NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE "has withdrawn his request to have all the documents sealed in a federal lawsuit against his ex-wife accusing her of taping his telephone calls to extort money from him." France "did not give a reason in his one-page notice" to withdraw the request. The notice "came about a week after MEGAN FRANCE responded to her ex-husband's request to seal the documents" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/27).
MONEY MATTERS: Virginia Tech football coach FRANK BEAMER Monday said that he "did not lose any money in an alleged ponzi scheme orchestrated by his friend and former Georgia Coach JIM DONNAN." Beamer: "I put some money in. The money I put in I got back out." As first reported by ESPN, Donnan and his wife "solicited and made commission on investments from more than 50 people or entities on behalf of GLC Enterprises, including football coaches such as Beamer, Texas Tech coach TOMMY TUBERVILLE and former Oklahoma coach BARRY SWITZER" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 7/26)....In L.A., Blankstein & Pringle report the L.A. Memorial Coliseum "recently granted a 17% raise" to Finance Dir RONALD LEDERKRAMER, who "oversaw the stadium's finances throughout a scandal involving allegations of conflict of interest, excessive perks and poor fiscal oversight." But L.A. Coliseum Commission President DAVID ISRAEL said that he "rescinded the $250,000 pay boost" as well as "smaller ones given to other Coliseum employees" (L.A. TIMES, 7/27).
WOODY'S NEXT BIG EFFORT: CNBC's Brian Sullivan said with the NFL lockout settled, Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON is “turning his attention to the White House.” He is “putting big money behind one big-time" presidential candidate, Republican MITT ROMNEY. Johnson said that Romney did not need to take a more active role in issues, such as the debt-limit debate. Johnson: "I think as a front-runner he's got experience. This is his second time doing this and I think he picks and chooses those debates he wants to enter, and I'll leave that to his consideration" ("Street Signs," CNBC, 7/26).
CONCUSSION RESEARCH: A preliminary report released yesterday by the Canadian Sports Concussion Project found that former CFLers BOBBY KUNTZ and JAY ROBERTS, both of whom have passed away, "suffered from a brain disease that can lead to dementia." Tests on the brains of two other former players, PETE RIBBINS and TONY PROUDFOOT, "showed no signs of the disease" (TORONTO SUN, 7/27).
MEMORABLE TRIP: NBC "Today" host ANN CURRY yesterday noted NASCAR driver JEFF GORDON has started “his own foundation to benefit pediatric cancer and many other charitable organizations, and he just used a week off to fly to Congo on a fact-finding mission for the Clinton Global Initiative." Gordon, who is part of CGI's "Rethink Refugees" program, said the trip was the "most incredible experience in my life. I'll never forget it.” Gordon: “(You want to) get that message out to others that these people really need our help, and we can do short-term and long-term things that can truly change their lives. These are people living on $40, $50 -- some less -- a week” ("Today," NBC, 7/26).
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Diamond Sports hosts career camp for
students interested in sports industry |
NAMES: Diamond Sports is holding its second annual Big Apple Career Camp July 26-29 at a variety of N.Y.-area venues. Twenty-five high school and college students interested in pursuing a career in the sports industry visited MLB Network, New Meadowlands Stadium, Bloomberg Sports, CBS Sports Network, ESPN 1050 Radio and Yankee Stadium while hearing from a variety of sports business leaders (THE DAILY)....MLB Rangers P DEREK HOLLAND has teamed with the Arlington, Texas, police and fire departments to introduce a new campaign "Don't Text and Drive." Television and radio PSAs featuring Holland "will begin airing within the next week" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/27)....Saints and former Univ. of Miami LB JONATHAN VILMA yesterday presented the UM athletic department "with a $450,000 donation that goes toward completing the funding for the Theodore G. Schwartz and Todd G. Schwartz Center for Athletic Excellence, which is set for construction beginning in December." UM will name the players lounge at the Schwartz Center in Vilma's honor (MIAMI HERALD, 7/27)....Former NFLer and Univ. of Colorado alum RASHAAN SALAAM is auctioning his ’94 Heisman Trophy ring. The 20-diamond ring is "expected to draw bids of $15,000 to $25,000" (DENVERPOST.com, 7/27)….Int'l Tennis HOFer ANDRE AGASSI has been selected to join the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which is awarded for innovation, leadership, long-term vision and impact in renewable energy and sustainability (THE DAILY).
