White House Press Secretary JOSH EARNEST yesterday said that PRESIDENT OBAMA, well known for being a big fan of Chicago sports teams, has ""discussed' being part of an ownership group for an NBA franchise." Earnest added Obama would pursue the opportunity "potentially ... under the right circumstances" (ESPN.com, 6/22). ABC's Jonathan Karl said of Obama being interested in owning a team, "It's almost like he's putting up big neon letters, 'Hey, let me be part of a team.' Obviously, he would have to have some very wealthy partners. The president has some money but not that kind of cash" ("GMA," ABC, 6/23).
ANOTHER BLACK EYE?: Two years ago, New York Gov. ANDREW CUOMO appointed DAVID BERLIN, a "lawyer with an expertise in boxing, to be the athletic commission’s executive director." Berlin’s appointment and the creation of the new supervisory position "were seen by many as moves to reform the commission -- to make it more professional and accountable." But last month, the Cuomo administration "abruptly replaced" Berlin, who, his lawyer says, was "removed in retaliation for diligently reporting wrongdoing within the commission." Berlin’s dismissal is the latest controversy "to envelop the athletic commission, whose mandate is broadening as a result of the recent passing of legislation lifting a longtime ban on competitive mixed martial arts" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/23).
BACK SO SOON? ESPN analyst TRENT DILFER has re-signed with Athletes First, and its Founder & CEO DAVID DUNN negotiated Dilfer's recently signed the multi-year deal with ESPN. Dilfer left Athletes First in May and was being represented by CAA. It is not clear why he left or returned (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer).
NICE PERKS: Among the highlights of Illinois AD JOSH WHITMAN's five-year contract are annual compensation of up to $800,000, two courtesy cars and a $1M buyout for leaving. Whitman, whose contract runs through March 4, 2021, will be "paid a $600,000 base salary with the ability to make $200,000 more if he meets certain academic, athletic and fundraising goals." Whitman will also "receive one suite for games for business use and receive four tickets to the 77 Club for all home football games and four loge tickets for all basketball games, for business or personal use." Among his performance goals are "$10,000 for a Big Ten championship in football, men's basketball or women's basketball," while he would "receive $5,000 for a Big Ten championship in other sports" (Champaign NEWS-GAZETTE, 6/23).
HOUSE GUEST: Cowboys WR DEZ BRYANT "faces a lawsuit from his former landlord over allegations of more than $60,000 in damages" to a 6,400-square-foot home in the Dallas suburb of DeSoto he leased. The civil suit was filed last week by Texas state Sen. ROYCE WEST, an attorney "who defended Bryant in a domestic violence case involving" the '14 All-Pro's mother. West "seeks damages of between $100,000 and $200,000" (AP, 6/23).
NAMES: ESPN's CHRIS MORTENSEN has won the PFWA’s Dick McCann Award for his contributions to NFL media coverage (PFWA)....The Penguins' JIM RUTHERFORD was named GM of the Year yesterday at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas. Rutherford is the first GM in the expansion era to “lead two separate franchises to a Stanley Cup after also leading” the Hurricanes to a championship in ’06 (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/23)....Florida President KENT FUCHS has “appointed an eight-member committee to find” outgoing AD JEREMY FOLEY’s replacement. Foley is set to retire Oct. 1. The school will not use a search committee (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 6/23)....Among those in attendance at yesterday’s Scholar Athletes Celebration at TD Garden were Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI, Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY, Red Sox President SAM KENNEDY, Bruins CEO CHARLIE JACOBS and Patriots President JONATHAN KRAFT (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/23)....The Univ. of North Carolina “has reached a $795,000 settlement” with former football player JACKSON BOYER and his family nearly two years after he “suffered an alleged concussion during an off-campus hazing incident that involved at least four of his teammates” (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 6/23).
