Nebraska residents PATRICIA DAVIS and PATRICIA DUNCAN are suing Cubs co-Owner JOE RICKETTS, "claiming he fired them from his Omaha-based charity after they accused its chief operating officer of sexual harassment." Davis and Duncan filed a federal lawsuit against Ricketts and the Opportunity Education Foundation, alleging that the COO "discussed his own sex life and made inappropriate comments about women's physical appearance." Ricketts' attorney yesterday said that the "lawsuit and its allegations were meritless" (AP, 6/22).
A DAY TO CELEBRATE: Gold Medal-winning swimmer MICHAEL PHELPS appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning as part of the celebration of Olympic Day, which NBC's MATT LAUER called a “worldwide celebration of the birth of the modern Olympic Games.” Phelps said of Olympic Day, “Being able to have a day like this where we're almost a year out of the Olympics and we can celebrate the modern Olympics. For me, it's such a huge part of my life and growing up and watching it and finally being able to compete in it. Every single time the Olympics comes around -- whether it’s winter or summer -- you really see the country come together." Lauer said Phelps’ foundation has “grown substantially since you started it back in 2008 and it’s getting bigger.” Phelps: “It's teaching kids how to swim, but also teaching people sort of everyday things that you can use throughout your life: healthy and active lifestyles” (“Today,” NBC, 6/23).
JUST FOR KICKS: Suns G STEVE NASH held his fourth annual charity soccer game in Manhattan yesterday, bringing together an "odd cross-section of athletes." One team included Suns F GRANT HILL, Spurs G TONY PARKER, Bucks G BRANDON JENNINGS and former French soccer star YOURI DJORKAEFF, while Nash's team included Raptors G LEANDRO BARBOSA, Jazz G RAJA BELL and Italy soccer MF GIUSEPPE ROSSI (WSJ.com, 6/22).
NAMES: NEWSWEEK takes a look at the biggest yachts in the world, and EPL club Chelsea Owner ROMAN ABRAMOVICH owns the "world's largest boat." At 557 feet long, "Eclipse" cost $500M and "comes equipped with its own missile-detection system." Also, Trail Blazers and Seahawks Owner PAUL ALLEN "throws glitzy parties for celebs" on board of "Octopus," his 414-foot yacht (NEWSWEEK, 6/27 issue)....The ECHL BOG has selected Stockton Thunder President DAN CHAPMAN as the league's Exec of the Year for the '10-11 season (ECHL)....Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT yesterday revealed an incentive program that will allow workers at some downtown Detroit companies to "qualify for cash incentives to buy or rent a home in the downtown area" (FREEP.com, 6/22)....ESPN's MIKE DITKA Tuesday said that he and Univ. of Wisconsin AD BARRY ALVAREZ have roles in the final episode of "ENTOURAGE," which begins its final season on HBO in July (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 6/22)....Actor DAN AYKROYD, a native of Canada, will serve as Grand Marshal for the Honda Indy Toronto on July 10 (CP, 6/22).
