Dallas-based prize insurance firm SCA Promotions and LANCE ARMSTRONG "recently reached an undisclosed settlement" to end their legal dispute, "just as a new movie depicting their feud is nearing release." Armstrong yesterday "issued an apology" to the founder of the company, which "paid his bonuses for winning the Tour de France" in '02, '03 and '04. The resolution "marks at least the third time since his doping confession that Armstrong has agreed to settle a fraud case against him" (USATODAY.com, 9/27).
SLAP SHOT: Former Performance Sports Group Chair GRAEME ROUSTAN "gave up his fight for a seat" on the company's BOD. The company, which owns Bauer Hockey, "took the unusual step earlier this week" of publicly releasing a letter to the company's shareholders signed by BOD Chair BERNARD MCDONELL that "called into question Roustan's qualifications to be a director." The letter "asked shareholders to vote against Roustan" at a annual meeting set for Oct. 14. Roustan in a statement on Friday "withdrew his candidacy" for the BOD, but "slammed McDonell and called on him to resign" (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/26).
UPS & DOWNS: The DENVER POST's Irv Moss profiled 85-year-old Rockies employee LEONA BENDER, whose main assignment is "operating the elevators at the home plate end of the field." She also operates elevators during sports events at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Pepsi Center and the Univ. of Colorado's Folsom Field, but the Rockies and baseball "are Bender's priorities." She "missed only one Rockies home game this season" (DENVER POST, 9/26).
TEACHING MOMENT: Basketball HOFer HAKEEM OLAJUWON and tennis player SERENA WILLIAMS are teaching online courses for MasterClass, a business venture started by Silicon Valley entrepreneur DAVID ROGIER. The company strives to offer a "series of online courses taught by people who are the best in the world at what they do." The classes cost "$90 a pop," and more than 30,000 people have "signed up for the program." Williams for her class was "filmed on a tennis court in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla." (N.Y. TIMES, 9/27).
NAMES: Berkshire Hathaway CEO WARREN BUFFETT yesterday “was in Sun Life Stadium to offer his full support” to Dolphins DT NDAMUKONG SUH, whom he counts as friend. Buffett “was dressed in shoulder pads and a Suh jersey on the sidelines” before the game (ESPN.com, 9/27)....Former MLBer DEREK JETER on Saturday attended BYU-Michigan and “met with coach JIM HARBAUGH on the field during warm-ups.” Harbaugh “presented Jeter with a No. 2 jersey” (DETROIT NEWS, 9/27)....Warriors Gs STEPHEN CURRY and KLAY THOMPSON on Friday held their third annual basketball camp, which hosted children from Playworks, East Oakland Development Center, Boys & Girls Club of S.F., RYSE Youth Center, Reach Ashland Youth Center and YMCA of East Bay (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/26)....Production has started for a movie about late boxer TOMMY MORRISON, entitled "OKLAHOMA SUN" (K.C. STAR, 9/26).
