The Celtics yesterday announced plans to build a statue in honor of Basketball HOFer BILL RUSSELL in Boston. DOT JOYCE, spokesperson for Boston Mayor THOMAS MENINO, said that the city is "looking at several potential sites for the statue and will seek input from the community." The Celtics "will also launch the Bill Russell Legacy Project, which will work with the Mass Mentoring Partnership to fund grants for mentoring programs throughout the city" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/5). Celtics Managing Partner STEVE PAGLIUCA said that the Bill Russell Legacy Committee has "two sites for the statue in mind but wants to keep them quiet until a formal unveiling of their plans later this month." Pagliuca added that the committee is "still seeking an artist to design and sculpt the statue." In Boston, O'Ryan Johnson writes Russell is "finally getting his due" (BOSTON HERALD, 5/5). ESPN BOSTON's Peter May wrote, "The overwhelming reaction ... has to be, 'Well, it's about time.' ... Bravo to the city of Boston, the Celtics and to all concerned" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 5/4).
KEEPING BUSY: The AP's Barry Wilner noted NFL agent JOE LINTA "has accepted the head coaching position at Hamden Hall, a private high school in Connecticut." Linta, who previously worked as a coach at Yale Univ. for eight years, said that his "first commitment is to his NFL players, and to the college guys he signs once their season ends." But the "majority of his work as an agent comes from late November through June," and coaching the high school team "will run August-early November" (AP, 5/4).
HOLLYWOOD BEAT: Nike Chair PHIL KNIGHT's Portland-based animation studio Laika yesterday said that it will "release its second feature in the heart of the summer blockbuster season." The company described the film, "PARANORMAN," as a "'comedy-thriller' about a boy, Norman, coping with an influx of zombies into his hometown." Laika's first film, "CORALINE," took in $75M "at the U.S. box office, and nearly $50 million more overseas." That film "won critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination" (Portland OREGONIAN, 5/5)....ABC Studios "has teamed with ESPN Radio host MIKE GREENBERG" to develop a sitcom based on his book "WHY MY WIFE THINKS I'M AN IDIOT." The show "will revolve around a sportscaster who juggles his relationship with his slovenly radio show co-host and his marriage to a sports-hating spouse." Greenberg "will pen the pilot." The show "comes to the studio via the Humanitas org's New Voices program" (DAILY VARIETY, 5/4).
NAMES: SportsBusiness Journal's Liz Mullen on Twitter reported NBA player agent JOE BELL has signed former Duke Univ. G NOLAN SMITH for representation (TWITTER.com, 5/4)....Under Armour Chair, President & CEO KEVIN PLANK between April 29 and May 3 "shed another 143,100 shares of the company's stock" worth roughly $9.6M. The move is "part of a pre-arranged stock plan he entered into in November to divest of up to 1.125 million shares of the company's Class B stock he owns over a 10-month period" beginning this month (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/4)....Cowboys Media Relations Coordinator JANCY BRILES, "injured in the 2009 collapse of the team's Valley Ranch practice facility," has filed a lawsuit against the companies who worked on the structure citing "serious, disabling and permanent injuries" from the collapse. Briles is "not suing the Cowboys or any related companies held by team owner JERRY JONES" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5/5)....The PGA Tour "donated $100,000 to help with relief efforts of the Alabama tornadoes" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 5/5)....Late Dolphins announcer JIM MANDICH is "going into the Dolphins' Honor Roll." In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Hyde wrote, "Kudos to Dolphins owner STEVE ROSS and president MIKE DEE for making this happen" (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 5/4).
