Coast to Coast

AKRON, OHIO
MAG makes university deal
The University of Akron Department of Athletics has reached a new 10-year deal with MAG Management, parent company of Montrose Auto Group and Montrose Wireless. Under the terms of the deal, which is worth more than $1 million over its life, the locally owned and operated corporation will remain a Team Akron Corporate Patron of Zips athletics.

ATLANTA
Hawks promote draft pick
The Atlanta Hawks are holding a promotion to spark interest in the June 28 NBA draft, where the Hawks hold the No. 2 pick. The “High 5” NBA Draft Sweepstakes asks fans to correctly predict the top five picks in this year’s draft. The selected winner receives a lunch or dinner with the No. 2 pick, 2005 season tickets, a preseason road trip with the team, a meet-and-greet at a team practice and VIP seats at the Hawks’ draft news conference.

BOSTON
Sox name foul pole for Fisk
The Red Sox paid homage to one of the most famous plays in their history when they honored Carlton Fisk’s 1975 World Series home run in the long-awaited interleague rematch between the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. In a pregame ceremony roughly 20 minutes before the first pitch last Monday, the Red Sox officially named the foul pole above the Green Monster “The Fisk Pole” in honor of the Hall of Fame catcher.

CINCINNATI
ChampBoat Series returns
The ChampBoat Series will come to Cincinnati and Newport, Ky., July 16-17. The Greater Cincinnati ChampBoat Grand Prix has been designed to be run under the bridges in front of the Newport at the Levee. The event will be televised on the Outdoor Channel and produced by Charlotte-based Speedway Group Inc.

DALLAS-FORT WORTH
Pavestone to sponsor truck racer
Pavestone Co., a Dallas maker of concrete products, will sponsor Eric Norris in four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races this season. Norris, son of actor Chuck Norris and winner of the 2002 Grand National West Series, debuted the No. 7 Pavestone Chevrolet Silverado on June 10 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Norris will also drive the Pavestone truck at races at Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Nuggets coach George Karl was penalized for attending a college practice.

DENVER
Karl suspended in rules violation
Denver Nuggets coach George Karl was suspended for the first three games of next season and the team fined $200,000 by the NBA. Karl’s offense was in showing up at practice sessions at Marquette University because his son, Coby, was taking part. A couple of players at the sessions were not eligible for the coming NBA draft. Karl’s presence violated NBA rules against having contact with players before they are eligible for the draft.

HOUSTON
Texans publication starts up
Texan Blitz, a publication devoted to the Houston Texans, was launched this month by F.S. Publishing Inc. The 24-page June/July issue of Texan Blitz marks the debut of the tabloid-format newspaper, which carries a newsstand price of $2.50. The first issue contains coverage of everything from the draft to the NFL team’s cheerleaders. About 22 issues will be published each year. Texan Blitz is part of the Professional Football Publication Association, a group of NFL-oriented print and online publications.

INDIANAPOLIS
Car part raises big money on eBay
The front wing that broke off Danica Patrick’s Indy Racing League car was auctioned at a top bid of $42,650.01 on eBay. Officials for eBay said Patrick’s front wing was the most-viewed piece of merchandise June 6-10. The auction ended June 13. Members of Panther Racing recovered the part along with debris from their two drivers’ cars, which were damaged when Patrick spun with 45 laps to go in this year’s Indianapolis 500. Patrick, who autographed the wing, races for Rahal-Letterman.

A photographer has settled his lawsuit over an Emmitt Smith photo for $275,000.

IRVING, TEXAS
Photographer settles over Smith pic
A Frisco photographer has reached a $275,000 settlement with the Dallas Cowboys of a federal lawsuit that alleged the team used a photo of running back Emmitt Smith without his permission. As part of the deal, Walter Smith will be barred from shooting Cowboys games at Texas Stadium. He claimed the team bought 250 copies of the picture to sell in its shops and, without telling him, put it on T-shirts, sweat shirts and other items.

LOS ANGELES
Dodgers mark 1965 Series crown
The Dodgers celebrated the 40th anniversary of their 1965 world championship with a special ceremony at Dodger Stadium before the June 10 interleague game with the Minnesota Twins, the team the Dodgers defeated in a seven-game World Series. Five players from the championship team were on hand for the event.

MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL
Wild season-ticket holders renewing
Two-thirds of Minnesota Wild season-ticket holders have renewed their packages for a potential 2005-06 NHL hockey season. That is consistent with previous years, each of which has resulted in 96 percent or higher renewals, according to team officials. The Wild has a season-ticket base of 16,500 with a waiting list of 6,500 fans who have paid a $100 deposit.

PHILADELPHIA
Eagles to mark store’s anniversary
The Philadelphia Eagles have planned a daylong celebration Saturday to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Eagles End Zone, the team’s stand-alone retail store in Lancaster. The 3,384-square-foot store is the franchise’s first, and so far only, retail venture outside Lincoln Financial Field. The celebration will include appearances by players Jeremiah Trotter, Jon Ritchie and L.J. Smith, and will end with a “Get Eagles Green Fireworks Spectacular.”

SACRAMENTO
Triathlon moves to Davis
The Californiaman triathlon, set for Sept. 17, is moving to Davis from Folsom. Since last year, Davis has been the intended site for the event, which debuted in May 2004, but event producer J&A Productions until recently was ironing out specific locations for the different portions of the race.

SAN DIEGO
Chargers loop preseason into 3-pack
The Chargers began offering a three-game “Mini Pack” ticket package on Saturday, giving fans looking for seats to individual games in 2005 a chance to see some popular opponents if they’re willing to include a preseason game as part of the deal. Single-game sales won’t begin until next month.

ST. LOUIS
Budweiser renews Irish Derby deal
Anheuser-Busch renewed its Budweiser sponsorship of the Irish Derby horse race for three more years. The 140th running will take place Sunday at the Curragh Racecourse. It will mark the 20th year of Budweiser’s sponsorship, the brand’s longest-running sponsorship in Europe, the brewery said. Terms were not disclosed.

TAMPA-ST. PETERSBURG
Fans mark Lightning’s victory
An estimated 10,000 fans turned out at the St. Pete Times Forum on June 7 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup victory. Highlights of the Game 7 victory over the Calgary Flames were shown on giant TV screens inside the arena, and a two-hour special commemorating the championship was shown on Tampa ABC affiliate WFTS.

TORONTO
CFL seeing more sponsor funds
The Canadian Football League could bring in up to $6 million in corporate sponsorship money this season, triple the amount it raised just three years ago, according to a report in the Toronto Star. The CFL will soon announce a two-year sponsorship agreement with Scotiabank Group, plus other deals with Canon Inc. and Best Buy Co., the Star said. CFL Commissioner Tom Wright said the league may be open to selling naming rights to the Grey Cup championship.

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