YAHOO SPORTS' Getlin & Cole reported NFLPA Exec Dir DEMAURICE SMITH "referred long-time former colleagues to defend" agent DREW ROSENHAUS during an NFLPA arbitration. That action has "ruffled the feathers of multiple prominent agents." They expressed "frustration at what they termed a significant conflict of interest." The agents have alleged that Smith’s referral is a "clear example" of him protecting an agent "rather than impartially governing." The paramount issue at hand is that the NFLPA "may eventually have to sanction Rosenhaus in his case, which involves a dispute between the well-known agent" and former Rosenhaus Sports VP DANNY MARTOE. Martoe was a longtime employee "before being fired" in '12. He is now seeking more than $1M in "commissions and damages stemming from his work with Rosenhaus" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 1/30).
PRIVATE MATTERS: In N.Y., Ian Mohr cites sources as saying that Pro Football HOFer and CBS analyst DAN MARINO "sired a love child with a network underling and then paid her millions to keep quiet." Marino reportedly "knocked up DONNA SAVATTERE, a then-35-year-old production assistant at CBS Sports' Manhattan studio." She "gave birth to their daughter, CHLOE, in June 2005." Marino yesterday in a statement said, "This is a personal and private matter. I take full responsibility both personally and financially for my actions now as I did then" (N.Y. POST, 1/31).
TO THE VICTIM GOES THE SPOILS? Ticketmaster CEO NATHAN HUBBARD reached out to Bay-area resident and 49ers fan SHARON OSGOOD to "offer four free tickets for her, her boyfriend and other family members who got scammed" after wiring $5,900 to a Ravens fan for Super Bowl XLVII tickets. Osgood in return for the payment received a FedEx package with a note that read, "Go Ravens! LOL!" and no tickets. Hubbard also arranged for the couple "to have breakfast" with Pro Footbal HOFer and Fox analyst TROY AIKMAN. Before word of Ticketmaster's gift to Osgood "got out," the 49ers front office "called with its own free-ticket offer." Osgood is "still out the $5,900 she and her family gave to a scammer they met on Craigslist, though she has filed a police report in an attempt to catch whoever did it" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/31).
COURT REPORT: Former Bill Davis Racing employee ANNE WINNER, accused of "embezzling more than $300,000" from the NASCAR racing team, yesterday in Guilford County, N.C., Superior Court "pleaded guilty to six counts of embezzlement and one count of obtaining property under false pretenses." Winner received a sentence of "four to five months in prison for one of the embezzlement counts and six consecutive suspended sentences of six to eight months each for the other charges" (NEWS-RECORD.com, 1/30)....Former NHLer MATTHEW BARNABY this week "filed suit" in New York State Supreme Court in Niagara County against AMBER LINDKE, charging that she "refused to give him back" an engagement ring after the couple split in September (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/31).
AWARDS & HONORS: MLB Giants P BARRY ZITO yesterday received the 48th Hutch Award, presented by the Seattle-based Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Former Mariners manager LOU PINIELLA was the keynote speaker at the event, which was held at Safeco Field (MLB.com, 1/30)....Golf HOFer LEE TREVINO will receive the PGA Distinguished Service Award Aug. 7 at Oak Hill in Rochester, N.Y., the site of this year's PGA Championship (JACKSONVILLE.com, 1/30).…UCLA last night honored basketball HOFer REGGIE MILLER by hanging his No. 31 jersey in the rafters at Pauley Pavilion (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 1/31).
NAMES: ESPN’s “Jimmy V Week for Cancer Research” set a fundraising record by amassing nearly $1.6M. The V Foundation for Cancer Research in December surpassed the previous record of over $1.3M set in ’11 (ESPN)….Illinois State Sen. and former NFLer NAPOLEON HARRIS is “expected to drop out of the race” for the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 1/30)….New Jersey State Sens. DIANE ALLEN and DAWN MARIE ADDIEGO yesterday announced that they will introduce on Monday a resolution honoring late NFL Films President STEVE SABOL. The resolution designates Oct. 2 each year as “Steve Sabol Day” (NFL)….49ers WR RANDY MOSS said that he is “going to write a book” (USA TODAY, 1/31)….Basketball HOFer DENNIS RODMAN's children's book entitled “Dennis The Wild Bull” was released yesterday (AP, 1/30).
