YAHOO SPORTS' Hart & Rogers reported rapper M.I.A. "may be in breach of contract" with the NFL after she gave an obscene gesture during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello said that the league "books all its own talent for the show, and has contractual stipulations with each performer regarding their behavior." Aiello "refused to say" if M.I.A. faces a potential financial penalty as a result of the incident (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/9). Meanwhile, Parents Television Council President TIM WINTER issued a statement on the incident, saying that "'NBC fumbled and the NFL lied' when it said the show would be 'appropriate' for families with young viewers." Winter: "The mechanism NBC had in place to catch this type of material completely failed, and the network cannot say it was caught off-guard. A simple apology rings hollow" (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 2/10).
FOR LOVE OF THE GAME: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Lacey Rose noted actor CLINT EASTWOOD has been named Creative Board Chair & Founding Shareholder of Back9Network, an "upcoming golf lifestyle network." Eastwood is an "avid golfer," owning the Tehama Golf Club in Carmel, Calif., and a stake in Pebble Beach. He will "meet with Back9 brass once per quarter to go over programming and casting choices for the network, which is currently in talks with distributors and is slated to launch later this spring" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 2/8).
BREAK A LEG: With the Broadway show "MAGIC/BIRD" scheduled to open April 15, Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON said, "When you think about Broadway and you think about Larry and I being on Broadway, it's definitely at its highest level and I don't think either one of us thought that we would be on Broadway." Actor KEVIN DANIELS, who plays Johnson, met with him Monday. Johnson said, "I told him the story about where I had to shoot the Converse commercial at Larry's house, which I wasn't too happy about." The NBA provided "historical footage that appears throughout the 90-minute show," which Producer FRAN KIRMSER said covers "draft to Dream Team" (AP, 2/8). Meanwhile, in Boston, Mark Murphy notes in his quest to learn everything possible about Basketball HOFer LARRY BIRD, TUG COKER, who plays Bird, has "driven to the French Lick and Terre Haute, and he has spoken face-to-face with people" there. Bird will be in the audience for the play's opening night (BOSTON HERALD, 2/10).
RACE TO THE FINISH: LANCE ARMSTONG Thursday announced that he will “race in at least five triathlons” with the goal of “qualifying for October’s world championships.” Four of the races will be 70.3 Ironmans. Armstrong’s “foray into triathlons also will be used as a fundraiser for Livestrong,” and he hopes to raise $1M for the foundation. Ironman is “donating four spots in its world championship in Hawaii in 2012 and 2013.” The spots will be “auctioned off, with proceeds going to Livestrong.” In addition, there will be “hundreds of spots available in other triathlons that Armstrong will race,” with a minimum donation of $1,500 to get one of those spots (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 2/10).
PARTY TIME: Actor CHARLIE SHEEN threw a Super Bowl party at his Beverly Hills home with a guest list that included Baseball HOFer JOE MORGAN, Dodgers 1B JAMES LONEY and former MLBers KENNY LOFTON and TODD ZEILE (CINCINNATI.com, 2/9)....U.S. Olympic Gold Medal-winning swimmer MICHAEL PHELPS "hit it off" with SEAN "DIDDY" COMBS during Combs' Super Bowl Party at Tao Las Vegas. Phelps also had dinner with Gold Medal-winning U.S. speedskater APOLO OHNO (N.Y. POST, 2/8).
NAMES: In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski notes Hockey HOFer GORDIE HOWE is "living with cognitive impairment." Howe's son, MARTY HOWE, said, "Gordie's had ... this condition I'd say for going on 12 to 13 years." Marty Howe said that he "has no doubt his father's condition is related to concussions, one of hockey's hot-button issues" (TORONTO STAR, 2/10)....New Haven Open CEO MIKE DAVIES has been elected to the Int'l Tennis HOF (AP, 2/9)….A’s VP & GM BILLY BEANE and his wife TARA plan to attend the Oscars on Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre. “MONEYBALL” has been nominated for six Academy Awards, including BRAD PITT for his portrayal of Beane (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/10)….Musician LENNY KRAVITZ is scheduled to perform at the Daytona 500 pre-race show (Daytona Int'l Speedway)….Phillies CF SHANE VICTORINO will guest star on a Feb. 20 episode of CBS' “HAWAII FIVE-0” (PHILLY.com, 2/10)….Red Sox 3B KEVIN YOUKILIS is engaged to Patriots QB TOM BRADY’s sister, JULIE (BOSTON HERALD, 2/10).
