A spokesperson for former VANOC CEO JOHN FURLONG said that Furlong, “whose reputation as the face of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics was tarnished earlier this year by decades-old allegations of abuse at a school in northern British Columbia, has filed a lawsuit targeting the weekly newspaper that first published the claims.” Furlong’s lawyers yesterday filed a statement of claim “targeting the owner of the Georgia Straight newspaper, reporter LAURA ROBINSON, publisher DANIEL MCLEOD and editor CHARLIE SMITH.” The CP’s James Keller reported the “free, weekly newspaper published a story on Sept. 27 that quoted eight former students who claimed Furlong hit, kicked and verbally abused them and other students during his time as a physical education teacher in the late 1960s and early 1970s” (CP, 11/27).
CHARITY STRIPE: The A’s have donated "a full playoff share to local and national charities.” The A’s share was $2,124,312.75, and the players “decided to split the money into 51 full shares, 9.786 partial shares, and 20 cash awards.” They took the 51st full share, worth $34,325.16, and “gave it to charities of their choosing.” The money will be “split up between the MLB Players Trust, UMPS CARE, Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, Oakland A’s Community Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area, United Way of the Bay Area, Donnie Moore Ministries and the ‘Strike 3 Foundation’” (CSNBAYAREA.com, 11/27)….ESPN has committed a donation of $1M to The V Foundation for Cancer Research (ESPN)….MLB Rangers P TANNER SCHEPPERS and Rangers Senior Exec VP JIM SUNDBERG presented a $7,500 check yesterday to the Azle Little League at Azle High School (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 11/28).
FASHION STATEMENT: Designer STELLA MCCARTNEY, who “created the kit worn by Great Britain’s record-breaking team” during the London Olympics, has been named designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards, the “British fashion industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony” (GUARDIAN, 11/28).
BREAKING GROUND: Hendrick Automotive Group will build a $55M, four-dealership auto mall on Bruton Smith Boulevard in Cabarrus County, N.C. Hendrick VP/Real Estate GENE COCCHI said that the auto mall “will be built on 40 acres across from Hendrick’s existing Toyota and Honda dealerships near Charlotte Motor Speedway.” Hendrick “hopes to open the new auto mall in late 2014” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/28).
NAMES: Former NFLer NAPOLEON HARRIS, who was recently elected to the Illinois Senate, said that it is “his plan to run for the 2nd Congressional District seat” formerly held by JESSE JACKSON JR. (CONTRACOSTATIMES.com, 11/27)….The UConn School of Business announced yesterday it is joining with UConn women’s basketball coach GENO AURIEMMA to host a “high-end leadership conference at Mohegan Sun Convention Center in April.” The program will be “called the Geno Auriemma UCONN Leadership Conference” (HARTFORD COURANT, 11/28)….IMG has signed golfer JAMES HAHN (IMG)….The Indiana Basketball HOF announced yesterday that “Hoosiers” director DAVID ANSPAUGH and screenwriter ANGELO PIZZO will be inducted into the HOF in March (ESPN.com, 11/27)….Former NFLer HINES WARD and figure skater JOHNNY WEIR will be featured in the upcoming season of Food Network’s “Rachael Vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off” (AJC.com, 11/26)….Red Sox P JOHN LACKEY, who “split with wife KRISTA earlier this year,” has put their Newport Beach, Calif., oceanfront mansion on the market for $9.9M (BOSTON HERALD, 11/28).
