SBJ’s MICHAEL SMITH last night announced he is taking some time off to deal with health issues. He led his SBJ College newsletter with the following message: "This is normally the time I’d be regrouping from Las Vegas to prepare for the College Football Playoff or the NCAA Convention. Instead, I’m going to step away at the start of the year so I can focus on my health. Some of you probably know that I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease nearly a decade ago, and it’s time to put all of my energy and focus on managing this disease. I have received magnificent support from my boss, ABE MADKOUR, my friend JOHN OURAND and my colleagues at SBJ. For that, I’m especially grateful. We’re also lucky to have BEN PORTNOY, who has seamlessly stepped into the college beat since September and will no doubt continue to provide outstanding coverage of what’s become a very challenging beat. This isn’t farewell, but simply an acknowledgment of what’s next as I go on disability leave.” You can reach Smith at Msmith@sportsbusinessjournal.com.
JERSEY SCORE: The JONAS BROTHERS will perform at the NHL Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 17 featuring Flyers-Devils. ABC’s Lara Spencer said the band “will perform in their home state to celebrate the 10th year of the NHL’s Outdoor Stadium Series” for their “favorite team, the Devils.” Spencer: “The brothers say it’s a dream come true to play for hometown friends, family and thousands of hockey fans” (“GMA,” ABC, 12/13).
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Clippers F PAUL GEORGE is launching a film and TV company named The Pack Productions with his sister TEIOSHA, who is also an executive producer on basketball-themed documentary “AMONGST THE TREES.” Paul George is also an executive producer on the film, which “follows an upstart men’s basketball program at Copper Mountain College.” The film will get its “world premiere” at the upcoming Palm Springs Int'l Film Festival. The film is co-directed and co-produced by TRENT UBBEN and JACK JENSEN of The Rec League “in their feature documentary debut,” and produced by JOSHUA ZEV NATHAN in association with RTG Features and The Pack Productions. RTG Features is “handling world sales” (DEADLINE, 12/12).
NAMES: UCF Athletics has received its “most significant financial commitment from a former Knights football player in school history” thanks to a gift from RON THOW. Thow played at UCF from 1989-92. The commitment “results in the naming of the Thow Family Locker Room” inside the Wayne Densch Sports Complex and will “pay for extensive upgrades for that football area in the next few years” (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 12/11)….The woman who said that former Bills and San Diego State P MATT ARAIZA “raped her when she was 17” is “dismissing Araiza from her civil lawsuit.” The agreement also calls for Araiza to “dismiss his defamation lawsuit against the woman.” According to his attorneys, Araiza is “not paying the plaintiff any money.” The settlement allows the woman to “pursue her lawsuit against the other named defendants,” former San Diego State OL ZAVIER LEONARD and DL NOWLIN EWALIKO (USA TODAY, 12/12)....GUY FIERI is “throwing a free tailgate” for 15,000 fans on Super Bowl Sunday. The event features “20-plus restaurant pop-ups and performances” by DJ DIPLO and singer DUSTIN LYNCH (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/12).
