Former CBS Sports Producer FRANK CHIRKINIAN will be inducted into the World Golf HOF on May 9 "in the category of Lifetime Achievement." Chirkinian is "one of the true mavericks and original thinkers in the game." When it "became widely known last month that he was undergoing treatment for advanced lung cancer, the World Golf Hall of Fame board ... held an emergency vote, and Chirkinian was elected" (GOLF.com, 2/9). Chirkinian, who produced golf on CBS from '69-96, "developed innovations such as blimp shots and microphones on tee boxes" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/10). Chirkinian directed 38 consecutive Masters telecasts and was "such a unique persona he played himself" in the movie "Tin Cup" (THEGOLFCHANNEL.com, 2/9).
THE WILDCATS' MEOW: Univ. of Kentucky AD MITCH BARNHART has agreed to a "contract extension through 2019, a deal that will increase his annual salary to $600,000." The new deal marks a "raise of $125,000 annually for Barnhart, who has been at UK since 2003." Incentives in the deal include $100,000 if UK's football team "plays in a BCS bowl and $25,000 for appearances by either the men's or women's basketball teams in an NCAA Final Four." He also may receive a bonus of up to $50,000 for other incentives "relating to the accomplishment of defined goals." Barnhart "will be paid a retention bonus of $50,000 on June 30 of each contract year." If UK wishes to replace Barnhart, the school would owe him a "buyout of $475,000 annually for five years" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 2/10).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST? In Phoenix, Mike Sunnucks noted D'Backs Managing General Partner KEN KENDRICK's wife, RANDY, "serves on the Goldwater Institute board, which is considering a lawsuit to quash a deal" between Glendale and prospective Coyotes Owner MATTHEW HULSIZER. If Glendale "can't seal the $197 million bond and arena management deal, the Coyotes likely will move back to Canada." That would "leave one less major league competitor for the Diamondbacks and other teams amid the saturated Phoenix sports market and continued weak economy." Goldwater CEO DARCY OLSEN said that she "doesn't know how the Kendricks feel about the Coyotes deal" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 2/9).
HOOTIE & HOLLER: Singer DARIUS RUCKER, in an agreement with record company Capitol Nashville, "has produced a song named after" the PGA Tour's "Together, Anything's Possible" charitable campaign. The song "can be downloaded from iTunes with all proceeds going to PGA Tour Charities." Rucker: "When the PGA Tour called and asked me to do a song, that was a no-brainer for me. I was really honored that they would ask me to do it." He said that the Tour "asked him to incorporate the slogan into the song, and Rucker decided to make it the title" (AP, 2/9).
NAMES: Sporting News named Falcons GM THOMAS DIMITROFF NFL Exec of the Year. Voting was held before the playoffs. Dimitroff received 13 votes, ahead of Chiefs GM SCOTT PIOLI (8) and Buccaneers GM MARK DOMINIK (7) (AJC.com, 2/9)....Comedy Central has picked up the series "SPORTS SHOW WITH NORM MACDONALD." The net "has placed an eight-episode order for the show," which is "scheduled to begin production this week and is slated for an April premiere." The series will feature the comedian's "take on topical and controversial stories from the sports world and will be taped in front of a live studio audience" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 2/9)....Knicks F AMAR'E STOUDEMIRE "did a photo shot for Vogue's April issue" (N.Y. POST, 2/10)....Heat F LEBRON JAMES and rapper LIL WAYNE "apparently are back on speaking terms." James offered "a 'What's up?' nod toward" the musician at Tuesday's Pacers-Heat game. When asked if he and James "now were cool," Lil Wayne said, "Oh, yeah, yeah" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 2/10).
