Names In The News

Agassi (l) And Armstrong Among Founders Of Athletes For Hope

In L.A., J.A. Adande writes about Athletes For Hope, the charity founded by several prominent athletes including MUHAMMAD ALI, ANDRE AGASSI and MARIO LEMIEUX, under the header “Athletes’ Foundations Get A Needed Model.” Adande: “These are the people who get it, the ones who stand out in the narcissistic world of pro sports. That’s why I believe their organization can make a difference” (L.A. TIMES, 5/7).

MOVIE STAR: Former MLB Commissioner FAY VINCENT writes an Op/Ed in today’s WALL STREET JOURNAL about late MPAA President JACK VALENTI, who died April 26, under the header “Jack Valenti Redefined The Power Lunch.” Vincent notes Valenti was “romanced by baseball team owners to become the next commissioner” after BOWIE KUHN left office in ’84 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/7).

IX LIVES: With many colleges cutting men’s sports due to Title IX, a USA TODAY editorial states, “To label Title IX the lone culprit is to give state legislatures a pass on their obligations to finance higher education and to give colleges a pass for their infatuation with big-time men’s sports.” However, Equity in Athletics Inc. Counsel LARRY JOSPEH in an opposing Op/Ed writes, “The proportionality requirement [in Title IX] is to blame, and its repeal is essential to equity and athletics” (USA TODAY, 5/7).

FLY LIKE AN EAGLE: A tax filing shows Marquette Univ. men’s basketball coach TOM CREAN earned $1.547M for the FY ending June 30, 2006, as well as a $31,528 contribution that includes benefits and deferred compensation. The deal “easily places him in the top tier” of men’s basketball coaches, and he is “by far the highest paid employee” at the school. Women’s basketball coach TERRI MITCHELL was the fifth-highest paid school employee, with a salary of $212,912 (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/5).

NAMES: BETONSPORTS.COM “is ready to plead guilty” to racketeering and wire fraud charges in a plea agreement with the U.S. Justice Department. The settlement “would prevent any as yet unindicted cases being brought against the [BOD]” (London TELEGRAPH, 5/6)....BILLIE JEAN KING received an honorary doctorate degree from the New England Institute of Technology yesterday. King also gave the commencement speech and said, “Set your expectations high, set them high. It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish” (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/7)....Heat President and coach PAT RILEY bought a penthouse at the Apogee in South Beach for $13.5M (MIAMI HERALD, 5/6).