In New Orleans, Ted Lewis reports an HBO “Real Sports” investigation has “prompted the Allstate Sugar Bowl to self-report tax law violations it committed by purchasing three $1,000 tickets to fundraisers” for then-Gov. KATHLEEN BLANCO in ’04 and ’06. A statement from the Sugar Bowl says that under its non-profit charter, the bowl is “not allowed to contribute to political campaigns, and such actions also are against bowl policy.” At the time of the fundraisers, the Sugar Bowl “was receiving approximately $1 million annually from the state as a ‘cooperative endeavor’ that helped fund team payouts.” The arrangement predated Blanco’s term and was “rescinded two years ago at the Sugar Bowl’s request.” The statement also noted that “the money has been refunded from Blanco and those funds have been donated to the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete fund” (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 9/21).
FOR A GOOD CAUSE: Bills Owners RALPH and MARY WILSON donated $1M to the Univ. of Buffalo Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. The gift from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation will “support new research and educational programs, particulary for the training of five orthopedic residents and two sports medicine fellows who rotate through the department each year" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 9/20)…. Univ. of North Carolina researcher KEVIN GUSKIEWICZ was one of 22 MacArthur Fellowship grant winners announced yesterday. Guskiewicz says that he “hopes the attention from the awards will attract more money for his work in understanding sports-related concussions.” He will receive $500,000 from the fellowship “over the next five years” (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 9/21).
AT THE MOVIES: Former NFLer DORSEY LEVENS is “producing and directing a documentary called ‘BELL RUNG,’ about the high price athletes pay to play professional football.” The film will feature interviews “with about a dozen retired and current NFL players talking about their debilitating injuries and the problems they face once the cheers and the paychecks dry up.” Levens “expects the film, still in production, to be completed in November,” and he “hopes it gets picked up by HBO, Showtime or another cable TV outlet.” He said that he “hopes the film [will] push the NFL and its Players Association to provide long-term health care to retirees” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 9/21)....Image Entertainment has “acquired all North American rights to football comedy ‘DIVISION III: FOOTBALL’S FINEST,’ starring ANDY DICK, ADAM CAROLLA, MARSHALL COOK, BRYAN CALLEN and SALLY KIRKLAND.” Image plans to release the film “on the college circuit this fall starting with an October date.” The story “follows a football team in the lowest division in the NCAA that finds itself in the hands of its worst nightmare -- an overly-aggressive, redneck coach -- after their coach unexpectedly dies” (VARIETY.com, 9/20)....Sony’s “MONEYBALL” will open the Mumbai Film Festival on Oct. 13 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 9/21).
NAMES: A recent report shows the trip to Game Four of the Stanley Cup Final that Canada Prime Minister STEPHEN HARPER took with his daughter and eight others cost "more than $11,000.” Harper’s office said that he “would be paying $1,060 to cover the estimated value of two commercial airline tickets,” and Harper also “paid for the hockey tickets” (GLOBE & MAIL, 9/21)....EPL club Chelsea FC Owner ROMAN ABRAMOVICH made US$7.8M yesterday “when a London-listed miner in which he holds shares paid a special dividend.” Abramovich bought a 30% stake in Highland Gold four years ago (LONDON TIMES, 9/21)….Golfer DAVID TOMS has been named the ’11 winner of the Payne Stewart Award (PGA Tour)....A group of Patriots players led by LB JEROD MAYO attended the Mayo Bowl charity event Monday night to benefit Pitching In For Kids and Boston Medical Center. Yesterday, the group attended OT MATT LIGHT’s annual Celebrity Shootout, which raises money for the Light Foundation’s initiatives (BOSTON HERALD, 9/21)….Dolphins WR DAVONE BESS yesterday launched his Bess Friends mentorship program at Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla. (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 9/20)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY yesterday attended the opening night of ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA’s boutique in Boston’s Copley Place. The Italian menswear label “has been dressing Brady, especially in its made-to-measure suits, for about a decade” (BOSTON HERALD, 9/21)....Pro wrestler RIC FLAIR visited Fenway Park yesterday and met with Red Sox 2B DUSTIN PEDROIA and RF JOSH REDDICK, “who are big fans” (BOSTON.com, 9/20).
