Producers BILL DUKE, GIL ADLER and JOEL EISENBERG are “developing a biopic” on late boxer JOE LOUIS, with Duke set to direct. The trio “signed a deal” with Kirmser Ponturo Group’s FRAN KIRMSER and TONY PONTURO. The untitled project will "focus on Louis’ historic two fights" with German boxer MAX SCHMELING. Initially “intended as a stage play, Eisenberg approached Kirmser and inquired as to the project’s present status, then pitched the idea of a film” (VARIETY.com, 11/4).
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Beilein will receive $1.5M annually through a
retirement plan offered |
PAY RAISE: Univ. of Michigan men's basketball coach JOHN BEILEIN "has received a two-year contract extension" through the '20-21 season, "along with a pay raise" from $2.45M annually to $3.37M. He will "earn a base salary of $400,000," along with $1.47M per year "for TV, radio, internet, shoe/apparel sponsorships, consulting, promotion and other services." In "separate deferred payments," Beilein will receive an additional $1.5M annually "through the University's Supplemental Defined Contributions Retirement Plan" (MLIVE. com, 11/4).
SCHOOL BOYS: Union MF MICHAEL LAHOUD and Crew F KEI KAMARA are part of an effort to “help restore and expand the struggling education system” in their native Sierra Leone. A school bearing their names recently opened in Allen Town, “a resettlement district just west of Freetown, to where many victims of the [civil] war fled to.” The work was “accomplished after years of fundraising by the pair” (THEGUARDIAN.com, 11/4).
NAMES: Philanthropist CHRISTINE LYNN “has agreed to donate” $5M to FAU to create the Christine E. Lynn Sports Medicine Center, which will be housed within the Schmidt Complex for Academic & Athletic Excellence. FAU officials said that the first part of the complex “is expected to be open by the end of next year” (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 11/4)....The ball Royals SS ALCIDES ESCOBAR hit for an inside-the-park home run during Game 1 of the World Series sold last night for $19,200. MLB “put it up on its website for eight days before the auction closed after 84 bids” at 11:18pm ET (ESPN.com, 11/4)....Ping Chair & CEO JOHN SOLHEIM on Tuesday at the 12th HSBC Golf Business Forum “was honored with the Forum’s Lifetime Achievement Award.” He and his family “were also cited for their role in establishing the Solheim Cup” (GOLF DIGEST STIX, 11/4 issue)....New Nationals manager DUSTY BAKER and GM MIKE RIZZO last night attended Spurs-Wizards at Verizon Center (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/4).
