The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER's Rebecca Sun profiled Hawks CEO STEVE KOONIN, who has "kept things creative, overseeing marketing plays that saw ratings up" 14.4% since he joined the Hawks and a franchise record in ticket revenue this season. His "daring campaigns have included a Tinder-themed 'Swipe-Right Night,' hiring team spokespeople" from Ashley Madison to "promote a flexible ticket plan during the adultery site's infamous data leak, and issuing a handwritten tardy note for fans to give their bosses after a particularly late tip-off the night before" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/5).
THE REAL STAR: Cowboys Owner JERRY JONES has chosen his wife, GENE, to present him at his Pro Football HOF enshrinement. The choice is a "surprise to some who thought the final decision might come down" to his son, Cowboys Exec VP, COO & Dir of Player Personnel STEPHEN JONES, or his daughter, Cowboys Exec VP & Chief Brand Officer CHARLOTTE JONES ANDERSON. There was also speculation that a former player "could be an option" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 7/6). Meanwhile, NFL player agent NEIL SCHWARTZ will be the presenter for TERRELL DAVIS (AP, 7/5).
NAMES: Four years after suing the NBPA over his termination, former Exec Dir BILLY HUNTER will "get to challenge the union in court." The trial date is March 5, and the remaining salary on Hunter's contract when he was fired -- $10.5M -- is "in dispute" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/6)....Former NFL coach JIM MORA said that he was "invited to attend" PEYTON MANNING's statue dedication outside of Lucas Oil Stadium but "won't because of the details of his departure" from the Colts in '01. Mora recently said that he "didn't feel comfortable after being fired for not getting rid of then defensive coordinator VIC FANGIO" (NOLA.com, 7/5)....Puerto Rico Gov. RICARDO ROSSELLO has "recruited" former MLBer IVAN RODRIGUEZ to "help argue for statehood" for the U.S. territory. Rossello said that Rodriguez would "provide a nonpartisan perspective" (AP, 7/4)....Country singer LEE BRICE will “headline the 2017 Steelers Kickoff Concert Series” on Sept. 15. The concert takes place “two days before the Steelers play their first home game of the season” (POST-GAZETTE.com, 7/5)....Patriots offensive coordinator JOSH MCDANIELS will “drive the pace car” ahead of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on July 16 (USATODAY.com, 7/5)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT “recently plunked down a cool $90,000” to spend four nights at a Farell Building Co.-designed home in the Hamptons. The home is “on the market” for $15.99M and measures a “luxurious 8,600 square feet” (NYPOST.com, 7/5)....Orioles P CHRIS TILLMAN and his wife, CHRISTINA, “welcomed their first child” Tuesday night (Baltimore SUN, 7/6).
IN MEMORY: Longtime San Diego Union-Tribune sports editor and columnist TOM CUSHMAN died at age 83 yesterday in Chicago “after a brief illness” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/6). Cushman “became a powerful man” in San Diego in the '80s and '90s and was the “best boxing writer of his generation" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 7/6).
