The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Eriq Gardner reported the NFL has "demanded" $1.5M from Super Bowl XLVI halftime performer M.I.A. for "allegedly breaching her performance contract and tarnishing its goodwill and reputation." M.I.A "extended her middle finger" during the performance, and in the 18 months since has been "waging a secret legal war with the NFL" over the incident. NFL lawyers last week "continued their push to have her deemed liable for her actions on summary judgment before moving to a trial for damages." M.I.A.'s attorney, HOWARD KING, said that his client "plans to launch a public war" on the league (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 9/19).
MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS: Former Oilers Owner PETER POCKLINGTON was in a Riverside, Calif., courtroom Monday "for breaching his probation on a previous bankruptcy-fraud conviction in October 2010." U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson THOMAS MROZEK said that part of the order was that he "make monthly financial reports to his probation officer." Mrozek said that Pocklington during one particular month "received a cheque for $15,000 as a fee for some consulting services he provided to several companies promoting gold mines in Arizona." But he "failed to properly account for those funds with the probation officer" (EDMONTONSUN.com, 9/19).
NOT A REGULAR: Minnesota Gov. MARK DAYTON "will not be buying season tickets" to see the Vikings once the new stadium is built. Dayton is "opposed to the personal seat licensing arrangement." He said, "I will probably go to one of their games, because I would like to see the inside stadium. But I would like to see a winning game, so that will narrow my options" (STARTRIBUNE.com, 9/19).
FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE: In Boston, Kevin Cullen notes author LARRY RUTTMAN "spent five years researching" his new book, "AMERICAN JEWS & AMERICA'S GAME," interviewing "not only Jewish players and executives, but fans, like RABBI MICHAEL PALEY and famed attorney ALAN DERSHOWITZ, who just plain love baseball." Cullen: "It's fascinating stuff" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/20).
PROPERTY WARS: Pro Football HOFer JOHN MADDEN sold his two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath residence at the Dakota in N.Y. for $3.9M (N.Y. OBSERVER, 9/16)....NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON recently bought a $14.25M apartment at Superior Ink in N.Y.'s West Village. His family "sold a sixth-floor, three bedroom unit in the building that was listed" for $10.5M (N.Y. POST, 9/20)....Former Lakers assistant coach JIM CLEAMONS sold his home in Manhattan Beach for $2.6M (LATIMES.com, 9/19).
NAMES: Nationals manager DAVEY JOHNSON “wants to open an urban youth baseball academy in Orlando,” and has been working for several years to do so (WASHINGTON TIMES, 9/20)....Former NFLer JAKE DELHOMME has been appointed to Louisiana-based MidSouth Bank’s BOD, effective Sept. 18 (MidSouth)....Heat G DWYANE WADE will “make a cameo appearance” on Discovery Channel’s live-action comedy show “AUSTIN & ALLY” in a Season Three episode slated to air early next year (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 9/19)....Heat F LEBRON JAMES and wife, SAVANNAH, celebrated their honeymoon at Rome-based restaurant Antica Pesa after being spotted earlier in the day at the Colosseum (N.Y. POST, 9/20).
