FAU President MARY JANE SAUNDERS is resigning, citing the "fiercely negative media coverage" the school received in the wake of the naming-rights controversy with GEO Group. Her resignation "takes effect in 90 days." FAU has been "rocked by unwanted national attention this year," as the school's Board of Trustees in February "ignited a firestorm" by accepting a pledge of $6M over 12 years from GEO Group in exchange for the naming rights to FAU's football stadium. A group of students and others "protested, criticizing the Boca Raton-based prison contractor's human rights record at facilities it manages" (PALM BEACH POST, 5/16). FAU is "looking for a new leader -- and a new public image -- after a series of controversies prompted" Saunders to step down (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 5/16).
COURT REPORT: Freeh Group Int'l Solutions, owned by former FBI Director LOUIS FREEH, will "oppose Browns owner JIMMY HASLAM's family business, Pilot Flying J, in litigation over Pilot's rebate program" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/16). Meanwhile, Alabama-based Osborn Transportation has sued Pilot Flying J, claiming that Haslam's employees were instructed "how to defraud trucking companies." The suit claims losses of more than $75,000 and is the sixth federal lawsuit filed over Pilot Flying J's rebate program (CLEVELAND.com, 5/15).
BOOKSHELF: Basketball HOFer PHIL JACKSON's new memoir, "Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success," will be available next Tuesday. Jackson "often refused to compare KOBE BRYANT to MICHAEL JORDAN, but he does so on several occasions in his new book, co-written with HUGH DELEHANTY and published by Penguin Press" (L.A. TIMES, 5/16)....MLS Sporting KC G JIMMY NIELSEN “opens up about his gambling addiction as well as his professional soccer career” in his autobiography, “Welcome To The Blue Heaven: Don’t Bet Against The Goalkeeper,” co-written by PAOLO BANDINI (K.C. STAR, 5/16).
NAMES: CBS President & CEO LESLIE MOONVES is featured in USA TODAY’s "Innovators and Icons," saying his favorite app is MLB At Bat. His MLB At Bat and ESPN ScoreCenter apps are “opened often.” Moonves: “I’m a big baseball fan.” The Dodgers and Mets are his teams, but he added, “When I got rich, I became a Yankees fan” (USA TODAY, 5/16)....Kraft Group reps recently “attended one of a series of presentations for potential bidders and investors” in the Boston Globe (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 5/16)....Grizzlies Owner ROBERT PERA is “back to being one of the youngest billionaires in the world, less than a year after falling out of the ranks of the wealthiest last June” (FORBES.com, 5/14)....Golf HOFer ARNOLD PALMER last night was the honorary chair of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund Banquet in Boston. Palmer was joined by golfer PETER JACOBSEN, Golf Channel host RICH LERNER and author MARK FROST (BOSTON HERALD, 5/16)....The WNBA Fever will “serve as the grand marshals” of the 56th annual IPL 500 Festival Parade on May 25 (INDYSTAR.com, 5/15)....Agent SCOTT BORAS is listing his “luxury condo” at The Plaza in Irvine, Calif., through his wife JEANETTE. Boras is asking $1.95M for the 2,685-square-foot condo (REALTOR.com, 5/14)....AHL Norfolk Admirals coach and former Blackhawks coach TRENT YAWNEY has listed his five-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home in Park Ridge, Ill., for $1.1M (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 5/16).
IN MEMORY: Former Royals Dir of Broadcast Services & Royals Alumni FRED WHITE yesterday “died of complications from melanoma” at the age of 76. His death came “one day after he officially retired from the club following a 40-year association.” There are “no details at this time regarding funeral arrangements” (K.C. STAR, 5/16).
