Names In The News

Hellmuth To Take Part In Upcoming Season Of VH1’s “Surreal Life”

Former New Jersey state trooper JAMES HARNEY on Thursday pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, promoting gambling and official misconduct. As part of his plea bargain, Harney promised “to help authorities [in New Jersey] with their case of illegal gambling against” Coyotes assistant coach RICK TOCCHET. Harney had previously said that he and Tocchet were partners in a gambling operation, and on Thursday he claimed that Tocchet “brought in six gambling clients and split the revenue” with him. A grand jury has not been convened to decide whether to issue an indictment against Tocchet (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/4).

TABLED OFFER: The company that supplied the table in the British Open interview room, which was signed by several of the tournament’s winners, went into bankruptcy recently and sold the table on eBay for $1,800. The man who bought it “offered to provide the table at Royal Liverpool, with a caveat. It was his understanding that [British Open Press Officer STEWART] MCDOUGAL would arrange for more Open champions to autograph the table.” But McDougal said, “It wasn’t meant for that” (Doug Ferguson, AP, 8/1).

NAMES: Baseball HOFers WADE BOGGS, GAYLORD PERRY and BOB FELLER share their favorite recipes in the book, “HOME PLATE,” published by SY-LAB-LES PRESS and edited by BRENDA BERSTLER. The book was unveiled during last weekend’s induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Proceeds benefit charities in the Cooperstown area (USA TODAY, 8/4)....Poker player PHIL HELLMUTH will appear in the upcoming season of VH1’s “SURREAL LIFE,” along with comedian CARROT TOP and actor DABNEY COLEMAN (SI, 8/7 issue).