Outgoing FIFA President SEPP BLATTER has hired McGuireWoods Partner & Chair RICHARD CULLEN, "a top U.S. counsel," to represent him. Cullen also is a "former U.S. federal prosecutor." FIFA Secretary General JEROME VALCKE is "reported also to have hired" attorney BARRY BERKE (IBTIMES.co.uk, 6/18). Cullen "comes with white-shoe credentials and friends in high places." He is a "close associate" of FBI Dir JAMES COMEY, whose agency has "led the investigation" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/18).
CHECKING THE BOOKS: Spurs F TIM DUNCAN said that he lost more than $20M to a "dishonest financial adviser," CHARLES BANKS, whom he has since sued. Duncan is accusing Banks of "pushing him into investments despite conflicts of interest that ultimately caused substantial loss." He said that the losses from '05-13 "were discovered during a review of Duncan’s finances as part of his divorce." Duncan: "Luckily I had a long career and made good money. This is a big chunk, but it’s not going to change my life in any way. It’s not going to make any decisions for me." He added, "I thought, for the most part, I was keeping an eye on things. ... I trusted someone. I was wrong about it. I got screwed over for it. I’m not mad at myself for that. That’s a lesson learned. I’ll never put myself in that situation again" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/17).
BOYS & GIRLS: Golfer JASON DAY's first stop in Seattle in advance of the U.S. Open "happened to be the Concur headquarters in downtown Bellevue, where Day -- who inked a sponsorship deal with the travel expense management company last year -- stopped by to help stuff backpacks with food" to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of King County (GEEKWIRE.com, 6/15)....The Indians bullpen purchased a dozen iPads and yesterday donated them to the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland (Indians).
NAMES: ESPN’s MIKE GOLIC and his son, JAKE, have been issued a patent for The Golic Cooler, a portable cooler that also provides seating. The Golics have formed Golic LLC, which is seeking a partner to manufacture, market and distribute its cooler as well as add-on products related to tailgating and other recreational activities (Golic LLC)....Marathon runner MEB KEFLEZIGHI last night served as the commencement speaker for National Univ. in San Diego. He “infused his personal views and experiences into broader messages to the students and a total audience of about 10,000 on hand.” He said, "Falling down is part of sports and life. But injuries heal and challenging circumstances can be overcome. Belief in yourself is very important and lets you get up when you fall down” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/18)....Members of the Blackhawks took the Stanley Cup to Chicago’s Rockit Bar & Grill on Tuesday night to celebrate (N.Y. POST, 6/18)....Patriots LB ROB NINKOVICH will serve as the pace car driver for the July 19 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, while former MLBer RICO PETROCELLI will give the invocation (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/18)....Pro Football HOFer BART STARR is “undergoing stem cell treatment as he continues to recover from multiple strokes suffered last fall” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/18)....NASCAR driver DALE EARNHARDT JR. yesterday announced via Twitter that he “is engaged” to longtime girlfriend AMY REIMANN. Earnhardt “proposed while the two are vacationing in Germany,” where the driver is “tracing his family’s roots” (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 6/17)....U.S. Sen. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-Mo.) yesterday at the NACDA Convention in Orlando said of colleges' handling of student-athletes' sexual assault cases, "We cannot allow the system to protect athletes from the consequences of their behavior" (USA TODAY, 6/18).
