Univ. of Kansas football coach DAVID BEATY's five-year deal "is lined with incentives," as he will be paid $800,000 in "annual salary but can make an additional $25,000 for each Big 12 victory." Other incentives include $100,000 for a "Big 12 regular-season championship, including a co-championship," along with $100,000 for a bowl appearance. He also will receive $50,000 for "being chosen Big 12 coach of the year." The incentives are meant to be "'cumulative,' meaning a larger incentive would not wipe out a smaller one" (K.C. STAR, 3/27).
TOP SHELF: Alberta's Athabasca Univ., in concert with the Business of Hockey Institute, to which Oilers GM CRAIG MACTAVISH "is an adviser, will offer an MBA in hockey starting in May." The hockey-specific program "is made up of six courses that are added to the existing executive MBA curriculum." Students who "already have an MBA from another school can get what the Alberta-based BHI is calling a 'professional hockey manager' designation." The program "is the brainchild" of NHL agent RITCH WINTER and Flames President of Hockey Operations BRIAN BURKE. Winter said that it is "focused on helping drive the bottom line for hockey, but is also part of a wider trend of MBA-level programs that are much more industry specific." Winter spoke to Burke about his idea "a few years ago, and after a couple of false starts with other schools, they landed on Athabasca" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/27).
NAMES: Actor J.K. SIMMONS, who played the Tigers manager in "FOR LOVE OF THE GAME," will throw out the first pitch for the team's home opener (MLB.com, 3/26)....FALL OUT BOY "will headline" MLB's Opening Day live musical performances at Wrigley Field on April 5 (SUNTIMES.com, 3/26)....TIGER WOODS is helping the Univ. of Maryland-Eastern Shore to "create a scholarship in the name" of late Golf HOFer CHARLIE SIFFORD. Woods "made a $10,000 donation that will launch the Sifford Fund" (ESPN.com, 3/26)....Countable, an app for "learning about proposed laws and lobbying lawmakers on them," has added former NFLer and former U.S. Rep. JON RUNYAN (R-N.J.) to its board of advisors (POLITICO.com, 3/26)....Former NBAer YAO MING (No. 26), Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES (No. 31) and NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER (No. 47) are featured in Fortune's ranking of the World's Greatest Leaders (THE DAILY)....Packers QB AARON RODGERS and girlfriend actress OLIVIA MUNN attended Thursday's Wisconsin-North Carolina Sweet 16 matchup at Staples Center (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/27).
IN MEMORY: Clark Enterprises Chair A. JAMES CLARK, whose company constructed Camden Yards, Petco Park, Miller Park and Nationals Park, died last Friday at the age of 87 due to congestive heart failure (N.Y. TIMES, 3/27).
