MLB.com’s Jon Star notes MLB Exec VP/Baseball Development JIMMIE LEE SOLOMON was among “an eclectic group of artists, actors and other executives from the fields of media and sports to be recognized for making a positive impact beyond their regular public perch” by the National Action Network. Solomon was “honored for his work in expanding Major League Baseball's campaigns that not only foster diversity and benefit those in need, but target urban and inner-city youths, most notably through the Urban Youth Academies program.” In addition to MLB's Urban Youth Academies, Solomon's efforts include “the annual Civil Rights Game, the Futures Game, Minor League operations and a number of other events and campaigns in baseball development” (MLB.com, 10/20).
ON THE RECORD: Game Face Marketing Founder & President ROB CORNILLES’ company was “hit with a federal tax lien in 2007, public records show, making him the second candidate in Oregon's 1st Congressional District race to acknowledge a problem with paying taxes.” The IRS lien showed that Cornilles' company “owed $83,284 in federal taxes.” The amount “was paid off three months later.” Cornilles said that the “problem was caused by an inexperienced bookkeeper who failed to pay federal payroll taxes for nine months, then hid the late notices from the IRS in her desk drawer” (THE OREGONIAN, 10/20).
NAMES: The USOC has “kicked off an online campaign featuring NASTIA LIUKIN, BRYAN CLAY and other American athletes touring London before next year’s Summer Games.” In the first episode, which went live Monday, Liukin “tours Westminister Abbey, the London Eye and the O2 Arena, the site of next year’s Olympic gymnastics” (AP, 10/19)….The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded former NFLer BRIAN GRIESE and the Reds Community Fund the Patterson Award for Excellence in Sports Philanthropy (RWJF)....NASCAR President MIKE HELTON, action sports star TRAVIS PASTRANA, former driver KYLE PETTY and comedian RON WHITE “were among those at the WALTRIP Brothers’ Charity Championship dinner Wednesday night with DARRELL the man being roasted in honor of his January induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.” Darrell was “called away on business and missed the silent auction and dinner” (AP, 10/19)....IMG Media Exec VP BARRY FRANK will be a featured guest at the Univ. of Massachusetts' Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management beginning Nov. 8 as part of the school's Executive-in-Residence program (UMass)....ESPN analyst JOHN MCENROE was seen in Las Vegas “rushing into the Hard Rock Hotel in time for STEVIE NICKS’ last set Saturday after participating in the legends tennis series event at Thomas & Mack Center” (LVRJ.com, 10/19)….Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN was seen at Southern Hospitality in Hell’s Kitchen (N.Y. POST, 10/20).
IN MEMORY: Award-winning AP Photographer ED REINKE died late Tuesday. He had been “hospitalized since Oct. 2, when he fell and suffered a head injury while covering” the Kentucky Indy 300 at Kentucky Speedway (AP, 10/19).
