In Salt Lake City, Whitehurst & Falk in a front-page piece report a three-month investigation paid for by the Univ. of Utah found that former swim coach GREG WINSLOW “used ‘fear and intimidation’ that may have amounted to psychological abuse for some of his swimmers,” and he “should have been fired … because of ongoing problems due to alcoholism.” However, AD CHRIS HILL “will not be disciplined for what investigators called a failure to act on information regarding Winslow’s alcoholism” in July ’11. Hill said, "It's a big mistake. It's my big mistake. Hindsight, there's no reason why I shouldn't have taken a look at that more deeply. And I know if I looked at it deeply, I knew what was going on, I know what I would have done" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/3). Also in Salt Lake City, Gordon Monson writes Tuesday's news conference was an “embarrassment for Hill, who was raked by investigators” and school President DAVID PERSHING “for his missteps.” But Hill was “emotional, calling the wellbeing of the school’s student-athletes the ‘core’ of his administrative philosophy.” He “apologized to Utah’s other coaches,” and his tone was “perfect for the occasion” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 7/3).
TAKING ACTION: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio reported the NFLPA has "taken action" against agents ETHAN LOCK, ERIC METZ and VANCE MALINOVIC for the "partial ownership of a company" that they each indicated did not provide services to athlete clients. The agents "agreed to pay fines in the amount of $5,000 each." Additionally, agent J.R. RICKERT "agreed to serve a three-month suspension and to pay a $5,000 fine for failing to make promised payments to another contact advisor under an agreement regarding the sharing of client fees" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 7/2).
FROM THE HARDWOOD: Sources said that the NBA has fined 76ers C SPENCER HAWES, Grizzlies Gs QUINCY PONDEXTER and TONY WROTEN, and Kings G ISAIAH THOMAS $15,000 each for participating in an "unsanctioned" Univ. of Washington alumni basketball game June 23 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/3)....The NBPA, President DEREK FISHER and publicist JAMIE WIOR on Tuesday "filed motions to dismiss" former NBPA Exec Dir BILLY HUNTER's "lawsuit against them" in California Superior Court. The NBPA, Fisher and Wior also are "asking the court for attorneys' fees" (USA TODAY, 7/3).
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Cal AD SANDY BARBOUR last week wrote a letter to the San Jose Mercury News editor regarding the paper’s recent series on the financing of Memorial Stadium (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/28). The writer of the series, JON WILNER, posted the letter on his blog Tuesday and wrote, “I wanted to make sure readers are aware that Cal AD Sandy Barbour responded to the series with a letter to the editor that published in the Merc late last week” (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/2).
NAMES: ESPN college basketball analyst DIGGER PHELPS is "cancer free ... following nearly two months of treatment to fight bladder cancer." Phelps is now a "two-time cancer survivor, having already beaten prostate cancer" (WSBT.com, 7/2)....Heat F LEBRON JAMES will "present the Arthur Ashe Courage Award" to "GMA" co-host and cancer survivor ROBIN ROBERTS at this year's ESPY Awards on July 17 (MIAMIHERALD.com, 7/2)....NFL Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON and wife, SUZANNE, will "host a dinner party" for former Florida Gov. JEB BUSH on July 23 -- two days "before the Jets report for training camp" (NJ.com, 7/2)....IndyCar team owner A.J. FOYT is "recovering from hip replacement surgery" (TWITTER.com, 7/2)....The Celtics on Monday unveiled the renovations last year's team made to the Mildred Avenue Community Center. Celtics Managing Partner STEPHEN PAGLIUCA was on hand (Celtics)….ECHL Toledo Walleye President & GM JOE NAPOLI was named the league’s Exec of the Year. Toledo set a new team record for attendance with 226,743 fans this season. Napoli in addition to serving as Walleye President and GM also is Triple-A Int’l League Toledo Mud Hens President (ECHL).
