Andretti Autosport Owner MICHAEL ANDRETTI said the allegations by execs associated with Andretti Sports Marketing who are suing him and Andretti Autosport Holding Co. are "unfounded." Former ASM President JOHN LOPES and ASM Senior VP & CMO A. STARKE TAYLOR, who each own 20%, filed suit in Marion Superior Court claiming that Andretti, who owns 60% of ASM and all of the holding company, "improperly used money" from ASM to "prop up" the holding company. The suit "seeks unspecified damages" from the holding company (IBJ.com, 8/12).
ON CAMPUS: Two more candidates "have withdrawn their names from consideration" to become the next Univ. of Akron AD. Univ. of Miami Deputy AD TONY HERNANDEZ and Univ. of Maryland Deputy AD KELLY MEHRTENS "have withdrawn." Univ. of Louisiana-Monroe AD BRIAN WICKSTROM also "pulled out." Twenty-seven people "had applied for the job." UA documents show that six individuals, including Hernandez, Mehrtens and Wickstrom, "would be interviewed" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 8/13).
COURT REPORT: Potential jurors for a civil case involving MICHAEL JORDAN "didn't seem to be overawed" by him on Tuesday in Chicago. Though most said that they had "seen Jordan play for the Bulls during his 1990s heyday, only one potential juror raised their hand when a lawyer for Dominick's asked whether they considered Jordan their 'idol or personal hero.'" Jordan "could be seen stifling a yawn at several points in the proceedings" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/13). Jordan's lawyers during the case over an allegedly unauthorized use of his name in a steak ad said that the "market value" of his moniker to Nike was at least $480M (AP, 8/12).
NAMES: The Bill Belichick Foundation "took a step toward improving the safety of New England youth football players" yesterday announcing a partnership with Safety Tag, an online platform that "improves communication between coaches, parents, and league administrators" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/13)....The North American publishing rights to former NFLer BEN UTECHT's memoir, titled "COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL MY MIND SLIPS AWAY: A LOVE LETTER TO MY FAMILY," have "been acquired by the Howard Books Division of Simon & Schuster for a 'substantial six-figure advance.'" Howard Books is a "faith-based publisher acquired" in '06 by S&S (DEADLINE.com, 8/12)....Hawaii resident OWEN HARBISON yesterday was "sentenced to five years in prison for using ROBERT ALLENBY's credit cards after the professional golfer said he was robbed and beaten in Honolulu." Allenby "recounted a bizarre saga earlier this year of having no memory of what happened for 2 1/2 hours after he left a Honolulu restaurant in January" (ESPN.com, 8/12)....Individuals who volunteered during the '04 and '10 PGA Championships at Whistling Straits were "given an advance chance to sign up to volunteer this year," and 1,000 of the 4,000 past volunteers "registered to participate" (SHEBOYGAN PRESS, 8/13)....A fireworks accident at Lambeau Field "prompted seven people to seek treatment for minor injuries" toward the end of the Packers’ Family Night practice Saturday night. Green Bay Metro Fire Department spokesperson NICK CRAIG said that the spectators "reported ash and debris in their eyes after fireworks bounced off a light tower on the stadium’s east side." He added that it appears that one of the devices used to launch the fireworks "had been aimed improperly" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 8/12).
IN MEMORY: Former NBA Senior VP/Security HORACE BALMER died Tuesday at 76. He joined the league in '85 "after a 20-year career" as an N.Y. detective. He "operated out of the public eye, but was known to several generations of players as both an advocate and as the face of the law in the league." Balmer also "helped create the NBA rookie transition program and did everything from investigating allegations of gambling to performing background checks on potential team owners." He also "accompanied the first 'Dream Team'" to the '92 Games in Barcelona and "cultivated relationships with police in every NBA city" (Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS, 8/13).
