The AP's Tales Azzoni reported PELE is scheduled to appear Friday at the draw for the '14 FIFA World Cup, but "his role is being kept secret." Organizers yesterday confirmed Pele "will be part of the broadcast to about 250 million viewers in more than 190 countries." FIFA Dir of TV Globo Luiz Gleiser said, "He will be the 'wow' moment of the show" (AP, 12/2).
ON THE SLATE: VARIETY's Dave McNary reported the life of Pro Football HOFer VINCE LOMBARDI is "headed for the big screen," with Legendary Pictures tapping director J.C. CHANDOR "to write and possibly direct" the film. Legendary CEO and Steelers investor THOMAS TULL will produce the film alongside MARY PARENT, while TONY PONTURO and FRAN KIRMSER "will exec produce." Legendary has "acquired the movie rights via deals with the Lombardi estate and producers of the Broadway play 'LOMBARDI,' based on the DAVID MARANNIS book 'WHEN PRIDE STILL MATTERED'" (VARIETY.com, 12/2).
ON THE BLOCK: SCP Auctions is auctioning online one of late U.S. Olympian JESSE OWENS' gold medals from the '36 Berlin Games. The medal "comes from the estate" of the widow of BILL "BOJANGLES" ROBINSON, who received the medal from Owens. The Robinson family declined to comment on the sale. SCP Auctions Partner DAN IMLER said that the family plans to "use the proceeds to pay college tuition and contribute to charity." The auction closes on Saturday (AP, 12/2).
NAMES: CINDY CURLEY, BILL GUERIN, PETER KARMANOS, JR., RON MASON and DOUG WEIGHT were formally enshrined in the U.S. Hockey HOF yesterday (USA Hockey). USA Today hockey writer KEVIN ALLEN also was honored at the ceremony with the Lester Patrick Award "recognizing outstanding service to U.S. hockey" (FREEP.com, 12/2)....Former Blues Owner BILL LAURIE and his wife, NANCY, are donating $10M to the Univ. of Memphis athletic department, the "largest contribution ever given to the department, and the second largest ever given to the school." Bill Laurie was a starting guard on the men's basketball team that played in the '73 NCAA National Championship game (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/2)....MLB Giants 3B coach TIM FLANNERY is "continuing his help for injured Giants fan BRYAN STOW by giving all the proceeds" from his new album, "OUTSIDE LANDS," to Stow's "continued recovery from a brutal beating" in '11 (SFGATE.com, 12/2)....The IRS yesterday said that MICHAEL STERN, who orchestrated a scam that "defrauded" Chargers LB DWIGHT FREENEY out of $3M from '10-11, was sentenced in October "to five years in prison and ordered to pay" nearly $2.6M in restitution to Freeney (UTSANDIEGO.com, 12/2)....Two suspects “are in custody and two more on the run in connection with the robbery” of Heat G ROGER MASON JR. and his sister at a Biscayne Boulevard restaurant (MIAMI HERALD, 12/3)....The Legacy Agency has signed Blue Jays LF MELKY CABRERA for representation. Agents PETER GREENBERG, ED GREENBERG and CHRIS LEIBLE will represent Cabrera, who was formerly represented by ACES (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer)....Former NFLer JOE ANDRUZZI and his wife JEN “joined a few other familiar faces Monday to raise money for the Joe Andruzzi Foundation’s financial assistance program for cancer patients and their families." Former NFLer SCOTT ZOLAK “emceed the event at the Putnam Club at Gillette Stadium, and the guest list included several other” former Patriots players (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/3)....Former 76ers President PAT CROCE’s home in the Main Line neighborhood of Philadelphia “just hit the market” for $7.5M (PHILLY.com, 12/2).
