In Pittsburgh, Bill Schacker reports Penn State Univ. paid the estate and family of late football coach JOE PATERNO “about $6 million to fulfill contractual and other obligations, including a $3 million retirement bonus and family use of a Beaver Stadium suite for 25 years.” Penn State VP/University Relations BILL MAHON said that the payout “stems from a school trustees decision” made on the day the board fired Paterno. In a statement yesterday, Paterno family attorney WICK SOLLERS said that the payments “are not a settlement but rather ‘straightforward payment of monies indisputably owed’” to the Paterno estate (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/20).
PRESIDENTIAL GUARD: Bulls G DERRICK ROSE is profiled by GQ's Will Leitch, who notes that “famously Bulls-crazy” PRESIDENT OBAMA “has an open dialogue” with Rose. Rose said, “I know that if I really wanted him to come out and support an event I’m going to in Chicago, I know it could probably get done.” Leitch notes Obama asked Rose to introduce him at a fundraising event last year, and Rose “sweated it in a way he’s never sweated a game.” Rose: “That was my first time ever speaking to that type of crowd. I was so nervous and scared. Just a two- or three-minute thing, but, like thousands of people were there. I was nervous as hell ... but I got it done, and it helped me being more vocal, too, by doing that” (GQ, 5/ '12 issue).
CHARITY STRIPE: MLB and the Royals announced they will donate more than $3.5M to MLB All-Star projects in the greater K.C. area and national charitable initiatives (MLB.com, 4/19)....In October, the Capitals raised funds for the Washington Animal Rescue League by participating in a calendar photoshoot with dogs, some of which were the players’ and others were up for adoption. The team yesterday was “able to present a $31,320 check” to the organization (WASHINGTON POST, 4/20)....Falcons RB JASON SNELLING helped to raise $5,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia. Snelling, who has epilepsy, was featured on a Comcast On Demand series called "Rise Up: Role Models," and “focused his episode on his work” with the foundation (AJC.com, 4/19)....Twelve billionaire families yesterday followed 81 other such families and “joined the ‘Giving Pledge,’” committing to giving away their wealth. Among the families to do so are Ducks co-Owners HENRY and SUSAN SAMUELI, Falcons Owner ARTHUR BLANK and former Vikings Owner RED MCCOMBS (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 4/20)....Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI will be “one of many making the sacrifice” when he will have his hair removed for the One Mission Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off at Gillette Stadium on June 3. The funds raised will support programs and services at Children’s Hospital Boston (BOSTON HERALD, 4/19).
REAL ESTATE CORNER: Marlins P MARK BUEHRLE “has been tagged with a loss on his four-bedroom house in a gated community” in southwest Lemont, Ill. Buehrle sold the house for $550,000 after he “paid $770,000 in February 2005 for the new construction” (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/20)....Heat President PAT RILEY “sold his Coral Gables mansion for $16.75 million,” according to property records (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 4/20)....Former Jaguars co-Owners WAYNE and DELORES WEAVER will sell their Jacksonville riverfront estate at auction next month. The 14,000-square-foot home, which sits on 3.87 acres and was “originally listed at $10 million and can be purchased prior to the auction for $5.5 million” (BIZJOURNALS.COM, 4/19).
NAMES: Octagon Friday announced it will represent NASCAR driver JIMMIE JOHNSON for marketing opportunities. The agency will work with Johnson to spearhead his marketing and brand-building initiatives through endorsements and other commercial opportunities (Octagon)....Former Univ. of Tennessee women’s basketball coach PAT SUMMITT “will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor" (AP, 4/19)....Inside Lacrosse VP/Editor-In-Chief JOHN JILOTY and Runner’s World Associate Multimedia Editor MEGHAN LOFTUS were named to the '12 FOLIO:40, an annual list of the magazine industry’s “most innovative and distinguished professionals” (FOLIO MAGAZINE, 4/5 issue)....A “tentative agreement has been reached to settle a federal lawsuit” between former Saints RB DEUCE MCALLISTER and Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. “over his failed car dealership” in Mississippi. U.S. Magistrate Judge LINDA ANDERSON said Tuesday in a filing in U.S. District Court in Jackson that the parties “have seven days to finalize the deal.” McAllister’s dealership in Jackson closed in '09 and “filed for Chapter 7 liquidation under federal bankruptcy laws” (THE AP, 4/18)....Comedian ROB RIGGLE will host the '12 ESPYS on Wednesday, July 11, at 9:00pm ET from the Nokia Theatre in L.A. (ESPN, 4/19)....Former MLB Cardinals manager TONY LA RUSSA Thursday was named a '12 Ellis Island Family Heritage Award recipient (THE DAILY).
