In London, Tom Cary cites reports as indicating that F1 Management Chair BERNIE ECCLESTONE is "considering taking legal action" against former BayernLB Chief Risk Officer GERHARD GRIBKOWSKY, and "continues to insist that he was blackmailed by Gribkowsky, who was threatening to expose him to HMRC." Ecclestone said, "I have always said that we gave him money but it was not for what he said. He was shaking me down a bit and saying I had control of a family trust which was not true. He was doing the best he could. I was a little bit stupid -- normally I would have told him to get lost" (London TELEGRAPH, 6/22).
GAME CHANGER: Former MLBer CURT SCHILLING Friday appeared on Boston’s WEEI-FM’s “The Dennis & Callahan Morning Show” to talk about the bankruptcy of his 38 Studios and the financial after effects. Schilling said of the audits ordered by Rhode Island state officials, "They were so unhappy at the results, they ordered a third independent audit and when the same one came back, there was a fourth one. It’s almost like they’re trying so hard to find something that they’re going to find something. There’s nothing to find. I never did anything illegal. I didn’t get rich from this company. I actually did the opposite of that. When those conversations started, it was an incredibly uncomfortable time” (“The Dennis & Callahan Morning Show,” WEEI-FM, 6/22).
TEAMING UP: In N.Y., Justin Terranova noted NFL Giants QB ELI MANNING, Knicks G JEREMY LIN, MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations JOE TORRE, Rays 3B EVAN LONGORIA, Phillies SS JIMMY ROLLINS and MLS Galaxy MF DAVID BECKHAM this summer will "team up with the White House to produce a new public service announcement against dating violence." President BARACK OBAMA and VP JOE BIDEN "will also appear in the ads." The commercial will air this summer "on MLB Network, ESPN networks and Fox Sports cable networks, among others" (NYPOST.com, 6/21).
WE SALUTE YOU: In Virginia, David Teel writes under the header, "A Salute To UVa's Retiring Sports Publicist, RICH MURRAY." Friday marks Murray's retirement "after 40 years in sports information, 11 at JMU and the last 29" at the Univ. of Virginia (Newport News DAILY PRESS, 6/22).
MOTHER KNOWS BEST: DEBBIE PHELPS, mother of U.S. Gold Medal-winning swimmer MICHAEL PHELPS, appeared on NBC's "Today" Thursday morning and said, "I do like Brazil and Michael told me he would send me there on vacation, but he will not swim there." Phelps said she was visiting N.Y. to promote her work with The Century Council and "meet with mommy bloggers about underage drinking and healthy lifestyle" ("Today," NBC, 6/21).
NAMES: Broadcom Corp. co-Founder & Chair and Ducks Owner HENRY SAMUELI has won the '12 Marconi Society Prize & Fellowship, given annually to one or more scientists who advance technologies that benefit social, economic and cultural development (OCBJ.com, 6/19)....The Pro Football Writers of America selected Falcons GM THOMAS DIMITROFF as the winner of the '12 Jack Horrigan Award (AJC.com, 6/21)....Hurricanes Owner PETER KARMANOS JR. Thursday received the Community Impact Award at the '12 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award gala (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/22)....Spurs G TONY PARKER is suing N.Y. club W.i.P and its operators for $20M over a scratched retina he says he suffered during a fight involving singer CHRIS BROWN and members of hip-hop artist DRAKE's entourage (MYSANANTONIO.com, 6/21)....Raiders Assistant Athletic Trainer CHRIS CORTEZ recently "jumped into the Oakland estuary and swam to a sinking car to rescue the woman inside" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 6/21).
IN MEMORY: Senior U.S. District Court Judge and Tennis HOFer ROBERT KELLEHER has passed away at the age of 99. Kelleher was a former "tennis champion who captained the triumphant 1963 U.S. Davis Cup team." He and his late wife, GRACYN WHEELER KELLEHER, also won the mixed doubles championship in '47 (AP, 6/21).
