NFL Jets Owner WOODY JOHNSON yesterday on Bloomberg TV was asked “if he would rather have a winning Jets season or a victorious presidential election for MITT ROMNEY.” Johnson replied, “Well I think you always have to put country first. So I think it’s very, very important that for -- not only us -- but in particular for our kids and grandkids that this election come off with Mitt Romney and (PAUL) RYAN as President and vice president.” Johnson is Romney's National Finance co-Chair and is “in the middle of an aggressive fund-raising schedule" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/2).
COURT REPORT: In Hartford, John Altavilla reports UConn women’s basketball coach GENO AURIEMMA and USA Basketball have “asked for dismissal of the lawsuit filed by NBA security officer KELLEY HARDWICK against USA Basketball, Auriemma and the NBA.” The lawsuit alleges that Hardwick’s “removal as security chief for USA Basketball women’s senior national team amounted to job discrimination.” Hardwick’s attorney, RANDY MCLAUGHLIN, yesterday said that he will “file an opposition to the dismissal motions before the Oct. 25 deadline set by the court for all papers to be returned” (HARTFORD COURANT, 10/2).
INVESTED FROM AFAR: In S.F., Gwen Knapp profiled MLB Giants BOD Chair CHARLES JOHNSON, and noted Johnson has “signaled a strong intention to stay removed from the day-to-day operations of the team.” He attends “only a handful of games each season, and he often sends a family member to represent him at investors meetings.” As he became “more invested in the Giants, Johnson did not increase his visibility around the team.” Manager BRUCE BOCHY said that he has “met, but not really gotten to know, Johnson.” Johnson “didn’t fly to Texas for the deciding game of the Giants’ 2010 world championship.” He “watched on TV” and his daughter JENNIFER “represented the family in the victory parade” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/30).
NAMES: The Transportation Security Administration allowed Hornets VP/Events Presentation & Broadcasting JOSHUA RICHARDSON to “fly from New Orleans to Newark with a loaded handgun in his bag without calling a foul.” Richardson allegedly had “taken the weapon on his trip to the New York area by accident after he grabbed his wife’s bag containing the weapon, instead of his own.” He was “charged with one count of criminal possession of a weapon and was expected to be released on his own recognizance” (N.Y. POST, 9/29)....The Packers Women’s Association on Sunday “collected 12,600 nonperishable food items and $15,880 for its 26th annual food drive at Lambeau Field” (GREENBAYPRESSGAZETTE.com, 10/1)….White Sox GM KEN WILLIAMS, with a “little help from his employer,” paid $3.25M for a 6,300-square-foot, six bedroom graystone in the Gold Coast area of Chicago. Documents show Chicago White Sox Ltd. gave Williams a $2.15M loan to "finance the purchase last month” (CHICAGOREALESTATEDAILY.com, 10/1)….Rockies 1B TODD HELTON has “teamed up with” auto dealer MIKE PEEBLES to “purchase and rebrand the Columbine Ford dealership in Rifle” (DENVERPOST.com, 10/1).
