An attorney for Colts Owner JIM IRSAY yesterday filed a motion "seeking a continuance of Irsay's trial on two misdemeanor charges of operating while intoxicated." Irsay has been "slated to stand trial on the charges Aug. 28" in Hamilton (Ind.) Superior Court (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/19). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio noted many are still "wondering when or if the NFL will take action against" Irsay, but it is "safe to assume that discipline will be levied before the start of the regular season." That is the league's "pattern when it comes to incidents occurring in the offseason." The NFL also is "likely showing patience in this regard because Irsay's legal case could soon be resolved via ongoing plea negotiations" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 8/15).
CROSSING THE LINE? Clippers Owner STEVE BALLMER, who held a fan rally yesterday at Staples Center, and his "allies" at Seattle's Lakeside School "attracted basketball talent to the wealthy school and aided them with a series of questionable tactics that included a new basketball-focused nonprofit, cash for a coach, an unusual admissions process and weak enforcement of academic standards." The tactics "may have violated Washington state's prep-sports rules." But it "all paid off: In just five years, Lakeside went from winless in its district to district champs for the first time in a quarter century" (SEATTLE TIMES, 8/17).
ON THE RISE: BROADCASTING & CABLE magazine announced its '14 Digital All-Stars, including Comcast Cable Senior Dir of TV Everywhere Content & Product Strategy VITO FORLENZA and Univision Senior VP & GM/Digital MEHUL NAGRANI. Forlenza was named "both for his team's successes and for their upcoming efforts to build awareness of these offerings." Some of that progress "was evident during the recent World Cup, which produced a record 13 million-plus live streams of soccer matches by Comcast customers via Xfinity TV Go and WatchESPN." Meanwhile, Nagrani is making sure Univision is reaching Hispanic viewers, which "became clear last month during the World Cup, when Univision's digital offerings for the month-long tournament brought record traffic -- even topping ESPN on certain nights" (BROADCASTING & CABLE, 8/18 issue).
NAMES: A campaign seeking to "expand gun-sale background checks" in Washington state has received a $500,000 donation from Seahawks, Trail Blazers and Sounders Owner PAUL ALLEN (SEATTLETIMES.com, 8/18)....Former Vanderbilt basketball player KYLE FULLER will release a book next summer titled “BELOW THE RIM,” which delivers information on the “dirty side of college basketball,” ranging from the “prevalence of drugs, sex and parties to agents offering players money under the table.” Fuller hopes the book “will be funny, outrageous and controversial” (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 8/19)....Former MLBer WILLIE RANDOLPH “voiced his own character in ‘HENRY & ME,’ an inspirational animated film more than a half-decade in the making that the Yankees were heavily involved in and is finally being released.” The film is in “select theatres” as of yesterday. A portion of sales “will be donated to various charities, including Stand Up 2 Cancer” (MLB.com, 8/18)....Tigers fan MICHAEL GONZALEZ through the New Jersey and Michigan Make-a-Wish Foundation chapters was “signed to a one-day contract” with the team, met 1B MIGUEL CABRERA and got a tryout. Gonzalez will be featured on a future ESPN “My Wish” segment (DETROITNEWS.com, 8/18)....Actor JON HAMM threw out the first pitch before last night’s Reds-Cardinals game. Jon Hamm Night at Busch Stadium also included a Hamm bobblehead (LATIMES.com, 8/18)....Nationals P GIO GONZALEZ listed his South Florida home, which occupies 4.4 acres, for $1.95M (LATIMES.com, 8/18).
