Names In The News
MLB Rangers and Stars Owner TOM HICKS filed with the SEC Thursday for a public stock sale of Hicks Acquisition Co., a "blank check" company that "can use the money from the stock sale only to buy companies." Hicks, who "hopes to raise $400[M]" from the stock sale, "does not have any specific companies identified that it will purchase" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/15)....MLB Rangers and Stars investor JEFFREY MARCUS, who "says he's in the process of selling his stakes" in the teams, purchased a home in Palm Beach, Florida, for $5.85M (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/15).
SABAN: Univ. of Alabama football coach NICK SABAN's eight-year, $32M contract will pay him $3.5M in ’07 and will “gradually increase to pay $4.2[M] annually for the final three years of the deal.” Saban’s base salary is $225,000 and his personal service fee starts at $3.275M per year, increasing to $3.975M for each of the final three years of the deal. Perks include the use of two cars, a country club membership, a $400,000 bonus for winning the national championship and personal use of an airplane for 25 hours per year. There is no buyout clause in the contract and no obligation for Saban to participate in school-endorsed ads. Saban is required to do one radio and TV appearance each during the season, along with a radio appearance around signing day. He must also make 15 public appearances per year (HUNTSVILLE TIMES, 6/15).
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New Ventures Keeping
Arenas Busy In Offseason
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NAMES: Attorneys SHIRLEY CUNNINGHAM JR. and WILLIAM GALLION, who own 20% of Preakness winner CURLIN, were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury on a charge that they "conspired to defraud their clients in a $200[M] lawsuit settlement with the maker of the diet drug fen-phen." Cunningham and Gallion were the sole owners of Curlin before selling 80% of the horse in February (N.Y. TIMES, 6/15)....Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) announced that its 26 member resorts hosted more than 12.56 million skier visits in '06-07, setting a new record for the second consecutive year. Colorado also set a record in market share, capturing nearly 23% of the U.S. ski business (CSCUSA)....Lakers G KOBE BRYANT recently attended a FC Barcelona practice in Barcelona “unannounced, but shortly after he was spotted, club officials escorted Bryant to the practice pitch." Bryant visited Barcelona MF RONALDINHO, who he became friends with when Barcelona was in L.A. last summer for their U.S. tour (GolTV, 6/14).
SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT: In his NBA.com blog, Wizards G GILBERT ARENAS wrote he might do a reality show this summer "if ESPN will pick it up." He is also writing a book that will be "like 'Chicken Soup for the Soul.'" Arenas: "Stuff like, 'If you're a No. 1 or No. 2 pick, why do you need an agent?' Reality stuff like that" (NBA.com, 6/14)....Cyclist FLOYD LANDIS has written "Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France" with co-author LOREN MOONEY. The book, which will be released June 26 by Simon Spotlight Entertainment, "sheds new light on Landis's actions during a hearing over the doping charges last month as well as during last year's Tour" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/15)....Victoria’s Secret named Yankees SS DEREK JETER “Sexiest Male Athlete 2007.” Jeter, who is single, said he is looking “for a good girl, her own career, ambitious, intelligent. So if you know of anyone, let me know” (“Entertainment Tonight,” 6/14).
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