WARREN BUFFETT last year "made a splash" with his Billion-Dollar Bracket Challenge, which offered to pay $1B to anyone who "correctly picked all the winners" of '14 NCAA Tournament games. But Dallas-based SCA Promotions, which "specializes in offering insurance" for these types of contests, "wants to depose" Yahoo CEO MARISSA MAYER. According to SCA's complaint for breach of contract, Yahoo "was to be a sponsor" of the contest. SCA "was to pay" the $1B prize if there were a winner, and in return, Yahoo would pay SCA $11M "for incurring the liability." Yahoo "is resisting" the deposition. The company "canceled the contract" with SCA on Jan. 27, 2014 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 3/23).
FISH OUT OF WATER: Former Dolphins trainer KEVIN O'NEILL "has filed a lawsuit" against the team, Owner STEPHEN ROSS and coach JOE PHILBIN. O'Neill claims he was "targeted by the Dolphins as a 'scapegoat'" in the '13 bullying scandal. The suit also claims he was "singled out for retaliation" for refusing to cooperate in the NFL's investigation into the matter (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/24).
ON A DIFFERENT SCALE: Revolt TV CEO KEITH CLINKSCALES is working to turn the net into "the ESPN of popular music." The former ESPN Senior VP/Content Development & Enterprise said of his reasons for joining Revolt, "I liked the audience. It's a young, multiracial audience, and the most influential audience in the world today." He added of how ESPN prepared him for this position, "Service to the fan: ESPN is about making sure sports fans are more educated, have more access and more insight by being part of the ESPN family" (CRAIN'S N.Y. BUSINESS, 3/23 issue).
NAMES: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT in June will make a trip to Israel along with 20 Pro Football HOFers and their wives "at his expense and as guests of the government." Kraft said, "This is another opportunity to expose different people to Israel and to the spirituality of the place" (BOSTON HERALD, 3/24)....Under Armour Founder, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK is on the panel of judges for the Univ. of Maryland's '15 Cupid's Cup Business Competition, along with MyFitnessPal co-Founder & CEO MIKE LEE and Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO TED LEONSIS (UMd)....Foster a Voice, a nonprofit founded by Hurricanes VP/Guest Relations LARRY PERKINS, is working on its first big project, “a short film called ‘SILENCE’ about two sisters who are separated after their mother dies.” A trailer “has been produced,” but the organization “is trying to raise $20,000 on Kickstarter” (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/24)....Florida Today Exec Editor BOB GABORDI yesterday threw out the first pitch before the Yankees-Nationals Spring Training game at Space Coast Stadium (FLORIDATODAY.com, 3/23)....Vikings RB ADRIAN PETERSON “rode in on a camel” for his 30th birthday party last weekend in the Houston area. Actor JAMIE FOXX attended the party and “had a dance-off” (NEWSOK.com, 3/23).
IN MEMORY: Former Sacramento Bee sportswriter NICK PETERS, who covered the MLB Giants for 47 years and was honored at the ’09 Baseball HOF induction ceremony, died yesterday at the age of 75. Peters “covered more Giants games than any other reporter and wrote five books on the team.” The team’s interview room at AT&T Park is named after Peters (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/24).
