Former NHLer STEVE MOORE yesterday "received an out-of-court settlement" in his civil suit against the Canucks and NHL free agent TODD BERTUZZI. The suit was "scheduled to go to trial Sept. 8 in Toronto, and witnesses were to include" NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN. A lawyer for Bertuzzi said that the terms of the settlement "are confidential." Moore, who was "attacked from behind by Bertuzzi in a March 8, 2004 game in Vancouver, was seeking" $68M in damages (DENVERPOST.com, 8/21). The settlement means "one of the longest-running PR nightmares in league history is drawing slowly to a close" (TORONTO STAR, 8/20).
OWNERS IN THE NEWS: Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT is close to buying a "stake in the company that publishes the Robb Report." A source said that the price tag is about $60M for what is "basically a one-title company that is believed to be kicking around" $10M year in profit. The company chose Gilbert because he would allow CurtCo. Robb Media CEO BILL CURTIS to "remain involved in the operation after the sale" (N.Y. POST, 8/20)....Senators Owner EUGENE MELNYK yesterday announced that the Ottawa Senators Foundation "has surpassed" C$100M in community contributions (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 8/20). Melnyk "put an exclamation point on surpassing the milestone of $100 million raised for the community ... by taking up the viral Ice Bucket Challenge in support of ALS" (OTTAWA SUN, 8/20)....Colts Owner JIM IRSAY's request for a delay of his impaired driving trial "will likely put the trial date in late October or early November." The prosecutor for the case "is not opposing the delay" (INDYSTAR.com, 8/19).
FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW: In Houston, John McClain wrote one of the "highlights of coming to Denver to watch the Texans practice against the Broncos was seeing" former Broncos VP/PR JIM SACCOMANO, who retired following the '13 season after 36 years with the team. Sacco, as he is "known to everyone in the NFL, is one of the all-time great guys and one of the all-time great media relations directors." Getting to visit with him "was worth the trip" (CHRON.com, 8/19).
MENDING FENCES: As part of the Vikings' settlement with former NFLer CHRIS KLUWE, the team announced a $100,000 contribution "to charities that support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender causes, and they will make additional contributions to five LGBT-friendly charities over the next five years." The team also will "enhance sensitivity training that is already required throughout the organization." The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but Kluwe said that he "will not receive any money" (ESPN.com, 8/19).
NAMES: Jaguars GM DAVE CALDWELL and Dir of Player Development MARCUS POLLARD had "buckets of water poured over them" by LBs J.T. THOMAS and LAROY REYNOLDS as part of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Caldwell then challenged Jags radio broadcasters TONY BOSELLI and JEFF LAGEMAN, while Pollard challenged former NFLer FRED TAYLOR (JACKSONVILLE.com, 8/19)....Tickets for Chinese stage production "I WAS MARBURY" went on sale yesterday. The play covers former NBAer STEPHON MARBURY's life during the '11-12 Beijing Ducks season -- when he "led the team to its first championship." Marbury "will play himself in the production, but will only appear in a few scenes" (SI.com, 8/19)....Former MLBer KENNY ROGERS has listed his 12,316-square-foot home in Westlake, Texas, for $14.68M (LATIMES.com, 8/19)....Former NFLer JEFF GARCIA, who this month was named CFL Alouettes QB coach, has listed his 11,000-square-foot home in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., for $7.75M (LATIMES.com, 8/19).
