LANCE ARMSTRONG settled yesterday with Acceptance Insurance, which was seeking $3M in performance bonuses it paid him from '99-'01. The settlement came "a day before he was scheduled to give sworn testimony about his use of performance-enhancing drugs." The insurer "sued Armstrong in Texas earlier this year after he admitted he doped" during his career. Attorneys for both parties declined to disclose terms of the settlement (AP, 11/20).
BALL BOY: Tennis Channel Chair & CEO KEN SOLOMON was honored at the N.Y. Junior Tennis & Learning Leadership Awards luncheon today. Honorary Chairs for the fundraising lunch include JEANNE MOUTOUSSAMY ASHE, former N.Y. Mayor DAVID DINKINS and USTA President DAVID HAGGERTY. Past honorees include BILLIE JEAN KING and JOHN MCENROE (John Ourand, Staff Writer).
OWNERS IN THE NEWS: Trail Blazers and Seahawks Owner PAUL ALLEN through his foundation last week launched a Seattle-based scientific collaboration “to study the way blows to the head can damage the brain.” Among the questions project scientists “hope to answer is whether even mild concussions early in life can lead to dementia decades later” (SEATTLE TIMES, 11/21)....Saints and Pelicans Owner TOM BENSON yesterday announced that Raycom Media “will take over management” of New Orleans-based WVUE-Fox, the station he purchased in ’08. The partnership is “expected to become effective by Dec. 16” (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 11/21)....Former Hornets Owner GEORGE SHINN on Tuesday paid for a celebration of the team's 25th anniversary at SMS Catering in Charlotte that included NASCAR team Owners FELIX SABATES and RICK HENDRICK as well as former Hornets execs and staffers. Shinn invited Bobcats Owner MICHAEL JORDAN and team President FRED WHITFIELD, but both were “unable to attend.” The bridge between the Hornets and the Bobcats was Bobcats Senior Community Affairs Advisor CARL SCHEER, who also was the first President & GM with Shinn’s Hornets (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/20).
PITCHING IN: The Bears yesterday announced that they “will have an online auction that will include game-worn items” from last Sunday’s game against the Ravens. Most of the items “will be signed.” Proceeds will go to the American Red Cross “to aid families with critical needs that were affected by the tornadoes” that hit Illinois on Sunday. Meanwhile, as part of the Cubs’ tornado-relief efforts, donated items may be dropped off in Wrigley Field’s Purple Lot today from 9:00am-6:00pm CT and tomorrow from 8:00-11:00am (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/21)....The Bobcats and Lowe’s yesterday announced that the two organizations will award a total of $50,000 to five local groups as part of their new educational grant program (Bobcats).
NAMES: Pro Football HOF officials yesterday announced that late Ravens Owner ART MODELL "was not among the semifinalists" for the Class of '14. His failure to reach the round of 25 candidates "comes a year after he was a finalist." Former 49ers Owner EDDIE DEBARTOLO JR., "also a finalist a year ago, did reach the semifinals" (CLEVELAND.com, 11/21)....The California State Univ. system "has rejected a wrongful termination claim" by former San Diego State women's basketball coach BETH BURNS, "ending the CSU administrative process and opening the door" for Burns to file a lawsuit in civil court. Burns announced her "retirement" from SDSU in April, but on Oct. 1 "filed an employment claim with CSU saying she was given the choice of resignation, termination or retirement" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 11/21)….Basketball HOFer BOB HURLEY SR. is starting a campaign to raise $10M to ensure the Jersey City Catholic school stays open until at least ’20 (NJ.com, 11/20)….Maple Leafs C DAVE BOLLAND on Friday sold his seven-bedroom, 6,100-square-foot mansion in Chicago for $1.95M (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/21)....NASCAR driver RYAN NEWMAN has scheduled his eighth annual benefit bass fishing tournament on Lake Norman for Dec. 14 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/21).
