Names In The News

Ross In Talks To Take Over Troubled Xanadu Project In New Jersey

In New Jersey, Andrew Tangel wrote "no one knows" whether Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS -- who the NJSEA last week confirmed is in talks to take over Xanadu -- "can salvage" the project. But many "suggest Ross has what it takes to make Xanadu work." Investment firm Eastdil Secured LLC Chair BEN LAMBERT said Ross is a "big picture guy" who "knows how to pick the right people to carry out the plan." Ross' Related Cos. has "grown into a company with more than 2,000 employees and has developed more than $20[B] worth of real estate and owns properties valued at more than" $15B. Forbes estimated Ross' personal fortune at $2.9B, and he was "ranked the 110th richest American in September" (Bergen RECORD, 2/7).

WHO'S THE BOSS? Skateboarder TONY HAWK contributed to Sunday's N.Y. TIMES' "The Boss" feature, noting he started Birdhouse Projects in '92 and started Hawk Clothing in '98 before selling it to Quiksilver. Hawk also noted he formed Tony Hawk Inc. in '98, adding, "Now it has five divisions: merchandising, endorsements, events, film and digital media." Hawk wrote, "I didn't attend college, but I've never regretted it because skating presented such a great opportunity. I traveled extensively. I experienced so many things that I otherwise wouldn't have, and I was exposed to so much culture" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/7).

SLOWLY BUT SURELY: The developers of Punta Brava, a new project in Mexico that includes a golf course designed by TIGER WOODS, said that the "permitting process has moved more slowly than they expected, but they count on breaking ground this year and opening in 2012." The developers added that they have "maintained their close working relationship with Woods." Punta Brava's "financial backer" is former Spurs, Nuggets and Vikings Owner RED MCCOMBS (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/7)

The IOC Has Reinstated Lee-Kun Hee  As A Full Member Of The Organization

NAMES: The Hornets hosted a telethon during Friday's home game against the 76ers to "raise money for Haiti earthquake relief efforts." Fans inside New Orleans Arena, "watching on TV or listening on the radio were asked to call in and donate money to the American Red Cross" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 2/6)....Penske Racing Owner ROGER PENSKE has donated 40 flatbed trucks to use in the relief efforts in Haiti (AP, 2/6)....UFC President DANA WHITE hung out with UFC fighter CHUCK LIDDELL on Friday at Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. White "surprised the crowd by giving away 60 tickets to UFC 109" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/7)....Former Samsung Chair LEE-KUN HEE yesterday was reinstated as a "full member" of the IOC, a "boost for South Korea's bid to host" the '18 Winter Games. Lee's rights were "restored by the IOC executive board, although the IOC also gave him a public reprimand for tarnishing the Olympic movement and banned him from serving on any IOC commissions for five years." Lee "voluntarily gave up his IOC rights after being indicted in 2008 in a financial and tax evasion case" (AP, 2/7)....Padres Vice Chair & CEO JEFF MOORAD Saturday attended former Massachusetts Gov. MICHAEL DUKAKIS' speech at the City Club of San Diego (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/7).

IN MEMORY: BRENDAN BURKE, the youngest son of Maple Leafs Exec VP & GM BRIAN BURKE, died Friday at the age of 21 in a car accident in Indiana (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/6).