F1 owners have "stepped back from forcing the resignation" of CEO BERNIE ECCLESTONE after he was indicted by German prosecutors on a bribery charge. CVC Capital Partners last night published a statement on their website, but the content was "little more than a statement of intent to do nothing and wait and see what happens to Formula One's controversial chief executive" (LONDON TIMES, 7/18). Ecclestone's future with F1 has "been thrown into doubt" after the indictment. A lengthy court battle "would be a damaging distraction" for a sport that has an annual income of US$2.3B. Among those "suggested as possible replacements" for Ecclestone are grocery chain Sainsbury's CEO JUSTIN KING and EPL CEO RICHARD SCUDAMORE (GUARDIAN, 7/18).
COURT REPORT: D'Backs Spanish language play-by-play announcer MIGUEL PEREZ QUINTANA "was arrested Wednesday accused of holding a kitchen knife to his wife's throat and threatening to kill her." He was "jailed on $10,000 bail after being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, intimidation and criminal damage." D'Backs Senior VP/Communications JOSH RAWITCH said, "We have taken immediate action to suspend Miguel until this matter is resolved" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 7/18)....A Portage County (Ohio) judge has awarded Kent State $1.2M because former men's basketball coach GENO FORD "breached his contract" when he left to take the head coaching job at Bradley (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/18).
LIFE ON THE HILL: The office of MLB Commissioner BUD SELIG "has spent $80,000 with Baker & Hostetler lobbying Congress on performance-enhancing substance issues, mental health programs for veterans and budget issues affecting team travel." MLB also is "lobbying the Department of Homeland Security on immigration issues" affecting the league and on "stadium security issues." The MLBPA "maintains KEVIN MCGUINNESS and the Glover Park Group for issues relating to professional sports leagues" (POLITICO.com, 7/16).
CHARITY STRIPE: The ’13 ESPY Celebrity Golf Classic for the V Foundation for Cancer Research raised $1.15M in net proceeds (ESPN)….Golfer NATALIE GULBIS will join MLS Crew players and coaches at the Crew Soccer Foundation’s annual golf outing at Pinnacle Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio, on Aug. 6 (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/17).
HONOR ROLL: NHL Exec VP/Security DENNIS CUNNINGHAM today will be presented with the Distinguished Leadership Award during the ’13 National Center for Sports Safety and Security Conference and Exhibition that started Tuesday (NHL)….ESPN’s COLIN COWHERD is will be inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Association HOF on Aug. 17 at the Red Rock Resort (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 7/18).
NAMES: Michigan AD DAVE BRANDON yesterday announced men’s basketball coach JOHN BEILEIN has received a three-year contract extension through the ’18-19 season. The deal will “immediately increase his annual compensation" to $2.45M annually, up from last year’s $1.8M. His new deal would “rank ninth nationally” based on USA Today’s salary data from last season (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 7/18)….TNT NBA analyst SHAQUILLE O’NEAL on Tuesday became an “official Golden Beach [Fla.] police officer” (MIAMIHERALD.com, 7/16)….Giants DE JUSTIN TUCK was a guest star on last night’s episode of USA Network's “Necessary Roughness” (ESPN.com, 7/17)….Real estate records show that sports promoter LEONARD BLOOM is selling his 15,000-square-foot San Diego home for $9.75M (UTSANDIEGO.com, 7/16)….MICHAEL PHELPS “looked like he was enjoying himself" at the ESPYs last night with his date, Golf Channel reporter WIN MCMURRY. They are “reportedly dating and Phelps recently caddied for her when she participated in the TOUR Wives Golf Classic” (BALTIMORESUN.com, 7/17).
IN MEMORY: Former Wake Forest women’s AD DOT CASEY died earlier this week at the age of 87. She was “instrumental in the evolution of women’s athletics” at the school and “guided the Deacons through the influence of Title IX” (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 7/18).
