In N.Y., Keith Kelly notes Penguin USA's Celebra Books reportedly has "won a spirited auction for the post-Super Bowl memoir" of NFL Giants WR VICTOR CRUZ, with an "advance estimated to be in the mid-six-figure range." The deal was brokered in partnership with the Waxman Literary Agency's SCOTT WAXMAN. Cruz' reps are "hoping to get the manuscript completed and off to a printer by May so it will be ready to hit shelves in July -- in advance of the opening of NFL training camps in August" (N.Y. POST, 2/22).
FROM THE BENCH: In N.Y., Noah Rosenberg notes former Mets clubhouse manager CHARLIE SAMUELS "was arrested in May on charges that he had, over many years, effectively stolen hundreds of autographed and unsigned Mets jerseys, baseballs, bats, helmets and other team equipment worth more than $2 million." Yesterday, in exchange for an "expected sentence of five years probation, Samuels, who will be sentenced April 16, pleaded guilty to a lesser offense of criminal possession of stolen property" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/22).
ON THE WEB: In Chicago, Steve Hendershot profiled Meridix Creative Inc. Founder TYLER FERET, who started his Internet broadcasting company "using $4,000 he had saved from summer internships and borrowed from his parents." Not only did Meridix develop a "reliable, intuitive platform for online sportscasts; the company benefited from the Internet's capacity to stream live video and the explosion of handheld devices that make shooting games and uploading them child's play." The company "doesn't disclose revenue, but last year it had more than 500 clients paying up to $200 a month to use its service, ranging from smartphone-toting parents" to Georgetown Univ., Kansas Univ. and the Minnesota Sports Broadcast Network. The service webcast "8,000 games in 2011, up 60 percent from 2010." The company's ad-supported version is "free for broadcasters." Feret is "meeting with investors in hopes of accelerating his company's growth" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 2/20).
TALKING POLITICS: Republican presidential candidate MITT ROMNEY is expected to be at the Daytona Int'l Speedway on Sunday before the Daytona 500. Romney's campaign planned to be in town Friday for a fundraising reception hosted by ISC CEO LESA FRANCE KENNEDY, but next Tuesday's primary in Michigan is "too close for him to get away" (NEWS-JOURNALONLINE.com, 2/21)....Pro Football HOFer HARRY CARSON has "nixed a bid to run for Congress as a Democrat in New Jersey." Carson had been considering a run against five-term U.S. Rep. SCOTT GARRETT (R-N.J.) (AP, 2/22)
NAMES: Magic C DWIGHT HOWARD appears in a new public-service announcement to help Central Florida's homeless children (ORLANDOSENTINEL.com, 2/21)....NASCAR driver RYAN NEWMAN's foundation yesterday launched a revamped website, RyanNewmanFoundation.org, developed by Charlotte-based firm Fame Foundry (RNF)....Sources said that Knicks G JEREMY LIN is renting an "all-inclusive, impeccably furnished pad at the W Hotel" in N.Y.'s Financial District. The two-bedroom condo is 1,182-square-feet. Rents at the W reportedly range from $3,600- 8,900 per month (N.Y. POST, 2/22)....The Wisconsin state Assembly passed a resolution designating Dec. 12, 2012, as AARON RODGERS Day in honor of the Packers QB. The Assembly passed the resolution unanimously yesterday and sent it on to the state Senate (AP, 2/21)....Yankees 3B ALEX RODRIGUEZ and SS DEREK JETER Friday attended Bobcats Owner MICHAEL JORDAN's 49th birthday party at Miami's Forge restaurant. The surprise dinner was organized by Jordan's fiancee, YVETTE PRIETO, and PAULA ABDUL, who sang "Happy Birthday" (N.Y. POST, 2/22)....Patriots President JONATHAN KRAFT and his son sat courtside at the Duke-Boston College men's basketball game last night, and were rooting for BC (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/22)....GMR Marketing Senior Dir of Client Strategy JONATHAN NORMAN is serving as the arena announcer for Marquette Univ. men's and women's basketball games this season (THE DAILY).
