The GUARDIAN’s Owen Gibson reports FIFA Exec Committee member CHUCK BLAZER, who “kick-started the bribery scandal that threw the world governing body into crisis, has dismissed claims that his comments were part of an American conspiracy to re-open the disputed 2022 World Cup bidding process.” Blazer alleged that CONCACAF President JACK WARNER “had conspired with SEPP BLATTER's presidential challenger, MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM, to bribe 25 Caribbean football associations with $40,000 each.” The “majority of Caribbean Football Union members summoned to give evidence by FIFA's independent ethics committee at a three-day tribunal in Miami refused to attend,” and it is “understood the investigation could be widened to encompass other allegations of impropriety.” Blazer said, "To say there is an American conspiracy is nonsense. The only things that were American in this were the $100 bills. I am nothing to do with the investigation. If national associations do not respond to FIFA's summons that's up to FIFA to deal with it" (GUARDIAN, 6/8).
CHARITY STRIPE: In L.A., Mark Medina noted Lakers G KOBE BRYANT and his wife, VANESSA, “just started the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation aimed to reduce the number of homeless” in L.A. The Bryants yesterday visited My Friend’s Place, a nonprofit resource center on Hollywood Blvd (LATIMES.com, 6/7)....In New Jersey, Tara Sullivan profiled Nets GM BILLY KING, who has meetings planned with NBA and WNBA execs “to expand the efforts to work” with the Lemonade Stand Foundation, which “encourages kids nationwide to build their own lemonade stands and contribute the money they raise to research” (Bergen RECORD, 6/6).
HONORS & RECOGNITION: The Rotary Club of Tulsa Monday night honored Jets DE JASON TAYLOR, former U.S. women’s soccer MF KRISTINE LILLY and STEPHEN WAMPLER with the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards, presented annually to “recognize positive role models who excel in their sport and who show, by their actions, a desire to help others” (TULSA WORLD, 6/7)….Falcons Owner ARTHUR BLANK, who “has dealt with stuttering,” was honored by the American Institute for Stuttering at a gala event last night in N.Y. (AJC.com, 6/7)….St. Petersburg yesterday hosted a celebration for Indianapolis 500 winner DAN WHELDON and “issued a proclamation naming the day in honor” of the IndyCar driver. Wheldon has lived in the area since ’05 (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 6/8).
NAMES: Hurricanes Owner PETER KARMANOS “will step down” as Chair & CEO of Compuware, “the Detroit-based software development business he co-founded nearly four decades ago.” Karmanos will serve as Exec Chair and “hand over the top job” to current President & COO BOB PAUL (AP, 6/6)….Red Sox DH DAVID ORTIZ is closing his Big Papi’s Grille in Framingham, Mass., and “scouting a new location either at Faneuil Hall Marketplace” or in the Fenway Park area, “where he would compete with” NESN Red Sox analyst JERRY REMY’s restaurant (BOSTON HERALD, 6/8)….Lakers F RON ARTEST is “spending the off-season working on a potential new reality show called ‘LAST SECOND SHOT.’” The series, “which has not yet been picked up by a network, will focus on rehabilitating parolees” (N.Y. POST, 6/8)….Boxing promoter DON KING yesterday “sold his two-home” 41,000-square foot Manalapan, Fla., estate for $15.95M, or $4M “less than the asking price” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 6/8)….Lakers Assistant GM RONNIE LESTER “has sold his Manhattan Beach home” for $1.65M. He “purchased the property in 2002” for $1.3M (L.A. TIMES, 6/8).
