In Philadelphia, Frank Seravalli notes Sabres Owner and Penn State alum TERRY PEGULA Thursday "spoke out for the first time since the JERRY SANDUSKY scandal" erupted earlier this month. Pegula, who last year donated $88M to the school's fledgling Division-I hockey program, said, "I am standing behind the university. Our concern and compassion should be for the children involved in these terrible allegations. Whomever may have been involved in any way, anyone who knew anything, they've got to come clean. This is not about covering your ass. Telling the truth now will go a long way toward getting everyone through this." Pegula also said that his "involvement with the university was 'very narrowed' and 'hockey-centric,' mostly surrounding the arena that will bear his name" (PHILLY.com, 11/18).
DEBT REPORT: In Baltimore, Luke Broadwater reports the Baltimore Grand Prix' "turmoil has spread to the Federal Hill Neighborhood Association, with residents demanding the resignation of several board members over their handling of race funds." At issue is a "struggle over $10,000 in community impact funds that financially beleaguered Baltimore Racing Development Inc. gave to the neighborhood association as compensation for inconveniences the race caused the neighborhood." Several BOD members, including former President PAUL ROBINSON, have "proposed giving the funds back to Grand Prix organizers as they struggle to pay millions back to lenders and vendors" (Baltimore SUN, 11/18).
AWARDS SEASON: The White Sox were named recipients of the Commissioner's Award for Philanthropic Excellence, which was created in '10 to "recognize outstanding community efforts of a Major League club." MLB will give the White Sox a $10,000 grant (MLB.com, 11/17)....Univ. of Tennessee women's basketball coach PAT SUMMITT will receive an AARP The Magazine Inspire Award, which "pays tribute to people who inspire action in others." Summitt in August announced she has early onset dementia (ESPN.com, 11/17)....Professional MotorSport World Expo named IndyCar team Owner SARAH FISHER its team principal of the year. Fisher was honored Wednesday in Cologne, Germany (AP, 11/17)....ESPN's RECE DAVIS will emcee the 54th National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria on Dec. 6 (NFF)....ESPN's STEVE LEVY will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the 39th annual U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Dinner on Dec. 12 (USA Hockey)
NAMES: The U.K.'s Serious Fraud Office is "examining whether to conduct its own investigation into the bribery allegations surrounding" F1 Management Chair BERNIE ECCLESTONE, who has "admitted paying almost $23M to a German banker standing trial in Munich on corruption charges" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/18)....The Canadian Olympic Committee Thursday pledged C$5M to Own The Podium, a program that prepares Canadian athletes for medal performances at the Winter Games. The donation brought the COC's total contribution for the '09-12 Olympic cycle to C$25M, "making a statement to both the athletes themselves, and the program's detractors" (VANCOUVER SUN, 11/18)....First Lady MICHELLE OBAMA and Second Lady Dr. JILL BIDEN will serve as Grand Marshals for Sunday's Sprint Cup Series Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Obama and Biden will "offer the most famous words in racing, 'Gentlemen, start your engines'" (SPORTS NETWORK, 11/11)....Vikings DE JARED ALLEN appears in a "Rambo get-up" in this month's issue of Maxim, which is dedicated to the military. The magazine dubs Allen "The Rambo of the NFL" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/18).
