In Philadelphia, Kate Fagan profiles prospective 76ers Owner JOSHUA HARRIS and writes he "seems like a man with few weaknesses." Harris, whose purchase of the team is pending approval by the NBA BOG, is a "billionaire, a respected businessman, a family man and an athlete -- not necessarily listed in order of importance." He ran the '10 N.Y. Marathon in a time of 3:53:41, has "five children with his wife, MARJORIE," and according to Forbes is "worth $1.2 billion." Harris "recently attended his 20-year reunion for Harvard Business School and came across as the same guy ... kind, down-to-earth, charming, clearly the smartest in a room filled with intelligence" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 8/2).
COURT REPORT: The AP's Linda Deutsch reported CLAUDIA LIETE yesterday testified in a "wrongful-firing case" against Pacers Owner HERB SIMON and his wife, BUI. Liete, a former nanny for the Simons, claims that they "fired her in February 2010 when they found out she was pregnant and they failed to pay wages that were due to her." The Simons "contend they fired Liete because she was in conflict with another member of the household staff and caused dissension in the home." Deutsch noted Liete is "seeking compensatory and punitive damages but has not specified an amount" (AP, 8/1).
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Gardner's proudest accomplishment with the Astros
is signing Minute Maid to a naming-rights deal |
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: In K.C., Kellis Robinett profiled Kansas State Univ. AD JOHN CURRIE, who has "boosted fundraising efforts and helped K-State become one of five public Division I schools nationally to reduce spending and operate with a budget surplus" during the '09-10 FY. K-State is "renovating and expanding despite facing serious budget concerns and embarrassing mishaps months before" Currie was hired (K.C. STAR, 7/30)....ESPNW.com's Whitney Holtzman profiled Astros President of Business Operations PAM GARDNER as part of the site's "Power Play" series. Gardner said her "proudest accomplishment was when we acquired Minute Maid as a naming rights partner" for the team's ballpark. Gardner: "We had Enron as a naming rights partner when we opened the stadium in 2000, and by 2001 Enron was gone. We had to hit the pavement and find a new partner. Within six months, we'd found Minute Maid." Meanwhile, Gardner said of women in sports, "Those of us who are in the business need to teach those who are up and coming in the field. Let's celebrate the sisterhood" (ESPNW.com, 8/1).
ENTERTAINMENT BEAT: Starz Media is "close to ordering up a pilot about the first woman to ever own her own NASCAR team and her uphill race to secure corporate sponsors that insiders are describing" as a "red state 'MAD MEN.'" The one-hour original drama, "tentatively titled 'TITS IN THE PITS,'" is set in the present day and "follows the jilted wife of a legendary driver who seeks revenge by courting sponsors from Madison Avenue and building her own NASCAR team from scratch" (NYMAG.com, 8/1)....Vikings QB DONOVAN MCNABB and his dog will be part of Fox' series "THE WOLFKEEPER," which will feature interviews with celebrities about "balancing hectic schedules with their canine family." Lions RB MIKEL LESHOURE and former NFLer GLENN BOYKIN also "will be part of the first season" (MANKATO FREE PRESS, 8/1).
HALL CALL: The U.S. Hockey HOF yesterday announced that it will induct NBC announcer MIKE EMRICK and Comcast-Spectacor Chair ED SNIDER this fall. Emrick's introduction "makes him the first broadcaster in the United States Hall." Snider "was recognized in part for his foundation that builds and renovates rinks in Philadelphia and teaches hockey to inner-city children" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/2). Emrick "has called 13 Stanley Cup finals, as well as the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal game between Canada and the United States" (NJ.com, 8/1).
NAMES: ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reported HISASHI IWAKUMA, “one of the top starting pitchers in Japan,” has hired Sosnick-Cobbe Sports agent PAUL COBBE as a “prelude to coming” to MLB next season (ESPN.com, 8/1)….The Vikings and the Univ. of North Dakota have partnered to launch a $10,000 “Vikings + UND Scholarship.” The scholarship is available for an incoming freshman in ’12, and the winner will be selected based on several academic standards (Vikings)….Chargers Special Counsel MARK FABIANI has contributed $1,000 to the L.A. mayoral campaign of city Controller WENDY GREUEL, who “was at one time considered for a seat on a working group exploring” a possible downtown L.A. football stadium (SIGNONSANDIEGO.com, 8/1)….Ducks Owner HENRY SAMUELI is the sixth wealthiest resident in Orange County, Calif., with an estimated net worth of $2.3B (ORANGE COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/1 issue).
