NCAA President MARK EMMERT on Thursday called a report that he is considering leaving his position for an academic post at LSU "complete nonsense." Sports By Brooks had reported on its Twitter feed that Emmert was "considering leaving the NCAA and had discussed with representatives of LSU the possibility of combining the duties of the university's chancellor and president positions." Emmert served as chancellor at LSU prior to '04, "when he left to become president of the University of Washington" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/7).
GAME OVER: In Boston, Todd Wallack notes former MLBer CURT SCHILLING's 38 Studios video game company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy Thursday, "leaving behind more than 1,000 unpaid creditors as government officials confirmed they launched criminal investigations this week into the company's failure." The Delaware court filing signals that Schilling has "given up his search for additional capital from Rhode Island or outside investors to revive the six-year-old company." 38 Studios in a statement said it was "unable to find a solution to the current stalemate" after negotiating with the state, potential investors and others. Rhode Island Gov. LINCOLN CHAFEE said Thursday at a press conference that the state "already has had discussions with investors who might be interested in purchasing the remaining assets for tens of millions of dollars, which would help the state recoup at least part of its investment" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/8).
FREAKY FAST: The New Orleans City Council on Thursday "unanimously granted" Saints QB DREW BREES a conditional-use permit to open a Jimmy John's restaurant (NOLA.com, 6/7)....Meanwhile, Brees has sold his 6,000-square-foot home near Carmel Valley, Calif., for $2.4M. Brees bought the house for $2.2M in '03 (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/8).
NAMES: Georgia Gov. NATHAN DEAL and Fox Sports South Senior VP & GM JEFF GENTHNER at the state Capitol Thursday recorded a message thanking U.S. military troops for their service to be aired on July 1 when FS South hosts 200 troops at the Nationals-Braves game for the net's annual "Tribute to the Troops" (Fox)....Baseball HOFer and Dodgers Special Advisor TOMMY LASORDA, who suffered a heart attack Monday, was released from the hospital Thursday. Lasorda is expected to spend a "couple of days recuperating" in N.Y. before returning home to L.A. (LATIMES.com, 6/7)....Singer ELTON JOHN will be the first performer at the Univ. of South Florida’s newly renovated Sun Dome grand reopening on Sept. 14 (TAMPABAY.com, 6/7)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY, TE ROB GRONKOWSKI and LB ROB NINKOVICH on Wednesday gave a tour of Gillette Stadium to JACKIE MULLEN and ERIC KELLY, the beneficiaries of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation. The foundation provides financial assistance to patients and families, and also funds pediatric brain cancer research (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/7)....The Sun Belt Conference’s regular-season football championship trophy will now bear the name of H. WRIGHT WATERS, the conference's commissioner from ’98-12 (Mobile PRESS-REGISTER, 6/7)....Univ. of Alabama football coach NICK SABAN and wife TERRY's charitable organization, “Nick’s Kids,” on Thursday held its annual golf tourney, where “funding was announced for a new home construction in Alberta City for a tornado victim” (TIDESPORTS.com, 6/8)
