In London, Ashling O’Connor cites Switzerland Supreme Court documents as showing that former FIFA President JOAO HAVELANGE and his ex-son-in-law, former Brazilian Football Confederation President RICARDO TEIXEIRA, “took multimillion-dollar kickbacks on World Cup contracts.” The docs also “raised questions about how much SEPP BLATTER, the FIFA president, knew of the bribes.” In its “new era of proposed transparency, FIFA published the file on its website.” But the findings “pose the question why the pair were allowed to continue at FIFA if Blatter knew of the kickbacks that took place between 1989 and 1998” (LONDON TIMES, 7/12). Havelange “pocketed at least” US$1.5M and Teixeira “at least” US$12.9M (AFP, 7/11).
WRESTLED AWAY: In Hartford, Christopher Keating reports Connecticut U.S. Senate candidate LINDA MCMAHON “dropped the use of the University of Connecticut Huskies logo from her website Wednesday after a telephone call from the university.” McMahon had been “using the logo under the heading 'HUSKIES for Linda,'" featuring the blue and white Husky dog with a red tongue. Next to the logo were the words "Join the Coalition.'' UConn Associate AD/Communications MICHAEL ENRIGHT said, "They did not have permission to use the logo. They were happy to take it down.'' McMahon is running against former U.S. Rep. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS in the Republican primary (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/12).
IN THE COURTS: In Austin, John Maher reports Full Throttle Managing Partner TAVO HELLMUND, who was “once the face” of Austin’s impending F1 race, has “filed a lawsuit claiming his email account was hacked, allowing someone to obtain and delete some of his personal and business emails, including privileged communications with his attorneys.” The suit claims the hacking “was an invasion of Hellmund’s privacy and violated the Stored Electronic Communications Act” (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7/12).
NAMES: The NASCAR Foundation and the V Foundation for Cancer Research yesterday announced the “completion of a $500,000 donation" to Shands Hospital for Children at the Univ. of Florida. Each foundation donated $250,000 “in support of the pediatric oncology unit (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 7/12)….Devils President, CEO & GM LOU LAMORIELLO, former NHLer MIKE MODANO and NBC’s EDDIE OLCZYK will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey HOF (USA Hockey)….The Univ. of Tennessee women’s basketball head coach emeritus PAT SUMMIT received the Arthur Ashe Courage award and paralyzed Rutgers football player ERIC LEGRAND received the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs last night (ESPN)….Warriors C ANDRIS BIEDRINS reportedly is “in hot water for evading taxes” in his home country of Latvia. Biedrins is “being charged with two other people for evading taxes” on $20,000. If he is found guilty of the charges, the offenses “could carry jail time up to five years” (CSNBAYAREA.com, 7/10)….A Maker’s Mark employee said in an e-mail that the company this summer will offer a limited-edition bottle featuring Univ. of Louisville football coach CHARLIE STRONG. The bottle will be available for purchase beginning July 20 (SBNATION.com, 7/9)….Broncos QB PEYTON MANNING Tuesday purchased a seven-bedroom home in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., for $4.58M (DENVER POST, 7/12)….Hockey HOFer DOUG GILMOUR has listed his four-bedroom home in Toronto for $1.7M (TORONTOSTAR.com, 7/11)….Baseball HOFer HANK AARON recently visited the set of “42,” the movie about late HOFer JACKIE ROBINSON (AJC.com, 7/11)….Red Sox manager BOBBY VALENTINE yesterday attended a screening of his film “BALLPLAYER: PELOTERO,” at Boston’s Coolidge Corner Theatre (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/12)….Rangers G HENRIK LUNDQVIST and his wife, THERESE, welcomed their first child, daughter CHARLISE, on Monday (NYPOST.com, 7/12).
GAME CHANGERS: SportsBusiness Journal again this fall will shine the light on women who are making key contributions in sports business. If you know someone who should be considered for the second annual Game Changers: Women in Sports Business section, please send her name, company/title and -- in 300 words or less -- reason for consideration to women@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
