In L.A., Chris Foster reported UCLA football coach JIM MORA JR. is “on the verge of becoming the highest-paid coach in school history.” Mora will get “a five-year deal not to exceed $3 million annually in base salary and talent fees,” and he will “receive a yearly pay increase not to exceed 5% of the base pay and talent fee combined.” Mora’s contract also includes “a signing bonus, not to exceed $1 million, that will be tied to his annual salary.” The “higher the base pay and talent fee, the lower the bonus.” A set of “performance-based incentives -- not to exceed $1 million -- is included,” and the contract is also “expected to include a retention bonus, which can be as high as $350,000; a low-interest home loan; up to two vehicles; and a country club membership” (LATIMES.com, 4/3).
FROM HOLLYWOOD: DAILY VARIETY’s Justin Kroll reported producers MIKE TOLLIN and GLENN RIGBERG have acquired the rights to bring Baseball HOFer HANK AARON’s story to life, with “BARRY LEVINSON set to direct from a script by ADAM MAZER. The project is based on HOWARD BRYANT’s book "THE LAST HERO: THE LIFE STORY OF HENRY AARON,” and will follow “the right fielder's chase of BABE RUTH's home run record from 1972 to 1974.” The film will “fall under the banner” of Mandalay Sports Media (VARIETY.com, 4/3). ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY's Adam Vary wrote the film "instantly become one of the hottest sports movie projects in Hollywood.” Aaron, who has been "reportedly reluctant in the past to agree to a film version of his life, will consult on the film.” Casting will "not begin in earnest until the script is completed. The hope is to go into production next year, and release in 2014, in time for both the 40th anniversary of Aaron’s record, and the man’s 80th birthday" (EW.com, 4/3)....DAILY VARIETY’s Marc Graser noted WWE has “pulled RANDY ORTON as the star” of direct-to-video action film “THE MARINE: HOMEFRONT" after determining that “his troubled past with the United States Marine Corps would pose a problem.” WWE has had “close ties to the military, especially the National Guard, which sponsors its events, and travels overseas to entertain the troops.” It also produces an annual "Tribute to the Troops" special that airs on NBC. WWE was “forced to recast Orton's role when reports of his dishonorable discharge from the Marines were brought to light” (VARIETY.com, 4/3).
CLOSE CALL: ESPN's Jim Bowden reported that Brewers P ZACK GREINKE has retained the services of Excel Sports Management agent CASEY CLOSE (TWITTER.com, 4/3). The MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL's Haudricourt & Rosiak noted Greinke, "who had worked without an agent for many months, won't talk about having an agent or his negotiations for a contract extension." At the end of the work day Tuesday, "papers had not been filed with the Major League Baseball Players Association notifying it that Close was representing Greinke." If Greinke indeed hired an agent, "it probably meant talks with the club had progressed to the point where he needed representation" (JSONLINE.com, 4/3). Greinke had been with Close’s former agency, CAA Sports, before deciding to proceed without an agent (CALLTOTHEPEN.com, 4/3).
NAMES: Celtics G RAY ALLEN “unveiled a state-of-the-art computer lab at the Timilty Middle School” in Roxbury, Mass. It is the “fourth such lab that Allen’s Ray of Hope Foundation has helped create” (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/4)....NASCAR driver DANICA PATRICK is sponsoring a girl's softball team on which her eight-year-old niece plays. The sponsorship includes new uniforms that “sport the green of her GoDaddy-sponsored racecar.” Patrick: “They went online and found some beautiful bright green shirts to replicate the GoDaddy look of my car and then they found these great checkered-flag socks. They look awesome, They’re the best looking team out there” (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 4/3)....Basketball HOFer and Dodgers co-Owner MAGIC JOHNSON is “investing in a Miami-based insurer, Simply Healthcare Plans, to create a major Medicaid program for HIV-AIDS patients” (MIAMI HERALD, 4/4).
