USF football coach WILLIE TAGGART's new five-year contract is a $9M deal that "includes a significantly increased buyout and assistant salary pool." The contract "calls for a $500,000 base salary," with $1.2M "in 'promotional activities' coming from TV contracts, shoe deals, sponsorships, etc." That supplemental compensation "increases by $50,000 annually" starting in '17. In the meantime, his staff salary pool increases to $2.4M for '16 -- a $500,000 increase from the old deal -- and "gradually escalates" to $2.9M by Jan. 1, 2020 (TAMPABAY.com, 12/21).
NAMES: Former NBAer YAO MING yesterday "was nominated by the International Committee for direct election" into the Basketball HOF. Former WNBAer SHERYL SWOOPES also was a "first-time nominee," along with former NBA player/coach RUDY TOMJANOVICH, and former NBA coaches BILL FITCH and DEL HARRIS. Other "top candidates include" former NBAers CHRIS WEBBER, KEVIN JOHNSON and TIM HARDAWAY (CHRON.com, 12/21)....Browns DE JOHN HUGHES III last night visited with kids at Akron Children's Hospital (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 12/22)....PAUL MCCARTNEY on Sunday attended T'Wolves-Nets at Barclays Center at 1:00pm ET and Capitals-Rangers at MSG at 7:00pm. McCartney also joined BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN on stage for "SNL" the night before (NHL.com, 12/20).
