The NHL is accusing former NHLer MIKE PELUSO of "trying to 'create a sideshow' by issuing subpoenas" for Commissioner GARY BETTMAN and two other NHL execs in advance of Peluso's upcoming workers' compensation trial. NHL lawyer CHRISTOPHER STETTLER said that Peluso is "trying to 'harass'" Bettman, NHL Deputy Commissioner BILL DALY and Maples Leafs GM LOU LAMORIELLO (TSN.ca, 9/28).
EIGHTH WONDER: WME-IMG "bumped its valuation" up to $6.3B in August, following a $1.1B infusion of outside funds. Just how that "trickles down" to co-CEOs ARI EMANUEL and PATRICK WHITESELL is a closely guarded secret, but these two -- along with CAA's RICHARD LOVETT, KEVIN HUVANE and BRYAN LOURD, who each pocketed $40M when TPG took a majority stake in the agency in '14 -- may be the "only agents in Hollywood making eight figures annually" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 9/28)
GAME ON: The NRG Esports franchise is "in the process of closing" a $15M Series B financing round that includes investments from JENNIFER LOPEZ, Raiders RB MARSHAWN LYNCH, former MLBer ALEX RODRIGUEZ and Pro Football HOFer MICHAEL STRAHAN, among others (ESPN.com, 9/28)....Esports franchise Cloud9 is "close to finalizing" a $25M Series A financing round following its reported $20M buy-in to the upcoming Overwatch League. The round includes investment from Pro Football HOFer JOE MONTANA, Warriors co-Owner CHAMATH PALIHAPITIYA and Reddit co-Founder ALEXIS OHANIAN (ESPN.com, 9/28).
THE GOOD STUFF: Former MLBer DAVID ORTIZ and former NBAer RAY ALLEN "teamed up this week to raise nearly $100,000 for UNICEF USA's relief effort in Puerto Rico" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/29).... Panthers coach RON RIVERA has "pledged to donate $50,000 to aid Puerto Rico" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 9/29)....Mavericks Owner MARK CUBAN said that the team plane will "fly water, food and supplies, including temporary generators" on Friday and again on Monday (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 9/28)....The Predators made their annual donation to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt with a check for $442,365, "surpassing last year's record donation by more than $15,000." The Predators have "donated nearly" $1.5M to the hospital since '10 (TENNESSEAN.com, 9/28).
NAMES: Lighting Owner JEFF VINIK "invested in a luxury skin care line Silk Therapeutics" as the company "begins a move into the apparel industry." The Kraft Group is already an investor (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/28)....USWNT MF CARLI LLOYD appeared on "MEGYN KELLY TODAY" on Thursday where she discussed her "Pass the Ball" initiative, which aims to get young girls involved in sports and develop mental toughness (NBC)....The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance held its annual awards dinner on Thursday, where Fanatics was the Jobs Award Winner. The company recently opened a warehouse in Las Vegas, projecting the creation of 374 jobs over the next five years (LVGEA).
