THE MMQB's Andrew Brandt profiled Ravens President DICK CASS, who "is someone still largely hidden from public view." Ravens Owner STEVE BISCIOTTI "puts his complete trust in Cass, who oversees all aspects of the operation and is the de facto 'owner'" of the team. The "political capital of someone like Cass, with a résumé bursting with NFL connectedness at high-ranking levels, speaks volumes." As for the possibility of Cass using his "connectedness and close NFL relationships" to benefit RAY RICE, he "was adamant that he did not." Brandt: "I will take Cass at his word, though it’s hard not to wonder if those who know him might have felt an implicit obligation to be helpful. Cass is close with senior league officials. As with any business, there are times when relationships matter; it’s hard not to think that this would have been one of those times" (MMQB.SI.com, 10/2).
COURT REPORT: Former Univ. of Tennessee Media Dir DEBBY JENNINGS on Thursday reached a $320,000 settlement with the school and AD DAVE HART after her "abrupt departure from the athletic department" in May '12. She had alleged "unlawful discrimination and retaliation." The school in a statement "acknowledged 'the substantial contributions Ms. Jennings made to the University and the Lady Vols during her 35 years of service.'" It also was stipulated that the agreement "was not an admission of liability by the university and Hart" (KNOXNEWS.com, 10/2).
CHARITY STRIPE: NASCAR driver JEFF GORDON "has made two trips in the past year to Rwanda on behalf of Partners in Health, an organization that provides relief in third-world countries that have little to no health care." Gordon, who funded the Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, N.C., "was asked by Partners in Health if he could help children in Rwanda, especially those with cancer." The Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation has donated $1.5M toward treatment and research for pediatric cancer in Rwanda. Gordon: "It’s about making an impact. Here in the U.S., $1.5 million still can make a difference but not near the impact you’re going to make over there" (K.C. STAR, 10/3)....NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON's eponymous foundation has "joined forces" with Lowe's to help three schools in Moore, N.C., whose gym facilities "had been destroyed or damaged" by tornadoes this past May. The three schools on Thursday "celebrated the opening of their new and improved gyms," and Johnson "attended the ribbon-cutting at Highland East along with 40 Lowe's employees" (NEWSOK.com, 10/2).
HURT SO GOOD: Actor WILLIAM HURT "has joined the cast of Focus Features’ JESSE OWENS drama 'RACE.'" The biopic has a new release date of April 8, 2016. STEPHAN JAMES "stars as the Olympic hero, and the film co-stars JEREMY IRONS, JASON SUDEIKIS and CARICE VAN HOUTEN. The movie is directed by STEPHEN HOPKINS and is "currently being filmed in Montreal and on location at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin." The new film "has the support of the Owens family, the Jesse Owens Foundation, the Jesse Owens Trust, and the Luminary Group" (THEWRAP.com, 10/1).
AWARDS & HONORS: The Triple-A Pacific Coast League named former Round Rock Express President DAVE FENDRICK Exec of the Year (PCL)....The Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and the NFLPA selected ESPN's STUART SCOTT as its annual award recipient. He will receive the award during the 28th annual Lombardi Gala on Oct. 18 in DC (NFLPA).
YARD SALE: Lightning Owner JEFF VINIK is paying $150M to “buy the Tampa
Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina, making it the most expensive
acquisition yet in his downtown real estate empire.” The price for the
719-room waterfront hotel is more than the $110M that Vinik is “believed
to have paid” for the Lightning and the lease to the Amalie Arena in
’10 (TAMPABAY.com, 10/2).....Former MLBer JIM EDMONDS has put his Irvine, Calif., home on the
market for $6.95M. The property listed for sale in ’13 at $7.999M but
“saw its price reduced twice before being pulled from the market in
early June” (LATIMES.com, 10/2).
NAMES: The Univ. of Oregon is “offering more sports-product courses” at its Portland campus with an “eye on establishing a master's degree in sports-product management starting next fall and a master's in sports-product design starting in 2016.” Nike Dir of Strategy & Innovation CHUCK GATCHELL: “We should have a program like this because it's very much like when you think of cities around the country you think about LA, it's about entertainment. You think about New York, it's about media or financial. Portland, it should be about sport” (Portland OREGONIAN, 10/1)....Canada Post this week unveiled a collection of stamps that honor Hockey HOFers BOBBY ORR, TIM HORTON, PIERRE PILOTE, RED KELLY, DOUG HARVEY and HARRY HOWELL. Additional stamps recognize Canada’s seven NHL teams and the Zamboni (Canada Post)….Saints WR MARQUES COLSTON is the “latest investor” in the AFL Philadelphia Soul (BIZJOURNALS.com, 10/2).
