NHRA President TOM COMPTON is “'away' from his position because of 'personal' business." NHRA Dir of Media Relations ANTHONY VESTAL said, "Tom has been away recently on personal and family matters.” He asked that Compton’s privacy "be respected." No one "addressed the question of whether or when Compton is expected to return to the office at Glendora, Calif." (COMPETITIONPLUS.com, 6/5).
PROGRAMMING CLASS: Anybody "who's anybody in the Silicon Valley tech scene seems to be making an appearance at Oracle Arena" during the NBA Finals. Game 2 saw boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR. "sit at half court, about ten seats over" from Apple Senior VP/Internet Software & Services EDDY CUE. On the other side of the court, Whats App co-Founder & CEO JAN KOUM "cheered on the Warriors just three seats over" from Andreesson Horowitz co-Founder & General Partner BEN HOROWITZ, "who has season tickets." Salesforce.com Chair & CEO MARC BENIOFF also was at the game (RECODE.net, 6/8).
FORMULAIC PLAN: In N.Y., Eric Lipton in a front-page piece looks at former House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s lobbying efforts, which included trying to bring an F1 race to Chicago (N.Y. TIMES, 6/7).
CROWN ROYAL: On Long Island, Daniel Bubbeo noted PRESIDENT CLINTON "showed up at the North Shore Terrace area of Belmont Park in Elmont to cheer on American Pharoah's Triple Crown victory." Clinton "entered the private area about an hour before post time and posed for photos with some of the VIPs there." HILLARY CLINTON "did not join him." Also in attendance were Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES, MLB Chief Baseball Officer JOE TORRE and NBC's CARSON DALY and WILLIE GEIST (NEWSDAY, 6/7).
EYES & EARS: In San Diego, Jennifer Van Grove profiled Padres Senior Dir of Game Day Presentation MATT COY, who "controls" the music, video boards, interactive games, replays and "even the mascot and the Park at the Park" at Petco Park. He does so from inside the Padres’ "shiny new control room, which sits left of the Press Box, and from where Coy has a bird’s-eye view of everything." Coy and his control-room cohorts "go by the new moniker, 'Padres Productions.'” Together, the team "races through a second-by-second master script of video, audio and promotional directions with room, of course, to adjust on the fly" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/5).
BARBER SHOP: Indians Chair & CEO PAUL DOLAN yesterday shaved his head "in support" of SS MIKE AVILES, whose 4-year-old daughter, ADRIANA, was diagnosed with leukemia last month (CLEVELAND.com, 6/7). Meanwhile, Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI "went bald at Gillette Stadium on Sunday morning for One Mission, an organization that helps pediatric cancer patients and their families" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/8).
DONNING THE CROWN: California-based cancer research center City of Hope won big on the Belmont Stakes, as VICTOR ESPINOZA, the rider of Triple Crown winner AMERICAN PHAROAH, said that he is "donating his 10-percent winner's share, approximately $80,000, to the hospital." Espinoza yesterday threw “the ceremonial first pitch” at Angels-Yankees. He “will be heading to the ‘The Tonight Show’ with JIMMY FALLON this week” (N.Y. POST, 6/8). Meanwhile, trainer BOB BAFFERT said that he and his wife, JILL, are "donating a total of $100,000 to two thoroughbred aftercare organizations and $50,000 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund" (NEWSDAY, 6/8).
CHARITY STRIPE: Ravens Senior Advisor to Player Development O.J. BRIGANCE on Friday held his second annual two-hour Zumbathon for ALS at the Merritt Athletic Club in downtown Baltimore. His foundation supports "families and people dealing with" ALS (Baltimore SUN, 6/7)....Lions LB STEPHEN TULLOCH on Friday "hosted a softball game" with about 50 players for his foundation, which "supports several charities around Metro Detroit" (DETROIT NEWS, 6/6).
NAMES: Nike's lawsuit against three of its former designers -- DENIS DEKOVIC, MARC DOLCE and MARK MINER -- who left for adidas, was resolved Friday "through a confidential settlement." Nike filed the lawsuit last December "accusing the three designers of hatching a 'plot' before bolting for rival Adidas to open a design studio in Brooklyn." Nike said it would "suffer irreparable harm if this scheme is permitted to continue." Nike "also sought" $10M in damages (OREGONLIVE.com, 6/5)....Univ. of Michigan Dir of Football Operations JIM MINICK “has been reinstated after serving a suspension for drunken driving” (ESPN.com, 6/6)....An upcoming movie about female hockey player MANON RHEAUME’s “time with the Lightning entitled, ‘BETWEEN THE PIPES’” will be written and produced by ANGIE BULLARO, who “will also play the role of Rheaume” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/5)....Jazz F GORDON HAYWARD’s wife, ROBYN, on Saturday “delivered the couple’s first child" (DESERET NEWS, 6/7).
IN MEMORY: Longtime reporter JOHN DERR, who covered The Masters a record 62 times and broadcast from the 15th green when the event first was on TV, died of an apparent heart attack yesterday at the age of 97 (AP, 6/7)....Longtime Houston-based broadcaster JOHN O’REILLY died on Friday at a local hospital after an extended illness at the age of 72 (CHRON.com, 6/5).
