The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Reed Albergotti reports the U.S. Department of Justice “may not be finished" with cyclist LANCE ARMSTRONG. DOJ officials are “still considering whether to join a whistleblower lawsuit filed by his former teammate, FLOYD LANDIS.” Court docs made public over the weekend show that Armstrong “has been subpoenaed for documents in the case, and suggest he has been fighting vigorously to control the flow of information.” Landis’ whistleblower lawsuit accused Armstrong of "defrauding the U.S. Postal Service because he allegedly used performance-enhancing drugs in violation of the team contract” (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 12/11).
JIMMY HOLLYWOOD: Tennis HOFer JIMMY CONNORS “has signed with talent agency APA in all areas.” APA will “look to extend Connors’ brand across all platforms, from broadcast to endorsements and publishing.” Connor’s memoir, “The Outsider,” will be published by Harper on May 14. Connors is also represented by MICHAEL BLAKEY of Electra Star Management (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 12/10).
AWARDS & RECOGNITION: The Int’l Boxing HOF yesterday announced yesterday that referee MILLS LANE, ring announcer JIMMY LENNON JR. and journalist COLIN HART will be among the class enshrined June 9 (CP, 12/10)….Indians adviser JOHNNY GORYL has received the MiLB Mike Coolbaugh Award for “outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game and skill in mentoring young players on the field” (PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.com, 12/7)….The Boys & Girls Club of Silicon Valley awarded 49ers Chief Sales Officer JOHN VIDALIN the Champion of Youth award for his fundraising work on the club’s board (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/11)….AD WEEK named Wieden + Kennedy its Agency of the Year. The agency’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl spot with actor and director CLINT EASTWOOD “was an instant classic." Other work from Wieden this year included a Nike ad called “Jogger,” which used a “chubby boy jogging on an open road” as its focal point, and a spot called “Shake on It” for ESPN (AD WEEK, 12/10 issue)….The Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation will honor boxing HOFer MUHAMMAD ALI and Under Armour at its annual Aspire Gala on Feb. 22 (BALTIMORESUN.com, 12/10).
GONE COUNTRY: PBR co-Founder TY MURRAY, along with his wife and singer JEWEL, and Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s TREVOR BRAZILE each presented an American Country Award last night. Murray said, “I feel a lot of similarities between country musicians and cowboy athletes. Both spend a lot of time on the road pursuing a dream and entertaining crowds” (“American Country Awards,” Fox, 12/10). Meanwhile, Giants P BARRY ZITO and 1B BRANDON BELT also presented an award last night alongside comedian RODNEY CARRINGTON (SFGATE.com, 12/10).
NAMES: Jaguars coach MIKE MULARKEY yesterday fell ill and was “taken to Baptist Medical Center for tests and was released later in the day.” He is “expected back at work” today (JACKSONVILLE.com, 12/10)….Members of the Bruins’ front office and coaching staff participated in the franchise’s annual holiday toy shopping spree yesterday at a Target store in Woburn, Mass. The club will give presents to children at local hospitals next week. The Bruins Foundation, Delaware North and Garden Neighborhood Charities donated $22,500 for the event (BOSTON HERALD, 12/11)….Members of the Celtics “spread holiday cheer” yesterday while visiting children from Boston Medical Center’s Pediatric Hematology Program (BOSTON HERALD, 12/11).
