NBA Security Dir KELLEY HARDWICK said in a lawsuit filed yesterday that U.S. women's basketball coach GENO AURIEMMA "followed, grabbed and tried to forcibly kiss her at a hotel during a basketball tournament in Russia" in '09. Hardwick in the suit "accused Auriemma, the NBA and USA Basketball, which oversees the women's Olympics team, of employment discrimination" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/11). A USA Basketball source said that the organization's "decision to take Hardwick off the security detail was based solely on her job performance, not because of a problem with Auriemma" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/12).
CREATING A LEGEND: In Louisville, Sheldon Shafer notes attendance and revenues have "stagnated since the red-carpet, star-studded opening" of the Muhammed Ali Center in '05, and new President & CEO DONALD LASSERE is "bent on expanding the center's program base and broadening its appeal, especially to young people." Lassere said, "The Ali Center should become a jewel for Louisville and the region. The goal is to make it the No. 1 cultural center in the world" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/12).
SAY HEY KID: In S.F., Matier & Ross noted Baseball HOFer WILLIE MAYS attended a recent fundraiser for President BARACK OBAMA and told the crowd that he had "always wanted to ride on Air Force One." After Obama took office in '09, Mays asked his attorney, JEFF BLEICH -- "a major Democratic donor and now ambassador to Australia -- to lobby the White House." Mays said he got a call "five minutes later. It was so quick." Obama said, "It is true that they provide me with this really nice plane in this job. But as cool as Air Force One is, it is much cooler when Willie Mays is with you on the plane" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/10).
NAMES: Late Canadian freestyle skier SARAH BURKE will be announced today as one of the '12 inductees into the Canadian Olympic Committee's HOF. She will be going into the HOF in the builder's category (VANCOUVER SUN, 6/12)....BMX racer DAVID HERMAN, who has qualified for the London Games, signed with Omnicom's Connexions Sports & Entertainment. The agency will represent the 24-year-old Coloradan for endorsements, licensing and marketing (Tripp Mickle, SportsBusiness Journal)....Former Orioles and Mets GM JIM DUQUETTE last week donated a kidney to his 10-year-old daughter, LINDSEY, who suffers from a rare disease. Lindsey's new kidney is "functioning at 100 percent efficiency" and she is scheduled to be released from the hospital tomorrow (NJ.com, 6/12)....The Buccaneers yesterday donated $3,500 to help replace uniforms and equipment stolen from the Highland Cougars youth football team last month. The Buccaneers also visited the Carrollwood Cardinals football team yesterday and donated $7,500 to help replace stolen equipment (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/12)....LSU football coach LES MILES gave a surprise commencement speech Saturday at his alma mater, Elyria High School in Elyria, Ohio (NOLA.com, 6/11)....Gillette is teaming with U.S. sprinter TYSON GAY to donate $25,000 to his alma mater, Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky. The event is part of Gillette's global "Get Started" campaign, where donations are aimed to "inspire young men and demonstrate that with a great start in life, they can achieve their dreams and goals" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 6/11).
IN MEMORY: Single-A New York-Penn League Brooklyn Cyclones announcer and former host of "THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL" WARNER FUSSELLE passed away Sunday night of an apparent heart attack at the age of 68. Fusselle was a sports broadcaster for 40 years, and filled in for late Yankees announcer MEL ALLEN on "TWIB" (ESPNNY.com, 6/11).
