Outgoing Missouri AD MIKE ALDEN "will relinquish his duties April 27." He had "planned to stay on" as AD through Aug. 31, "but that timetable was accelerated" when the school hired MACK RHOADES as his replacement last month. Alden "will continue to receive his salary" as AD through the end of August. Beginning Sept. 1, Alden "will be paid $125,000 yearly in his role as an instructor in MU's positive coaching program" (K.C. STAR, 4/1).
DEFENSIVE SCHEME: An attorney for NFL free agent LB DWIGHT FREENEY yesterday said that his client in a lawsuit filed in February is "accusing Bank of America of aiding and abetting a fraud scheme" that cost Freeney losses exceeding $20M. BofA is "expected to file its formal response in the coming days." Freeney's attorney, JEFF ISAACS, said that the bank "failed in its obligation to notify Freeney" when former BofA-Merrill Lynch financial adviser EVA WEINBERG "left to create her own business, called Global Wealth Management." The name "closely resembled her former employer's division, Global Wealth and Investment Management." Isaacs said that money was "laundered into Bank of America accounts with the bank failing to enact proper safeguards" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 4/1).
NAMES: Cavaliers Owner DAN GILBERT "has bought the landmark One Detroit Center building and renamed it Ally Detroit Center, in honor of its newest tenant: Ally Financial." Gilbert now has a "portfolio of some 70 Detroit buildings." The One Detroit Center purchase "will be the second-largest property in his portfolio" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/1)....Warriors F HARRISON BARNES, G STEPHEN CURRY, C ANDREW BOGUT and former NBAers BARON DAVIS and STEVE NASH on Monday night were among those who screened the new "ENTOURAGE" movie at actor MARK WAHLBERG's home in L.A. Barnes had "reached out" to the HBO show's creator, DOUG ELLIN, on Twitter, and Ellin "told him to come by" (N.Y. POST, 4/1)....Texans DE J.J. WATT guest starred on Fox’ “NEW GIRL” last night. He joined actors DAMON WAYANS JR. and ZOOEY DESCHANEL “in a whimsical scene in a garage that suddenly breaks into an a capella serenade about hot dogs” led by Watt (NFL.com, 3/31)....Oxygen on Monday announced “DOUGLAS FAMILY GOLD” will be the working title of a TV series on Gold Medal-winning U.S. Gymnast GABBY DOUGLAS and her family. Douglas, her mom and actor WILMER VALDERRAMA are “among the executive producers” (NBCSPORTS.com, 3/31)....MLB Commissioner ROB MANFRED will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Blue Jays’ home opener Monday. It marks the first time in team history a commissioner will open the season with a ceremonial first pitch (Blue Jays)....Cavaliers F LEBRON JAMES last night accepted the H. Peter Burg Leadership Award from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce in recognition of his “leadership and philanthropic efforts in the city” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 4/1)....Raiders S CHARLES WOODSON has partnered with winemaker RICK RUIZ “to develop a signature wine label, ‘Twentyfour by Charles Woodson.’” The boutique winery produces “fewer than 1,000 cases per year” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/1).
