Names In The News
In Charlotte, David Poole writes his "2008 Power List," which ranks the "most powerful people in NASCAR," this year is topped by the trio of NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE, ISC Chair & CEO JIM FRANCE and ISC Vice Chair & President LESA FRANCE KENNEDY. NASCAR driver DALE EARNHARDT JR. ranks No. 2 on the list, followed by the trio of Fox Sports Chair & Exec Producer DAVID HILL, Fox Sports President ED GOREN and "NASCAR on Fox'' Dir ARTIE KEMPNER. Click here to see the entire list (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 5/23).
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Jay-Z Buys $540,000 Courtside
Suite In Future Home Of Nets |
KINGDOME COME: Nets Investor JAY-Z recently bought a $540,000 courtside suite for the team's new Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Nets are not scheduled to move into the arena until the 2010-11 NBA season (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 5/23).
COURT IN SESSION: Tempe, Arizona, resident TOM GEORGE Thursday filed suit in U.S. District Court against the NCAA and Ticketmaster claiming that the organizations "violated racketeering laws by forcing ticket purchasers to pay nonrefundable fees to enter a lottery to buy tickets for high-profile sporting events" (AP, 5/22)....Hedge-fund Int'l Management Associates CEO KIRK WRIGHT Wednesday was found guilty of "money laundering and fraud that costs investors, including several professional athletes, more than $150[M]." Wright faces a "possible life term and a fine as much as $16[M] when he is sentenced" August 26. Former NFLers TERRELL DAVIS and CLYDE SIMMONS were among the athletes who "received bad distribution checks and sued" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 5/22).
NAMES: Sony is in "final negotiations" for the rights to the documentary, "TYSON," which chronicles the life of boxer MIKE TYSON. The acquisition would be "one of the most high-profile domestic pickups among the Festival de Cannes premieres" (DAILY VARIETY, 5/23)....IMG Tennis has signed ATP player STANISLAS WAWRINKA to a management and representation deal. Wawrinka is listed at No. 10 in the ATP world rankings (IMG Tennis)....Pro Football HOFer ANTHONY MUNOZ has agreed to be a regional community ambassador for PNC Financial Services Group. Munoz will not appear in any advertising for PNC, but he will make local marketing appearances (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 5/23)....The Office Depot Foundation will donate $15,000 to the Jason Taylor Foundation for Dolphins DE JASON TAYLOR's second-place finish in ABC's "Dancing with the Stars." The contribution will be used to support the Jason Taylor Reading Room in Miramar, Florida (TRB.com, 5/22)....The Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau has given its President's Award to ESPN Senior VP/Affiliate Ad Sales GARY PERRELLI (ESPN).
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