Names In The News

Suspended Falcons QB MICHAEL VICK, who was sentenced in December to 23 months in prison on dogfighting charges, has been transferred from a federal facility in Virginia to one in Leavenworth, Kansas, where he “plans to enter a drug treatment program that could reduce his sentence.” The average length of the program is 8 1/2 months, “usually coupled with an extended halfway house stay or home confinement" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/8).

KID GLOVES: Penguins C SIDNEY CROSBY will be on the cover of the February issue of Men’s Fitness magazine. On January 14, the day of the issue’s release, seven-by-twelve-foot versions of the cover will be on display at the NHL Powered by Reebok store in midtown Manhattan (NHL).

NAMES: Author PABLO FENJVES, who co-wrote OJ SIMPSON’s book “IF I DID IT,” will co-write former MLBer JOSE CANSECO’s new book “VINDICATED: THE JOSE CANSECO REPORT" (TORONTO STAR, 1/8)....Southern Methodist Univ. has agreed to a five-year deal worth almost $2M annually with football coach JUNE JONES, who resigned from the Univ. of Hawaii on Saturday. Jones becomes the highest-paid coach in Conference USA (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/8)…. U.S. women’s national soccer team member KRISTINE LILLY is pregnant and will not play in ’08 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/8)....Motocross rider BUBBA STEWART appeared on NBC’s “Deal Or No Deal” last night by riding his motorcycle on-stage (“Deal Or No Deal,” NBC, 1/7).

BEST WISHES: MLS United President KEVIN PAYNE had quadruple bypass surgery last week in Virginia (N.Y. TIMES, 1/8)….U.S. Olympic Gold Medal-winning figure skater DOROTHY HAMILL is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer (Mult., 1/8).