Cubs BOD member LAURA RICKETTS "is the new chair of LPAC, the only lesbian-backed political action committee in the U.S., stepping up to a more visible and active political role" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/15). Meanwhile, fellow Cubs BOD member PETE RICKETTS "won the Nebraska Republican gubernatorial primary Tuesday (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 5/14).
HITTING THE SLOPES: Golfer KEEGAN BRADLEY and Gold Medal-winning U.S. skier BODE MILLER are co-Exec Producers for an upcoming ski movie titled "NO LIMITS." Bradley's former youth ski coach LENNY BRITTON wrote the film, which is "loosely based on Miler's unconventional and colorful life growing up in New Hampshire and on the professional ski circuits" (GOLFWEEK, 5/16 issue).
MILITARY HISTORY: Rather than practice for this week's LPGA Kingsmill Championship, golfer PAULA CREAMER on Monday went to the Pentagon for meetings with Army Gen. RAY ODIERNO, Navy Admiral MARK FERGUSON, Marine Gen. JAMES AMOS and Air Force Gen. LARRY SPENCER. Creamer's fiance, DEREK HEATH, is an Air Force pilot and a graduate of the Air Force Academy. The couple’s fathers also “flew together in the Navy” (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 5/15).
CHANGE AT THE TOP? EPL CEO RICHARD SCUDAMORE is “set to learn his fate over the sexist emails that have put him under unprecedented pressure” next week after the EPL “finally confirmed he would face a formal hearing over the case.” The case will “go before the Premier League’s audit and remuneration committee” (London TELEGRAPH, 5/14).
AWARDS & HONORS: Roush Fenway Racing Owner JACK ROUSH headlines the list of entries in the ’14 Kentucky Motorsports HOF class announced yesterday (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 5/15)….Eagles RB LESEAN MCCOY is the winner of the ’14 John Wanamaker Athletic Award, which goes to the athlete, team or organization that “has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel” (PHILLY.com, 5/15).
CHARITY STRIPE: Queens, N.Y. youth football players “got a $14,000 assist from the NFL -- after Commissioner ROGER GOODELL read about them” in the N.Y. Post. Goodell “passed a copy of the Post article onto the NFL Foundation, which then contacted” the youth program and “donated $11,000 worth of gear.” Panthers G DEREK DENNIS “kicked in another $3,000” (N.Y. POST, 5/15)....The Dolphins yesterday had 14 rookies working in conjunction with the nonprofit Rebuilding Together. They “pulled weeds, laid mulch, clear debris and … moved an old sport boat” (MIAMI HERALD, 5/15)….Giants WR VICTOR CRUZ on Tuesday attended investment fund BTIG’s annual charity day in Midtown. Also on hand were TNT analyst SHAQUILLE O’NEAL and ESPN anchor HANNAH STORM (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 5/14).
NAMES: The launch of UP network and Aspire on Optimum TV will "be supported with a four-week marketing campaign featuring" Aspire Owner and Basketball HOFer MAGIC JOHNSON (MULTICHANNEL.com, 5/14)....Michigan State men’s basketball coach TOM IZZO is “allowing researchers to use property he owns in western Michigan to study seagulls to find ways to keep the Lake Michigan shoreline cleaner” (AP, 5/14)….UMass-Amherst has “finalized a five-year contract” with football coach MARK WHIPPLE that will “guarantee him at least $450,000 annually in his bid to revive the struggling program” (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/13)….Former NFL coach JERRY GLANVILLE will be “holding a living estate sale this week at his home” in Dawsonville, Ga. (DAWSONNEWS.com, 5/14)….Red Sox P RYAN DEMPSTER paid $1.95M for a “newly built, 5,650-square-foot house” in west Lakeview, Ill. (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 5/15).
IN MEMORY: Former PGA Tour Memorial Tournament Exec Dir and Muirfield Village Golf Club GM JOHN HINES passed away in Columbus yesterday at the age of 74. He was a “close friend and business partner” of Golf HOFer JACK NICKLAUS for four decades. Hines also was a “partner in HNS Sports Group,” which managed the ’13 Presidents Cup and other high-profile events (BIZJOURNALS.com 5/14).
