ESPN.com’s Quinn & Fish reported SONIA CRUZ, the spokesperson for Yankees 2B ROBINSON CANO’s foundation, is “listed as having been a client of the Biogenesis clinic last summer, although she denies having received anything from the clinic and says Cano ‘definitely never did.’" But sources said that MLB “has possession of a Biogenesis client roster that lists” Cruz and is “investigating whether Cano had any relationship to the clinic.” Cano yesterday “denied having any knowledge of Cruz's association with the clinic.” He said that he “did not feel a need to speak to her” (ESPN.com, 4/22).
HERE'S HOW TO DO IT: On Long Island, Bob Glauber profiles Florida-based 180 Communications Corporate Communications Dir LEE GORDON, who has “counseled several draft-eligible players this year about how to engage properly in social media.” Gordon’s clients include former Notre Dame LB MANTI TE'O, Lions QB MATTHEW STAFFORD, Colts QB ANDREW LUCK, Browns RB TRENT RICHARDSON and Texans DE J.J. WATT. Gordon said of the advice he offers clients, "Make it be about positives. Focus on the fact that you're here to sell yourself” (NEWSDAY, 4/23).
DIFFERENT KIND OF STRIPES: In N.Y., Nicholas Kulish notes Bundesliga club Bayern Munich President ULI HOENESS has “overseen a record season on the field and record revenues off it.” But he now “finds himself embroiled in a scandal that has transfixed a nation.” He faces up to “10 years in prison after turning himself in to Munich prosecutors for keeping a secret bank account in Switzerland that he admits to having used to evade taxes.” The money in the account reportedly had come from former adidas Chair & CEO ROBERT LOUIS-DREYFUS, who provided about $13M in "cash and guarantees to Mr. Hoeness to invest” (N.Y. TIMES, 4/23).
NATIONAL PRIDE: The Washington DC Sports HOF prior to the Reds-Nationals game on Sunday will induct Pro Basketball HOFer ELGIN BAYLOR, former Redskins GM BOBBY BEATHARD, former Washington Senators and Redskins stadium announcer PHIL HOCHBERG, late “Sports Machine” host GEORGE MICHAEL and broadcaster BOB WOLFF among others (Nationals).
WHEELING AND DEALING: Attorneys for FRANK MCCOURT said that the former Dodgers owner has paid more than $460M "in state and federal taxes related to the sale” of the team. After “subtracting tax payments and debt assumptions from the purchase price," McCourt turned a $1.3B profit on the sale of the Dodgers (LATIMES.com, 4/22)….Boxing promoter DON KING, who “swooped in and won a purse bid in late February" for $1.5M to gain promotional rights to the third fight between MARCO HUCK and OLA AFOLABI -- even though he “does not promote either boxer -- has defaulted on his bid” (ESPN.com, 4/22)....Bruins RW JAROME IGINLA has put his 11,000-square-foot home in Calgary on the market for C$3.9M (CALGARYHERALD.com, 4/22).
NAMES: The L.A. County coroner found that the death earlier this year of SCOTT STERLING, the 32-year-old son of Clippers Owner DONALD STERLING, was “caused by a pulmonary embolism and ‘intravenous narcotic medication intake.'" The death was “ruled accidental.” Assistant Chief Coroner ED WINTER yesterday said that the “injection of ‘ground-up’ medication may have led to blockages in his blood stream” (L.A. TIMES, 4/23)….A’s 1B BRANDON MOSS, RF JOSH REDDICK and 1B coach TYE WALLER yesterday “spent about two hours” with Boston Marathon bombing victim AARON HERN at Boston Children’s Hospital (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 4/23)….Under Armour Founder, President & CEO KEVIN PLANK is focused on “getting his horses into Triple Crown races and ensuring that Marylanders come to see” Sagamore Farms as “their home team.” He said, “Horse racing was a great sport and it can be a great sport again. It’s our goal to show that.” Plank said that horse Heat Press is a “long shot” to gain entry to the Preakness (Baltimore SUN, 4/23)….Red Sox P CRAIG BRESLOW, Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN and A’s GM BILLY BEANE sat alongside MLB Net's PETER GAMMONS at the “Business of Baseball” lunch yesterday in Boston. The event was organized by Epstein’s charity, The Foundation to be Named Later (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/22)….Broncos WR ERIC DECKER this summer is getting married to singer JESSIE JAMES, and the E! network will “chronicle their lives in a reality show” called “Love And Other Contact Sports: Eric and Jessie” (DENVERPOST.com, 4/22)….Panthers QB CAM NEWTON “stopped by the MSNBC office" in N.Y. and said hello to the net's AL SHARPTON (CHARLOTTE.com, 4/22).
