In N.Y., Nick Corasaniti cites a list published by hoopshype.com that notes “eight of the 10 NBA owners who have made contributions to the candidates’ campaigns so far have donated” to MITT ROMNEY’s campaign “for a total $49,000.” Wizards owner TED LEONSIS and Lakers Exec VP/Strategic Development JOHNNY BUSS donated to President BARACK OBAMA’s campaign for "a total of only $6,100.” A study last year by the Center for Responsive Politics found that “two-thirds of political donations from NFL owners went to the Republican party, candidates and committees.” And a recent article by WNYC.org "found that owners of teams in the four major sports donated $1.25 million to Republicans and $750,000 to Democrats” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/21). Meanwhile, Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS "has thrown down $133,000 in donations to support the Romney campaign" (BROWARDPALMBEACH.com, 7/21).
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| George Soros has taken a 7.9% stake in EPL club Manchester United |
CENTER BACK: A regulatory filing yesterday showed Soros Fund Management Chair
GEORGE SOROS took a 7.9% stake in EPL club Manchester United. ManU has now raised US$233.3M since its IPO (
N.Y. POST, 8/21). The FINANCIAL TIMES’ Jones & Massoudi note ManU shares have “had a rough start since their debut at an initial price of $14 a share.” The company’s stock “closed at $13.06 on Monday, down 6.7 per cent since the IPO” (
FINANCIAL TIMES, 8/21).
TIME TO SHINE: In Miami, David Neal profiled Florida Int'l Univ. AD PETE GARCIA and wrote FIU “is a compact flawed program with room to grow.” This academic year “is not just the last for FIU in the Sun Belt Conference before moving into Conference USA, but it is the first after serving the NCAA punishments for the problems that prompted Garcia’s hiring” (MIAMI HERALD, 8/19).
CHARITY STRIPE: The Univ. of North Carolina yesterday announced Bears DE JULIUS PEPPERS “has donated $250,000 to UNC’s Light on the Hill Society Scholarship fund, which supports African-American students.” The donation comes days after Peppers “confirmed that it was his academic transcript that was found on the university’s website, showing that numerous classes in the Afro and African-American Studies department helped him stay eligible.” Peppers in ’09 donated $100,000 to the same scholarship fund (ESPN.com, 8/20)....Colts Owner JIM IRSAY is “offering to match the first $6,000 donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul” in Indianapolis. The group’s effort “to feed the hungry was set back by vandals who damaged one truck, destroyed two others and stole air conditioner coils from the food pantry site” (WIBC.com, 8/20)....MLB Cardinals LF MATT HOLLIDAY and “more than a dozen of his teammates gathered” at The Country Club of St. Albans for “an annual charity event” on Monday. For the “previous nine years the celebrity golf tournament, which benefits the Pujols Family Foundation, had been named for and hosted by” Angels 1B ALBERT PUJOLS. Pujols Family Foundation Exec Dir TODD PERRY “approached Holliday earlier this year about adding his name to the tournament” and he “agreed soon after the invitation” (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/21).
OLYMPIC FEVER: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT hosted four members of the U.S. Olympic team -- gymnast ALY RAISMAN, judoka KAYLA HARRISON, swimmer ELIZABETH BEISEL and basketball player ASJHA JONES -- at the team's home preseason game against the Eagles last night. The New England natives sat in Kraft’s suite (ESPNBOSTON.com, 8/20)….U.S. women’s soccer team F ALEX MORGAN has signed with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for a three-book series for middle schoolers called "The Kicks." The first novel is due out next summer (THE DAILY)….The U.S. women’s gymnastics team will present an award at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6 (AP, 8/20).
NAMES: NFL Panthers Owner JERRY RICHARDSON “plans on making the New York Giants part of the Charlotte Chamber’s annual VIP trip.” Richardson “called in a favor from” Giants President & CEO JOHN MARA for the chamber’s “fall visit to New York, securing a delegation tour of MetLife Stadium." Richardson “has hired a consultant to study and make recommendations for a revamp" of Bank of America Stadium, which “may need public funding -- and chamber backing” (CHARLOTTE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/17 issue)....Four Basketball HOFers “have been selected as the 2012 recipients of the Lapchick Character Award.” CATHY RUSH, C.M. NEWTON, MORGAN WOOTTEN and the late PETE NEWELL will “be presented at a luncheon at the New York Athletic Club on Nov. 15” (AP, 8/20)....Former NFLer JOE THEISMANN reportedly has a cameo in the second season of USA Network’s “Necessary Roughness.” Theismann will “play himself” in the 16th episode, where he “expresses interest in getting involved in the management side of the New York Hawks football team” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/20)….Former MLBer JEFF KENT will appear on CBS’ “Survivor: Philippines,” which debuts Sept. 19 (EW.com, 8/20)….Patriots QB TOM BRADY and wife GISELE BUNDCHEN are expecting their second child (BOSTON HERALD, 8/21).
