Priority Sports & Entertainment Dir of Athlete Marketing JULIE MAGRANE said that her client KURT WARNER is “about to close a deal to host a ‘feel good’ reality show.” The NFL Network analyst and former NFLer is “in discussions with several top Hollywood writers who are interested in bringing to the big screen his journey from grocery store stock boy to Super Bowl MVP.” In Phoenix, Paola Boivin notes Warner also “mulled an invitation to be part of a reality show that would follow his large family around but ultimately decided it was not the right thing for his brood” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/12).
HOME SWEET HOME: In Boston, Alex Beam reports Red Sox Owner JOHN HENRY is “building what looks like a medium-size prep school, code-named ‘Summera House’ in the public filings, on a 6.3-acre plot” in Brookline, Mass. Henry “bought the property from” Dodgers Owner FRANK MCCOURT in '07. The new 35,000-square-foot home will include a “home theater, a theater lobby, a ‘grotto,’ a two-tier garage for eight cars, a ‘safe room,’ sports lounge, chef’s kitchen, family kitchen, and ‘her study’ for his wife, LINDA PIZZUTI” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/12).
TWO THUMBS UP: The National Association of Black Journalists awarded ESPN’s “E:60” its Salute to Excellence Award in the TV sports category for a piece on Jaguars RB MAURICE JONES-DREW that was produced by DAVE SALERNO and reported by LISA SALTERS. The story examined the close relationship Jones-Drew had with his late grandfather (ESPN).
FILM REVIEW: The N.Y. TIMES’ Stephen Holden reviews ASIF KAPADIA’s documentary, “SENNA,” about the late Brazilian F1 driver AYRTON SENNA and writes the film “virtually puts you in the lap of its subject as he hurtles like a speeding bullet along the fastest tracks.” The film “is two things: a discreet hagiography of the handsome, soft-spoken Senna, who was only 34 when he died in a 1994 crash at the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy, and a compressed, Esoteric slice of Formula One history during his 10-year ascendance” (N.Y. TIMES, 8/12). ESPN.com’s Ed Hinton wrote of the film, “If you’re a connoisseur of Formula One in general, and the career of Senna in particular, this is a must-see with an asterisk. Senna’ simply cannot be digested in one sitting” (ESPN.com, 8/11).
FANTASY GURU: The HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Paul Bond profiles ESPN’s MATTHEW BERRY, “the go-to guy for Hollywood celebrities seeking a little help with their fantasy drafts and starting lineups.” Stars like musicians JOEL MADDEN and GEDDY LEE and actors ZOOEY DESCHANEL and JEFF GARLIN have “sought his counsel.” Berry this NFL season is “telling his Hollywood buddies” to draft Eagles QB MICHAEL VICK and Chargers TE ANTONIO GATES and “use as many late picks as possible for running backs and wide receivers who might not be stars but have breakout potential” (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/12).
NAMES: Musician VICTOR WILLIS, who was the lead singer and costumed police officer for the original Village People, Thursday said that he “planned to sue the Tampa Bay Rays ‘within the next 30 days,’ for misappropriating his voice and image.” The Village People “performed after a Rays game last August,” and Willis, who left the group in ’84, was not at the event. But the August promotion “included a 1978 video snippet of the original Village People singing YMCA, featuring Willis the Cop front and center” (ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, 8/12)….Former NBAer DETLEF SCHREMPF will appear this season on NBC’s “PARKS AND RECREATION" with Pacers C ROY HIBBERT. Schrempf has appeared on the show “twice as himself” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 8/11)…. Free agent NFL WR TERRELL OWENS is set to guest star on the season finale of USA Network’s “NECESSARY ROUGHNESS,” airing Sept. 14 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/11)….Nets Owner MIKHAIL PROKHOROV wants to be Russia’s “next prime minister.” Prokhorov said, “I think I am capable of doing the tasks of the prime minister” (N.Y. POST, 8/12)….Wofford College said Thursday that it will retire JERRY RICHARDSON’s No. 51 football jersey, which the Panthers owner wore during his days as a wide receiver at the South Carolina college in the '50s (AP, 8/11)....Scholastic has signed a deal with Knicks F AMAR’E STOUDEMIRE to publish his new book series for middle-grade readers. The first book in the series, entitled "STAT: Standing Tall and Talented," will be published in August '12 and will be followed by new books in October '12 and January '13 (Scholastic).
