ESPN.com's Dan Rafael reported boxer MIGUEL ANGEL GARCIA sued Top Rank Boxing last week, claiming his promotional agreement with the company "is illegal and also expired." The suit says the reason for the action is because of Top Rank's "unlawful attempt to exploit, own and permanently control" Garcia's boxing career, "as well as Top Rank's consistent violation of the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act." Further, the suit claims his promotional agreement "improperly provides Top Rank the ability to extend the agreement indefinitely, essentially rendering the contracting fighter an indentured servant of Top Rank" (ESPN.com, 4/15).
HOUSE HUNTERS: Hockey HOFer WAYNE GRETZKY put his 8,711-square-foot estate in Westlake Village, Calif., up for sale at $10.5M (LATIMES.com, 4/14)….ESPN NFL analyst RAY LEWIS “sold his oceanfront mansion” in Highland Beach, Fla., for $4.77M. Lewis bought the 6,788-square-foot home for $5.22M in ’04 (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 4/15)….Retired U.S. diver GREG LOUGANIS put his 3,385-square-foot “personalized retreat” in Malibu, Calif., up for sale at $3M (LATIMES.com, 4/15).
NAMES: Nationals Principal Owner TED LERNER, former Washington Post Sports Editor GEORGE SOLOMON and Univ. of Maryland broadcaster JOHNNY HOLLIDAY will be among the inductees going into the DC Sports HOF on April 27 (CSNWASHINGTON.com, 4/15)....Former A's, Warriors and Grizzlies exec ANDY DOLICH was among a group of people inducted into the Jewish Sports HOF of Northern California last Sunday (THE DAILY)....ATP Exec Chair & President CHRIS KERMODE last night welcomed tournament directors, current and former pros and ATP staff at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel to celebrate the tour's 25th anniversary (ATP)....Cavaliers F LUOL DENG was named the ’13-14 recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award, which is presented annually by the Professional Basketball Writers Association to the player, coach or trainer who shows outstanding service and dedication to the community (Cavaliers)….Former EPL club Manchester United manager ALEX FERGUSON's collection of vintage wines will be sold by Christie’s at auction, starting in Hong Kong in May. The collection “of about 5,000 bottles” has a pre-sale estimated value around US$5M (London TELEGRAPH, 4/16).
