In L.A., Bill Shaikin reported FRANK MCCOURT has “severed ties with Bingham McCutchen, the law firm whose attorney drew up the faulty agreement that could cost McCourt ownership of the Dodgers.” McCourt parted ways with Bingham “late last month” after L.A. Superior Court Judge SCOTT GORDON “threw out an agreement that would have given McCourt sole ownership of the team.” Legal analysts have suggested that McCourt “might sue the law firm, claiming its actions cost him the team” (L.A. TIMES, 1/29).
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Druley oversees production of ESPN's
NFL studio shows |
LEADING LADY: In Dallas, Barry Horn profiles STEPHANIE DRULEY, ESPN’s Senior Coordinating Producer for NFL studio shows. In the “testosterone-crazed world of NFL television, Druley rules the ESPN roost.” Anything that “gets on one of the ESPN networks goes through her.” She said that she “never gets raised eyebrows or sideward glances when she is introduced to the scores of players or coaches who stream through the ESPN sets at the Super Bowl as ‘the boss.’” Druley: “I think sports in general is a man’s business. But it has never been an issue for me. I grew up here at ESPN. Everybody here knows me. I have earned a lot of respect here” (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/31).
MARK IN REAL LIFE: CBS has “picked up” a 30-minute comedy pilot, “HOME GAME,” inspired by the life of former NFLer and current ESPN analyst MARK SCHLERETH. Schlereth will help produce the TV show, “about a retired NFL player who returns home to his wife and daughters.” CBS also recently picked up a “workplace comedy pilot” inspired by ESPN’s COLIN COWHERD and his radio show (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 1/28).
CHARITY STRIPE: CBS NFL analyst DAN MARINO and his foundation on Saturday hosted WalkAbout Autism, which attracted about 6,000 walkers in Miami including IndyCar driver HELIO CASTRONEVES and former NFLer MARK DUPER. The money raised, estimated by Marino to be more than $500,000, benefits several Autism organizations in the South Florida area (MIAMI HERALD, 1/30)….First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA has teamed with the NHL and USA Hockey to produce a PSA as part of her “Let’s Move!” initiative. The 30-second spot, filmed at the White House, speaks to the health benefits of playing hockey. The spot was shown at RBC Center during the NHL's All-Star Weekend festivities (USA Hockey)….The New Balance Foundation has donated $7M to Children’s Hospital Boston, earmarked for the New Balance Foundation Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention, Clinical Research & Care (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/29).
NAMES: An Illinois appellate court last week ruled in favor of Blackhawks Chair ROCKY WIRTZ and “overturned a popular $31 billion public works program on a procedural issue.” If the Illinois Supreme Court “agrees with the lower appellate court, Wirtz Beverage Illinois would get a more than $50 million tax refund plus interest (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/30)….Vikings Owner ZYGI WILF is the Exec Producer of "LIKE CRAZY," the "hottest film" at the Sundance Film Festival. It was the "first movie of the festival to nab a deal, as Paramount Pictures snapped up the film for a guaranteed" $4M (THEPOSTGAME.com, 1/27)....Steelers WR HINES WARD "was named the recipient of the 2011 Art Rooney Award." The award "will be presented April 7 at the 38th Annual Art Rooney Award Dinner and Auction at the Westin Convention Center Hotel" in Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 1/30)....Astros GM ED WADE ran yesterday's Chevron Houston Marathon in 4:39:03, "an improvement of better than 10 minutes since his last marathon" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 1/31).
IN MEMORY: Bears VP TIM MCCASKEY died yesterday after a 17-month battle with cancer. McCaskey was the second oldest of ED and VIRGINIA MCCASKEY's children. He joined the Bears in '93, and his "initial role was to spearhead the team's efforts to get a new stadium built." Hiring McCaskey was also a means for his brother, Bears Chair MICHAEL MCCASKEY, to "concentrate more on football matters" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/31).
