In Sacramento, Ryan Lillis notes the California Fair Political Practices Commission yesterday announced "it had fined Sacramento Mayor KEVIN JOHNSON $37,500 for failing to report millions of dollars in donations he solicited for various nonprofit organizations, including his task force charged with developing a financing plan for a new basketball arena." The commission said that it "found 25 cases in which Johnson failed to report what are called behest payments ... within the required 30 days of securing those donations" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 12/4).
UNITED THEY STAND: Silver Medal-winning U.S. shot putter and newly elected Track & Field Athletes Association President ADAM NELSON outlined the organization's mission on its blog. Nelson wrote, "We are a group of current, former, and aspiring professional athletes as well as loyal supporters who have come together to define and support the collective voice of our athlete members. Our association exists to serve the professional athlete and to ensure that we help define the vision of the future of professional track and field globally." Nelson: "We are not a union. ... Nor are we anti-Olympic or other international and national federation. But we are about the profession. And sometimes the needs of the profession will conflict with the ideals of our amateur sports models. ... We demand the change that only our athletes can create" (TRACKANDFIELDATHLETESASSOCIATION.org, 12/3).
NAMES: Three-time Tour de France winner GREG LEMOND "confirmed that he could run for the presidency of the sport's governing body, the UCI, after the newly formed anti-doping pressure group Change Cycling Now demanded the resignation of the incumbent, PAT MCQUAID" (GUARDIAN, 12/4)....MLB Giants Senior VP/Communications STACI SLAUGHTER has been named the recipient of the '12 Robert O. Fishel Award for Public Relations Excellence. The award was presented during last night's Baseball Winter Meetings (MLB)....Comcast-Spectacor President & COO PETER LUUKKO last Thursday visited Newmann Univ.'s Center for Community Leadership Development and Entrepreneurship" (DELAWARE COUNTY TIMES, 12/2)....Browns and former Univ. of Texas QB COLT MCCOY is “one of several investors planning to open 24 Dunkin’ Donuts locations in Central Texas” (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 12/4)….The Wizards yesterday hosted members of the Walter Reed Hospital’s Wounded Warriors program at practice (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 12/3)….Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer MISSY FRANKLIN shot a scene “diving with dolphins” for Dir KURT MILLER’s upcoming movie “The Current” (DENVERPOST.com, 12/3)….Basketball HOFer ELGIN BAYLOR and wife ELAINE have placed their Beverly Crest, Calif., home on the market at $4.25M (LATIMES.com, 12/3).
