEENEY (R-NY) at a steakhouse in DC recently. An aide for Sweeney confirmed that there was an “ugly incident,” but said that Sweeney “‘didn’t say he got punched’ — or at least ‘not hard’” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 11/17)....Fourteen additional counts of illegal distribution of anabolic steroids and HGH were added to the federal grand jury indictment against Dr. JAMES SHORTT, bringing the total to 43 counts. Shortt has admitted that he has supplied steroids to several NFL players (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/17)....A “profanity-laced recording that denigrates women” featuring the voices of several current and former UNIV. OF MIAMI (UM) football players was found on the Internet, putting UM’s athletic department “on the defensive.” Officials said that the song was recorded two years ago. UM AD PAUL DEE said, “This speech is not appropriate and does not reflect the values of the University or the Athletic Department” (AP, 11/16).

SOUND & VISION: DreamWorks is producing “BLADES OF GLORY,” a comedy about “a pair of world-class men’s figure skaters who are banned from the sport after their disgraceful brawl” during the ’02 Salt Lake City Games. They then decide to partner “in the only category open to them — pairs figure skating.” Talks are underway to have WILL FERRELL and JON HEDER star (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 11/17)....Several book publishers and TV and movie studios have contacted 40-year-old Univ. of South Carolina WR TIM FRISBY “about obtaining the rights to his story: An Army veteran who served in the first Gulf War and Kosovo conflict before returning to school and fulfilling his lifelong ... goal of playing college football.” Frisby would forfeit his remaining two years of eligibility by signing a deal (Columbia STATE, 11/16).

TO SERVE AND PROTECT: Serbia & Montenegro’s army has filed charges against former NBAer VLADE DIVAC, saying that he “was obliged by law to join the compulsory six-month military service by the age of 35.” In a statement released through his agent MARC FLEISHER, Divac said, “I have filed all of the necessary documents required for postponing army duties on a regular basis with the Serbian Embassy in the [U.S.] and the Department of Defense of Serbia and Montenegro. ... This is a non-issue and it will be resolved in the next couple of days” (AP, 11/17).

AWARD-WINNING JOB: Mariners VP/Communications RANDY ADAMACK has been named the ’05 winner of the ROBERT O. FISHEL AWARD given for PR excellence (MLB).

LOSS: Motorola announced the sudden death this morning of Exec VP & CMO GEOFFREY FROST. Frost joined Motorola in ‘99 and was instrumental in defining Motorola’s brand mission. Prior to joining Motorola, Frost was Global Dir of Advertising & Brand Communications for Nike (Motorola).