TNT’s CHARLES BARKLEY, on Cavaliers F and Nike endorser LEBRON JAMES: “I got on Nike ... (and said), ‘You guys are doing LeBron a disservice.’ ... They’re trying to build the league around him and he has not spoken a word in a commercial. Nike needs to showcase his personality and I’d like to know more about him” (“The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch,” CNBC, 4/6).
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Jackson Filing Defamation
Suit Against Paper |
BO KNOWS FIRST AMENDMENT: Former NFLer and MLBer
BO JACKSON has filed a defamation lawsuit against the
INLAND VALLEY DAILY BULLETIN, after sports editor
JIM MOHR in a March 24 story quoted dietary expert
ELLEN COLEMAN as saying that “she knew personally that ‘Bo Jackson lost his hip because of anabolic abuse.’” Also named in the suit are Mohr,
MEDIANEWS GROUP, MEDIANEWS GROUP INTERACTIVE and three other employees of the newspaper (
L.A. DAILY NEWS, 4/7). When
DAN BIEDERMAN, Jackson’s lawyer, contacted Coleman, “she was stunned by the comment.” She “denied ever using Jackson’s name, through a sworn affidavit, and Jackson and his lawyers have a copy of the tape of her speech that backs up her statement” (
Scott Merkin, MLB.com, 4/6).
FORGIVABLE BLACKNESS: U.S. Rep. PETER KING (R-NY) is pushing a House version of a bill approved by the Senate last year to pardon deceased boxer JACK JOHNSON, the first black heavyweight champion, for his conviction in 1913 “in a case based on his consensual relationship with a white woman.” U.S. Sen. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ) has led efforts in the Senate (WASHINGTON POST, 4/7).
STABLE HAND: WOODFORD RESERVE, the official bourbon of the KENTUCKY DERBY, is starting its own thoroughbred racing stable, called WOODFORD RESERVE STABLES. Woodford has formed the WOODFORD RESERVE THOROUGHBRED SOCIETY, which allows consumers to vote online to name the stable’s first horse and choose the silks design (AP, 4/6).
NAMES: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Christopher Conkey reports a new nonprofit, CADDY FOR A CURE, is auctioning off the right to caddy for several PGA Tour golfers during the Tuesday practice round of tournaments. Proceeds from the eBay auctions will benefit the FANCONI ANEMIA RESEARCH FUND and other charities. The players’ real caddies will tag along (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/7)....A wax likeness of ANDRE AGASSI has been added to the MADAME TUSSAUDS wax museum at THE VENETIAN in Las Vegas (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 4/7).
