In Arizona, Craig Harris reports the Fiesta Bowl has "severed ties with four former board chairmen." CHUCK JOHNSON, STEVE HORRELL, MIKE ALLEN and DAVID TILSON will no longer be allowed to serve as volunteer "life directors." At "one point, all had prominent positions with the bowl and had close ties to" former President & CEO JOHN JUNKER, who was fired as a result of an investigation into the organization. Cutting ties with the four former chairs is the "latest move the bowl has undertaken to restore its image as it fights to keep its elite status among college postseason games." The Fiesta Bowl "should find out later this month whether the reforms are enough to keep its operating license with the NCAA." Harris notes the bowl has "hired one former chairman, ALAN YOUNG, to be its paid chief of staff at $110,000 a year" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/4).
IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY: In K.C., Randy Covitz profiles 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge DUANE BENTON, who "could have the fate of the National Football League in his hands" when the court rules on the appeal of the ruling that the lockout is illegal. Benton taught at the Univ. of Missouri School of Law "for seven years," and school Dean R. LAWRENCE DESSEM said, "He focuses very carefully on the law. He is somebody who will read and digest all the material. ... He will ask very good questions of the lawyers." When asked what "matters most to him away from the courtroom," Benton said, "Church ... family ... home" (K.C. STAR, 5/4).
AGENT BEAT: YAHOO SPORTS' Adrian Wojnarowski cited sources as saying that former BYU G JIMMER FREDETTE "has agreed to sign with Octagon to be his agent in the NBA" after an "intensely competitive courtship." Octagon agents JEFF AUSTIN and CHRIS EMENS "will represent Fredette," who is "expected to be selected somewhere in the top half of the first round" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 5/3)....Texans RB ARIAN FOSTER yesterday announced that Raleigh-based French/West/Vaughan is his new marketing and PR agency of record. Priority Sports & Entertainment's MIKE MCCARTNEY represents Foster for all football-related matters (FWV)....SportsBusiness Journal's Liz Mullen on Twitter reported CAA Sports has signed Falcons CB BRENT GRIMES for representation. Agents BEN DOGRA and TOM CONDON will represent him (TWITTER.com, 5/3).
HONORS & RECOGNITIONS: Brewers radio announcer BOB UECKER "was presented with the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame award in a pregame ceremony" before last night's scheduled Brewers-Braves game "because he can't attend the dinner in Salisbury, N.C. on May 16." Uecker is "being inducted along with" ESPN/ABC announcer BRENT MUSBURGER and Boston Globe columnist BOB RYAN (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 5/4)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT, his wife, MYRA, and the Kraft family last night were inducted into the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce's Academy of Distinguished Bostonians "for their contributions to the community." The induction took place during the chamber's annual dinner at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/4)....Former PGA Tour Commissioner DEANE BEMAN “will be honored with the Byron Nelson Prize” on May 24 before the PGA Tour HP Byron Nelson Championship. The award “embodies the philanthropic spirit for which the late Nelson was known” (DALLASNEWS.com, 5/3).
NAMES: An auction of RED AUERBACH’s memorabilia raised $785,550 for the family of the late Basketball HOF coach. Auerbach’s ’81 NBA Championship ring sold for $82,727, the “highest selling item in the collection” (BOSTON HERALD, 5/4)….Heat F CHRIS BOSH is “suing the mother of his child who is starring in the third season of VHI reality show ‘BASKETBALL WIVES’ for infringing his trademark and publicity rights.” Bosh, who named ALLISON MATHIS and Producer SHED MEDIA in the suit, claims that “his consent was required for use of his mark -- his name -- and that the reality show is likely to confuse the public into thinking he authorized or sponsored” the show (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 5/3)….Lakers Owner JERRY BUSS visited the team’s training facility yesterday to see his daughter, Exec VP/Business Operations JEANIE BUSS, and Lakers players “interpreted it as a symbolic appearance 12 hours after” they lost to the Mavericks. It is “rare for Buss to be at practice” (L.A. TIMES, 5/4)….Palm Beach Gardens police yesterday arrested PATENEMA OUEDRAOGO, who is accused of stalking tennis player SERENA WILLIAMS (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/4).
