USA TODAY’s Brent Schrotenboer reports LANCE ARMSTRONG “does not plan to pay back” nearly $12M in bonus money received for winning the Tour de France, “despite the former cyclist’s recent admission that he cheated to win the race each time” from '99-'05. SCA Promotions, which insured and paid out the bonuses, said that it “expected to file a lawsuit against Armstrong this week to get its money back.” But TIM HERMAN, Armstrong's attorney, “sees it differently.” Herman “compared the situation to other sports figures who were suspended for various infractions but did not have to give back their paychecks” (USA TODAY, 2/5).
COURT REPORT: In N.Y., Barbara Ross reports former Gold Medal-winning Ukrainian figure skater OKSANA BAIUL yesterday sued NBC and production company Disson Skating for $5M “for promoting her involvement in two TV specials even though she hadn’t agreed to do them.” Baiul “did not appear in the shows.” Baiul said that by “hyping” her appearance in promotional material, NBC and Disson “created the impression among Baiul’s fans that she was a ‘no show’ when [she] didn’t end up performing” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/5)....Red Wings C PAVEL DATSYUK “is suing” TERRANCE SULLIVAN, an Oak Park, Mich., man he “alleges has been selling hockey jerseys and other clothing containing his name, number and likeness without his permission.” A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for tomorrow. The restraining order issued by Oakland Circuit Court Judge MARTHA ANDERSON prohibits Sullivan and two companies from “using any word, name, mark, likeness or combination thereof which may be calculated to falsely represent” that the products are being sold with Datsyuk’s permission (DETROIT NEWS, 2/5)....Int'l Development Management President & CEO CHRIS MILAM said in court filings that a “failure to lure” the NBA Kings to Henderson, Nev. -- “not fraud -- killed an ambitious arena-stadium project that couldn’t land a pro sports team as an anchor tenant” (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 2/5).
MONEY MATTERS: In Phoenix, Craig Harris cites records as showing former Fiesta Bowl President & CEO JOHN JUNKER “owes $75,509 in back federal taxes on money he pocketed as reimbursement for personal expenses from 2007 to 2009.” The IRS Form 990s released by the Fiesta Bowl’s four non-profit organizations “cite $215,739 in ‘excess compensation’ paid to Junker in the form of reimbursements in previous years that came to light during the April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012, reporting period.” Junker “did not pay federal taxes on that compensation” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 2/5)....The Univ. of California and former football coach JEFF TEDFORD reached a settlement that will pay Tedford $5.55M for the remaining three years of his contract (AP, 2/4).
TWISTED SISTER: Twin sisters JILL KELLEY and NATALIE KHAWAM, who drew attention for their involvement in the scandal involving former CIA Dir DAVID PETRAEUS, were “determined to snag themselves rich suitors,” according to their cousin TONY KHAWAM. Tony Khawam said that the sisters were “interested in” Yankees Managing General Partner & co-Chairs HAL and HANK STEINBRENNER. Tony Khawam added, “They’d take trips on the Steinbrenners’ plane and brag about how they would split Hal up from his then-wife, CHRISTINA, and then the plane would be theirs” (N.Y. POST, 2/5).
NAMES: Former NFL coach BILL PARCELLS has selected former NFLer GEORGE MARTIN “to be his presenter” for his Pro Football HOF induction on Aug. 3 in Canton (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/5)….The St. Louis Buisness Journal named MLB Cardinals Ticket Sales & Services Dir ROB FASOLDT one of its “40 under 40” (ST. LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/1 issue)….Basketball HOFer KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR and skier RORY BUSHFIELD will appear on an upcoming episode of ABC’s “Splash.” The cast also includes Lions DT NDAMUKONG SUH (LATIMES.com, 2/4)....Super Bowl “thieves snagged a box of backstage passes to Maxim magazine’s party" on Saturday night, and "proceeded to scalp the laminates for thousands of dollars to unsuspecting fans.” Guests at the party included actors JAMIE FOXX, JEREMY PIVEN, HAYDEN PANETTIERE and ANTHONY ANDERSON, chef GUY FIERI and former NFLer TERRELL OWENS (N.Y. POST, 2/5)….Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT while in New Orleans “hit the Ruby Slipper on Magazine St., where he gifted the general manager and busboy at the restaurant with four tickets to Sunday’s big game” (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/5)….Patriots QB TOM BRADY spent Super Bowl Sunday “working on his golf game” in L.A. (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/5).
