Names In The News
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Ralph Wilson Is Among Nominees For '09
Induction Into Pro Football HOF |
In Buffalo, Mark Gaughan writes Bills Owner RALPH WILSON, a finalist for Saturday's election into the Pro Football HOF, was "as active on NFL committeees as any owner in the '70s and '80s." Wilson was "instrumental in creating a revenue sharing pool that helped make the landmark 1993 [CBA] with the players possible," and also was "on the right side of the vote on the extension" of the CBA in '06. Wilson was one of two NFL owners "deriding the wisdom of the extension," but now the owners "are united, 32-0, against the deal." Former Bills GM and coach MARV LEVY said Wilson is a "man who came into the business for the love of the game, not for the rewards financially." Levy: "He contributed so much to the game. He's been on every committee and part of many of the most major changes and moves that the league has made. If anyone ever deserves [HOF induction], it's Ralph Wilson" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/27).
SETTLING THE ISSUE: Predators Owner DAVID FREEMAN has settled with 10 employees of his now-defunct Commodore Medical Waste (CMW), and will pay them about $18,000. The U.S. Department of Labor in '06 filed a federal suit in '06 claiming that CMW "shorted 10 employees of their pay." Freeman's attorney said that the company "denied it did anything wrong and settled the suit only out of convenience" (WSMV.com, 1/26).
LIFE OF BRIAN: In St. Pete, Robert Trigaux profiles NFL VP/Communications BRIAN MCCARTHY, who "heads a PR group of 20" at the NFL's N.Y. HQs, and their "expertise is split among walking football statisticians and those specializing in entertainment, business and community relations." McCarthy insists that the job is "all about the game," but it is "really about selling football as a major American (and increasingly global) entertainment venue." McCarthy, who joined the NFL's PR department 14 years ago, said that Super Bowl XLIII this season is "more important in such a down economy" (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 1/27).
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Willie Ebersol (r), Son Of Dick Ebersol (l),
Directs Documentary Featuring Shaun White |
MEDIA MINUTE: The Learning Channel has pulled "NASCAR WIVES," which was scheduled to debut Saturday night. Kevin Harvick Inc. (KHI) Owner KEVIN HARVICK's wife DELANA was set to be featured in the show, and a KHI spokesperson confirmed the show is "on hold" for now (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/26)....Screenwriter JOHN RICE will make his directorial debut with "STAN'S CUP," a comedy "set in the world of old-timers' hockey." The film "centers on a broken-down, once-great hockey player who gets a chance to finally fill his legendary father's skates by giving his hometown, known as Hockeytown USA, a pseudo rematch of the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' game against a Russian team of ex-Olympians." Rice also wrote the script (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 1/26)....SI's Mark Bechtel writes ESPN's "DON'T LOOK DOWN" documentary, which chronicles a year in the life of action sports athlete SHAUN WHITE, "doesn't have a monumental event, such as the Olympics, to build to." But director WILLIE EBERSOL, the son of NBC Sports & Olympics Chair DICK EBERSOL, "crafts a compelling narrative out of White's post-Turin funk." White "seems especially open and at ease" in the film (SI, 1/26 issue).
NAMES: Asia Society Southern California (ASSC) on June 30 at its annual gala dinner in L.A. will honor AEG President & CEO TIM LEIWEKE with its Global Corporate Leadership Award. The ASSC at the dinner also will honor Lakers G KOBE BRYANT (ASSC)....Infineon Raceway VP/Communications & Marketing JOHN CARDINALE Friday was named NASCAR Track PR Rep of the Year (Infineon)....Florida Gov. CHARLIE CRIST will serve as grand marshal for the Daytona 500 on February 15 (Daytona Beach NEWS-JOURNAL, 1/27)....Falcons Owner ARTHUR BLANK last night prior to attending the Suns-Hawks game ate with his family at Stats in downtown Atlanta (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 1/27).
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