Former FIFA Exec Committee member MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM had his “lifetime ban by FIFA annulled by the court of arbitration for sport.” The ruling will “cause huge embarrassment" to FIFA, whose ethics committee "imposed the lifetime ban for bribery a year ago.” While Bin Hammam has “not been proven innocent by CAS the appeal has been upheld on the grounds of a lack of evidence.” FIFA can “bring fresh proceedings against Bin Hammam if the revamped ethics committee has any new evidence.” Bin Hamman was “found guilty by FIFA’s ethics committee last year of paying bribes to Caribbean officials while campaigning against SEPP BLATTER for the presidency” (PA, 7/18).
LEGAL MATTER: The father of a 6-year-old girl who was struck by a foul ball at Turner Field has filed a lawsuit against the Braves, its owner Liberty Media Corp. and MLB Enterprises. The girl was hit by a foul ball at the Aug. 30, 2010 Mets-Braves game, “fracturing her skull" and "damaging her brain.” The lawsuit claims that the defendants were “negligent for failing to provide proper protection” for the girl. The suit, filed Monday in Fulton County State Court, seeks “unspecified damages for the girl's pain and suffering, punitive damages and compensation for the family's medical expenses, which are expected to exceed $100,000” (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 7/19).
THAT'S A RAP: The MLB Fan Cave yesterday hosted an album release party for rapper NAS, whose newest release, “LIFE IS GOOD,” came out this week. Nas, a Queens native and a Mets fan, performed for more than 500 fans at the Fan Cave while wearing a Mets cap. The performance was part of the MLB Fan Cave Concert Series (MLB).
LOOK IT UP: The sixth edition of the Chinese dictionary “implemented a number of new words to make for a more ‘fashionable’ presentation with an online emphasis.” One of the new words is NBA, which can replace the league's Chinese abbreviation, "Mei Zhi Lan.” The move “makes sense considering more fans know the league as the NBA than identify it as ‘Mei Zhi Lan’” (USATODAY.com, 7/18).
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Ferrell (r) and Dempster enjoy some pizza
prior to the ceremonial first pitch |
NAMES: Actors WILL FERRELL and ZACH GALIFIANAKIS “made an appearance at Wrigley Field Tuesday night before the Cubs-Marlins game for the Whistle Stop Tour, promoting their new movie 'THE CAMPAIGN,' which opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, Aug. 10.” Prior to throwing out the first pitch, Ferrell and Galifianakis “enjoyed a slice of Chicago deep dish pizza” with Cubs P RYAN DEMPSTER (CSNCHICAGO.com, 7/18)….The Univ. of Oregon will be “paying its football assistants more than $3.2 million during the 2012 season, a nearly 40% increase over 2011 that’s likely to place the school among the nation’s football compensation elite” (USA TODAY, 7/19)….Former Braves manager BOBBY COX yesterday was named Chair of Adairsville, Ga.-based Northside Bank (AJC.com, 7/18)….Sources said that LINDA PIZZUTI HENRY is “expecting baby No. 2” with husband, Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY (BOSTON HERALD, 7/19).
