USC AD PAT HADEN "juggles extensive obligations outside USC," as he is a member "of more than a dozen corporate and nonprofit boards, side work that pays him at least a half-million dollars a year." IRS filings show that Haden "collected about $135,000 combined in annual fees from four charitable foundations." Haden in an initial interview said that he "sat on two nonprofit boards and one corporate board." But when pressed with follow-up queries, he "acknowledged that he actively serves on seven boards -- four foundations and three businesses." Haden said that all of his outside commitments "had been approved by USC President C.L. MAX NIKIAS when he was hired" as AD (L.A. TIMES, 10/24).
KING OF THE COURT: In Chicago, Shia Kapos profiled locally based attorney FRED SPERLING, a partner at Schiff Hardin, who "has been there" with MICHAEL JORDAN "for the past 25 years." He has "won every legal case he has handled" for Jordan, most recently securing an $8.9M ruling against former supermarket chain Dominick's. He is also "representing Jordan in a similar claim against Jewel-Osco." Sperling, who "never intended to represent athletes, now leads his firm's sports, media and entertainment group." Sperling has "had other major clients," including Warner Bros., which he has represented "a number of times" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 10/23).
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Thunder players NICK COLLISON, ANTHONY MORROW, ANDRE ROBERSON, MITCH MCGARY, and CAMERON PAYNE all met with families at the OU Medical Center who were impacted when a car drove into the Oklahoma State homecoming parade, "killing three adults and one two-year-old boy and injuring more than 40 others." They shook hands and took pictures with visitors and staffers. Fellow Thunder players KEVIN DURANT, RUSSELL WESTBROOK and ENES KANTER visited OU Children's Hospital (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/26).
SPREADING CHEER: A group of New York lawmakers in a letter to NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER "urged the league to disclose the employment status of cheerleaders" for all 30 teams. The letter was "sparked by a wage theft lawsuit" brought against the Bucks (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/27).
NAMES: WEEI-AM's GLENN ORDWAY "collapsed at his pregame tailgate" prior to Jets-Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sunday and was "rushed to the hospital with what docs believe is a bleeding ulcer" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 10/27)....Steelers RB LE’VEON BELL is launching The Bell’s Boys Initiative, a leadership and mentorship program designed to encourage Pittsburgh-area high school-aged youth to begin planning their futures. The ’15 Bell’s Boys class will consist of 10 Woodland Hills High School male student-athletes (Bell’s Boys)….DAVID BECKHAM will star in a new BBC documentary titled, “DAVID BECKHAM: FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.” The 90-minute film “will see Beckham play soccer in seven continents” (BOSTONHERALD.com, 10/26)….PBR rider J.B MAUNEY received a $1M bonus for clinching the Built Ford Tough Series World Finals on Sunday in Las Vegas, becoming the “first competitor in a rodeo or bull riding association to surpass” the $6M mark in career earnings (STAR-TELEGRAM.com, 10/26)….OPRAH WINFREY, actor ORLANDO BLOOM, country singer KENNY CHESNEY and record producer RICK RUBIN were among those who turned out Thursday night in Santa Monica “for the launch of surfer LAIRD HAMILTON’s new apparel line,” Laird Apparel (LATIMES.com, 10/26)….Former NFLer HUNTER SMITH yesterday revealed that his eponymous band “has signed a deal” with singer BLAKE SHELTON to “open at Shelton’s Back Porch Revival show Aug. 27 in Iowa City” (INDYSTAR.com, 10/26)….Fox analyst and former NFLer EDDIE GEORGE “is scheduled to perform in ‘CHICAGO’ as lawyer Billy Flynn.” The Broadway show will run Jan. 11-Feb. 28 (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/27).
