Names In The News

TV Producers Have Sued Irvin Over "Fourth & Long" Show

Three TV producers have sued Pro Football HOFer Michael Irvin over his "Fourth & Long" show on Spike TV, claiming that Irvin "agreed to be the host of a reality TV show about unknowns trying out for a professional football team -- only to renege and go on to produce the show without them." The producers -- JORDAN BEALMEAR, SHANNON CLARK and CHRISTOPHER HARDING claim "Fourth & Long" is "their idea with a new name," and are accusing Irvin of "fraud by nondisclosure, breach of contract and unjust enrichment" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/3). The producers claim that they pitched their show, "Guts to Glory," to Irvin in '07. However, Irvin's attorney LARRY FRIEDMAN said that his client had "thought of the concept several years earlier after he watched" Fox' "American Idol" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/4).

WEEKEND AT BERNIE'S: YAHOO reported F1 Management Chair BERNIE ECCLESTONE is "in talks with a studio" in the U.S. to produce a film about the progression of F1 "from its origins all the way through to the present day." While the film will be "in the style of a documentary," it "will not essentially be a documentary" (YAHOO.com, 6/3).

INDY LITE: The NCAA, as part of its new initiatives to cut costs that include suspending membership dues next year, hopes to "save about $500,000 by holding most of its future committee meetings in Indianapolis." While some meetings currently are held in the city, about "half of the meetings are held in other parts" of the U.S. (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 6/4).

HOME COOKIN': Author MICHAEL LEWIS appeared Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" last night to promote his new book, “HOME GAME.” Comedy Central's Jon Stewart said to Lewis, who wrote the influential ’03 book “MONEYBALL,” You have written extensively on Wall Street and on baseball. You have for some reason decided to turn your perception and observation on yourself and your own family." Lewis: "There's always been a level of self absorption to my work, so it's not a huge departure" ("The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Comedy Central, 6/3).

Lemieux May Be Laying To Rest Opinions That He's Aloof

NAMES: In Pittsburgh, Rob Rossi reports the MARIO LEMIEUX that "only close friends know has emerged during the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs," and he "may be laying to rest some opinions that he is aloof." NHL agent PAT BRISSON said, "It's remarkable to see. He's content, he's happy, he's complete" (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 6/4)....Members of the MLB Giants organization, including 16 players and President & COO LARRY BAER, yesterday "spent about an hour and a half" touring the White House, though PRESIDENT OBAMA was absent (MLB.com, 6/3)....The National Football Foundation & College HOF (NFF) has awarded its '09 Gold Medal, the organization's highest honor, to Nike Chair PHIL KNIGHT and late Nike co-Founder BILL BOWERMAN.  The NFF also named Augusta National Chair BILLY PAYNE as its Distinguished American, and recognized author DAN JENKINS for his Outstanding Contribution to Amateur Football (NFF)....Celtics G RAJON RONDO, Rockets G AARON BROOKS and Pistons G RICHARD HAMILTON starting tomorrow will embark on a Nike-sponsored tour to China, running through June 13 (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/4)....Suns C SHAQUILLE O'NEAL will serve as the Grand Marshal for Saturday's IndyCar Series Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway. Also, actor RYAN REYNOLDS will serve as the Grand Marshal for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pocono 500 (THE DAILY).