L.A.-based CAA Sports agent PAT BRISSON yesterday in an e-mail wrote that he is "not a candidate" for the Penguins' GM vacancy. Brisson reps Penguins C SIDNEY CROSBY, as well as other NHLers, including Blackhawks C JONATHAN TOEWS and RW PATRICK KANE. Brisson is "longtime friends" with Penguins co-Owner MARIO LEMIEUX. Brisson added in the e-mail he "never pursued the position" with the Penguins (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/20).
BUSINESS VENTURES: Sounders Minority Owner & GM ADRIAN HANAUER and his brother, NICK, have invested in Sworl, which "offers an easy way for consumers to frame photos, choosing the prints directly from their iPhones." The company "landed $424,000 in startup capital last fall," including the cash from the Hanauer brothers (GEEKWIRE.com, 5/19)....Sports technology company PlaySight Interactive announced the completion of a $3.5M investment round from high-profile private investors including tennis player NOVAK DJOKOVIC and Tennis HOFer BILLIE JEAN KING (PlaySight).
ON THE DOCKET: The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday "gave the green light" to PAULA PETRELLA to take her "RAGING BULL" copyright lawsuit against MGM Studios "back into the ring." The court voted 6-3 in her favor and said that Petrella, the daughter of deceased screenwriter FRANK PETRELLA, could "pursue a lawsuit against MGM for infringing the copyright of a 1963 screenplay upon which she says the movie was based" (DEADLINE.com, 5/19)....Former Microsoft CEO STEVE BALLMER is "being sued in a dispute involving a longtime Sonics employee, who says the billionaire promised to help pay his debts last year after he’d worked on failed efforts" to relocate the NBA Kings to Seattle. THOMAS BUKOWSKI last week added Ballmer to a lawsuit filed in October claiming he's owed $10M (SEATTLE TIMES, 5/20).
NAMES: EPL clubs yesterday "defied calls to sanction" league CEO RICHARD SCUDAMORE "over sexist emails sent from his computer at work" (THEGUARDIAN.com, 5/19)....MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations JOE TORRE on Sunday delivered the commencement address at the Univ. of Hartford (COURANT.com, 5/19)....Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN will serve as the honorary starter for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/19).
