CBSSPORTS.com’s Dennis Dodd reported interim NCAA VP/Enforcement Dir JON DUNCAN yesterday before formally taking over for JULIE ROE LACH “met the enforcement staff following the firing" of Lach. A source said, “There was everything from shouting and yelling to crying. It was pretty ugly. People are pretty upset.” Dodd wrote the reaction is “not so much” about Duncan, but about "the future of the department and its ability to conduct its business.” It is “safe to assume that Duncan will be involved in the department’s next iteration.” In the past year, “at least four enforcement officials have been fired or resigned.” Although Duncan has an interim title, the NCAA in a statement said he will work “full-time” in Indianapolis (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/11).
STILL IN THE RACE: AUTOWEEK's Brant James wrote there “will eventually come a time” when IndyCar and NASCAR team owner ROGER PENSKE “will no longer helm his empire.” Penske said, “You don't plan for retirement. At least I'm not. I'm planning to stay active both in my business and on the racing side as long as I'm healthy. From a racing perspective, [Penske Racing President] TIM CINDRIC is a partner of mine in the race teams. He's certainly developed leadership skills and I think has the authority and discipline, and I think from the standpoint of the rest of the people on the race team feel, he is a great leader and would support him if I wasn't here now.” Cindric said of Penske, “He’s a person we want to have here as much as possible. All of our work lists get longer when he is here, but that’s a good thing.” Penske said his sons, GREG and ROGER JR., have “supported the racing side” of his business (AUTOWEEK, 3/4 issue).
COURT REPORT: ESPN's DESMOND HOWARD is “at the center of a copyright infringement lawsuit” in U.S. District Court in Detroit regarding a photograph of him making the “Heisman Trophy pose” during a ’91 Michigan-Ohio State game. Photographer BRIAN MASCK, who took the picture, is suing Howard, Sports Illustrated and "a host of others, claiming his photo has been unlawfully copied and marketed for years.” The photo has “turned up in magazines, posters, giant wall art, Howard’s website and on sports memorabilia galore.” But Masck’s lawsuit states that he “never authorized the mass marketing phenomenon, got credit for it, or ever got paid for it” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/11).
AWARDS & HONORS: CBS President & CEO LESLIE MOONVES and NBC's AL MICHAELS were among last night's inductees into the TV HOF. Pro Football HOFer JOHN MADDEN presented Michaels' award (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 3/12)....E! Network’s "Fashion Police" will feature male and female athletes who are "trend-setting fashionistas,” including NASCAR driver JEFF GORDON, former boxer LAILA ALI and Ravens TE DENNIS PITTA (AGLAMSLAM.com, 3/11)....USAIN BOLT last night was named Sportsman of the Year at the Laureus Sports Awards, while U.K. heptathlete JESSICA ENNIS was named Sportswoman of the Year. Other winners included Europe’s Ryder Cup golfers as best team, tennis player ANDY MURRAY as top breakthrough athlete and Dominican hurdler FELIX SANCHEZ as comeback athlete (AP, 3/11).
CHARITY STRIPE: 49ers WR ANQUAN BOLDIN, Cardinals WR LARRY FITZGERALD and Falcons WR RODDY WHITE are heading to Senegal for a relief effort with Oxfam America (BALTIMORESUN.com, 3/11)....Texans DE JJ WATT, Broncos CB CHAMP BAILEY, Broncos LB VON MILLER, Browns LB D’QWELL JACKSON, Buccaneers G DAVIN JOSEPH and Panthers WR STEVE SMITH will participate in a USO tour of the Middle East this month (CHRON.com, 3/11).
NAMES: Giants WR VICTOR CRUZ has hired CAA Sports' TOM CONDON for representation (USATODAY.com, 3/11)….Ravens S ED REED has hired Athletes First Chair & CEO DAVID DUNN for representation (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 3/11)....NBA Senior VP/Community Relations TODD JACOBSON will be among the speakers at The Giving Back Fund’s 5th Annual Sports & Entertainment Philanthropy Summit on May 6-7 in N.Y. (Giving Back Fund)….Eagles QB MICHAEL VICK has canceled his book-signing tour “because of threats against him for running a dogfighting ring” (AP, 3/11)....WNBA Sky F SWIN CASH signed copies of her new book, "Humble Journey: More Precious Than Gold," at Mohegan Sun's Winning Authors event (BOSTON HERALD, 3/12)....Bruins LW MILAN LUCIC and D ANDREW FERENCE attended a screening of the film "LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM" over the weekend. The documentary will premiere on HBO this fall (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/12).
