Former Clippers Owner DONALD STERLING "has withdrawn his lawsuit" in L.A. Superior Court that accused his wife, SHELLY, NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER and the league of fraud in the sale of the team. The move last week "came as Sterling’s federal anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA continues" (L.A. TIMES, 10/21). Meanwhile, a judge yesterday "reversed course ... and dismissed a defamation lawsuit" by Donald Sterling's mistress, V. STIVIANO, against Shelly Sterling. The judge found that Stiviano "presented no evidence to support her claim that Shelly Sterling called her a thief and an embezzler in hundreds if not thousands of media reports." The judge also "rejected Stiviano's claim" that former Clippers President ANDY ROESER "defamed her at the instruction of Shelly Sterling" (AP, 10/20).
IT TAKES TWO TO TANGO: NASCAR driver MICHAEL WALTRIP was in danger of being eliminated from ABC's "DANCING WITH THE STARS" last night, but he survived to next week after receiving encouragement from his fans and fellow drivers while racing this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. The broadcast aired footage from the track, with driver DALE EARNHARDT JR. telling Waltrip, "You know that everybody's pulling for you, buddy, and keep having fun. Just be yourself." Waltrip said, "It was fun getting encouragement from my racing buddies and my fans." EMMA SLATER, Waltrip's dance partner, said the "entire NASCAR Nation has gotten behind Michael and it is phenomenal." Waltrip is the lone sports figure remaining on the show ("Dancing With The Stars," ABC, 10/20).
ROC THE BOAT: Red Sox LF YOENIS CESPEDES is the "latest high-profile player to join Roc Nation Sports." CAA Baseball co-Head BRODIE VAN WAGENEN "will handle the bulk of Cespedes’s baseball affairs, with assistance" from Roc Nation Sports President JUAN PEREZ. Wasserman's ADAM KATZ "had represented Cespedes since his defection from Cuba" in '12 (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/21).
POLITICS 101: The NCAA "spent more on congressional lobbying from July through September than it did in all of 2013 as it continues to fight lawsuits challenging its structure." The NCAA spent $230,000 on lobbying during the three-month period, meaning it has "spent $470,000 on lobbying through three quarters this year." Its "previous high in any year" since '00 was $180,000, in both '07 and '13 (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/21).
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Brian and Amy France made $50,000 donation to
Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research |
NAMES: Warriors co-Owner JOE LACOB donated $1M to Washington Univ. in St. Louis' Olin Business School to create a new Business of Sports program (THE DAILY)....NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE and his wife AMY made a $50,000 donation to Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research and helped honor Sprint Cup driver JEFF GORDON last night in N.Y. at the foundation's Angel Ball (NASCAR)....Singer TRISHA YEARWOOD will perform the National Anthem prior to tonight's Giants-Royals World Series Game 1. PHILLIP PHILLIPS will sing before Game 2 tomorrow, LITTLE BIG TOWN will sing before Game 3 on Friday, and CARLOS SANTANA will perform an instrumental rendition of the anthem with his son, SALVADOR, before Game 4 (AP, 10/20)....Magic Leap, which has been "working on a secretive visual technology that some say could revolutionize the entertainment industry, is set to announce" a $542M investment led by Google and "including separate stakes taken" by Legendary Entertainment Chair & CEO THOMAS TULL (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 10/21)....Retired boxer VINNY PAZ' story "will be turned into a movie, 'BLEED FOR THIS,' which is scheduled to begin shooting next month in Rhode Island" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/21)....Baseball HOFer TOM GLAVINE's 10,222-square-foot residence in Alpharetta, Ga., which was “once listed for as much” as $3.75M, sold for $1.7M (LATIMES.com, 10/20).
IN MEMORY: Former NASCAR team owner RAYMOND BEADLE died yesterday at age 70 (AP, 10/20).
