AARON ECKHART and MILES TELLER "will play the lead roles" in the movie "BLEED FOR THIS" about boxer VINNY PAZ. The film is produced by Rhode Island-based Verdi Productions, and company President & CEO CHAD VERDI yesterday said that it will be shot in the state "this summer." The movie tells the story of Paz' comeback "after an auto accident in 1991 that left him with a broken neck." Teller will play Paz, while Eckhart will portray Paz' trainer, KEVIN ROONEY. MARTIN SCORSESE is exec producer for the project (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL, 2/4).
YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's "What's Your Workout" feature today highlights U.S. skier JULIA MANCUSO, who "does Pilates with an instructor" five days a week. The "bulk of her strength training takes place during the off-season." Mancuso "incorporates visualization into her strength training," as she jumps "on a Bosu ball that is flipped flat side up, landing on it in her ski tuck position with her eyes closed." Mancuso's pre-workout meal is "usually whole grain toast with almond butter, a banana and a smoothie made with coconut water, greens and a protein powder." Afterward, she "eats eggs and also a kale salad." Mancuso "usually makes another salad for lunch." When eating out "she has sushi" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/4).
SUPER BOWL NAMES: Super Bowl XLVIII halftime performers BRUNO MARS and the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS yesterday "saw their respective albums race to the top of the iTunes charts." Mars "took the No. 1 slot" with "Unorthodox Jukebox," while the RHCP's "Greatest Hits" collection "hit the No. 6 position" (N.Y. POST, 2/4)....The Jets' Green Room at MetLife Stadium was "sold out and packed to capacity" for the Super Bowl, with TNT's SHAQUILLE O'NEAL and director SPIKE LEE among those in attendance. The "lucky folks paid a minimum of $1,500 a ticket" (N.Y. POST, 2/4)....Broncos QB PEYTON MANNING "didn't use 'Omaha!' much to audible signals" during the game, but 17 Omaha companies are "combining to send a check totaling $67,300" to his PeyBack Foundation (AP, 2/3)....The Seahawks following the game "took over Marquee's LIV" in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan (N.Y. POST, 2/4)....Packers QB AARON RODGERS was "spotted over the weekend" at Benjamin Steakhouse in Manhattan along with Jets CB ANTONIO CROMARTIE and WR DAVID NELSON (N.Y. POST, 2/4).
THIS OLD HOUSE: Yankees LF ALFONSO SORIANO "has sold his three-bedroom, 3,828-square-foot penthouse" condo in Chicago's River North district for $2.905M (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 2/3)....MLB Giants P BARRY ZITO is “leasing out" his 7,116-square-fool estate in Marin County, Calif. Zito shopped the home "prior to it landing on the rental market” (REALTOR.com, 2/3)….Former MLBer DAVID WELLS and his wife, NINA, will appear on tonight’s episode of HGTV’s “SCORING THE DEAL,” airing at 11:00pm ET. The couple will appear “in their 12,000 square-foot Tuscan villa” in Fairbanks Ranch, Calif. (SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, 2/4).
NAMES: Nearly 65,000 people have “signed an online petition” to have Eagles QB MICHAEL VICK replaced as a guest speaker at an event in Raleigh. Vick is scheduled to speak Feb. 12 at the Greater Raleigh Sports Council Evening of Champions. The petition on Change.org was “created by The Positive Pit Bull,” a non-profit organization dedicated to “repairing the reputation of the breed” (ESPN.com, 2/3)….TeamSnap, a service that helps fans manage their sports teams and activities, today announced a $7.5M Series B investment led by Foundry Group. Foundry Group’s JASON MENDELSON will join TeamSnap’s board. Existing investors Torstar, Trinity Ventures, Toba Capital and Harris Barton also participated (TeamSnap)....Univ. of San Diego athletics has received $6M from the estate of WALTER and BETTY ZABLE, two “long-time benefactors of the Toreros sports programs.” The funds will “go toward capital projects and scholarships” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/4)....Former Expos 3B TIM WALLACH, GM MURRAY COOK and broadcaster DAVE VAN HORNE yesterday were elected to the Canadian Baseball HOF, along with the late JIM RIDLEY, who scouted for the Blue Jays and Twins. They will be inducted on June 21 in St. Marys, Ont. (TORONTO SUN, 2/4)....Yankees SS DEREK JETER “has broken up with swimsuit model HANNAH DAVIS” (N.Y. POST, 2/4)....Mets P MATT HARVEY and SI model ANNE V also reportedly have broken up (N.Y. POST, 2/4).
IN MEMORY: Former Canadian MLB reporter JOHN ROBERTSON died Jan. 25 at age 79. He began his career in ’56 “as a writer for the Winnipeg Free Press, followed by the Regina Leader-Post, Toronto Telegram, Winnipeg Free Press, Montreal Star, CBC, Toronto Sun and Toronto Star.” He retired in ’90 (TORONTO STAR, 2/4).
