The GLOBE & MAIL's Greg Keenan reports FRANK STRONACH will step down as Chair & CEO of MI Developments "if shareholders approve a deal that gives him the firm's racetrack and gambling assets in return for surrendering control of the company." WES VOORHEIS, a Toronto attorney who represented MID's minority shareholders in the transaction, would become Chair of the organization. Former Farallon Capital Management Managing Dir WILLIAM LENEHAN, "one of the largest minority shareholders," would become CEO (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/25).
CLEAN SHAVEN: Steelers DE BRETT KEISEL Thursday night "watched helplessly as celebrity barbers," including team President ART ROONEY II, DE AARON SMITH and WR HINES WARD "snipped bits and pieces of his luscious beard." More than 400 people "paid $25 to watch" Keisel lose the beard he had grown since training camp. Proceeds from the event at Diesel Club Lounge in Pittsburgh, estimated to be about $30,000, "went to the cancer program at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 2/25).
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS: Quiznos Owners and Colorado residents RICK and RICHARD SCHADEN on Thursday announced that they are investing $10M into the Quiznos Pro Challenge cycling race in the state. The Schadens said that the "investment beyond the sandwich company's sponsorship ensures the race will be around for a long time" (DENVER POST, 2/25).
DEFENDING HIS TURF: Florida state Rep. MIKE WEINSTEIN has filed a bill that would "no longer allow a Florida employee, regardless of profession, who gets hurt while temporarily working in another state to win a workers compensation claim in that state and stick their Florida-based employer with the bill." Weinstein's legislation has the "backing of Florida's professional sports teams because their players become eligible to file in California simply by playing in an away game there." To date, 28 former Jaguars players and 50 from the Dolphins and Buccaneers "have active compensation claims in California" (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 2/25).
A FEEL-GOOD STORY: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Aditi Kinkhabwala profiles SAMMY ARTHUR, the "once-poor Ghanian immigrant" who now works on the medical staff for the NFL Giants. As Founder & Chair of the Health & Humanitarian Aid Foundation, Arthur has "made it his mission to bring medical supplies, services and practitioners to the country of his birth." He created a foundation two years ago and next Tuesday night, "at the foundation's fund-raising gala at Gotham Hall, he hopes to raise" another $500,000 (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/25).
NAMES: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT was the featured speaker at Boston Spirit magazine's annual LGBT Executive Networking Night on Wednesday. Kraft said, "I believe in building bridges, not fences" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/25)....Cowboys RB MARION BARBER is "donating more than $500,000 worth of computers to 21 high schools in the Dallas Independent School District" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 2/25)....Orioles prospect MANNY MACHADO has parted ways with agent SCOTT BORAS and signed DAN LOZANO for representation (Baltimore SUN, 2/25)....Chicago Mayor-elect RAHM EMANUEL, White House Senior Advisor DAVID AXELROD and rapper KANYE WEST sat courtside for Thursday night's Heat-Bulls game at United Center (CHICAGOBREAKINGSPORTS.com, 2/24).
BEST WISHES: Grizzlies Owner MICHAEL HEISLEY this weekend is "having surgery in Santa Barbara." He "didn't specify the exact nature of the surgery" (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 2/24)....Former Tigers broadcaster PAUL CAREY suffered a heart attack on Wednesday (DETNEWS.com, 2/24).
