A federal judge yesterday denied Premier Boxing Champions Founder AL HAYMON's motion to dismiss Top Rank's $100M lawsuit against him, "allowing the case to proceed to discovery and, if it gets that far, a jury trial." Top Rank filed the suit July 1 in U.S. District Court in L.A., "contending Haymon's PBC series is monopolistic and violates federal antitrust laws as well as the federal Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act." Judge JOHN WALTER in his ruling wrote he did "not believe that Haymon had presented enough evidence to warrant a dismissal" (ESPN.com, 1/6).
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Bush is seeking in excess of $50,000 after he
suffered a season-ending injury |
TAKING ACTION: 49ers RB REGGIE BUSH has "filed a lawsuit" against the St. Louis Regional Convention & Stadium Authority "for a season-ending injury sustained when he slipped on the concrete bordering the Edward Jones Dome field." The suit filed in St. Louis Circuit Court "referred to the surface as a 'concrete ring of death.'" Bush "seeks in excess of $50,000 plus unspecified damages" (AP, 1/6).
ANOTHER ONE FOR THE GARAGE: The No. 28 Honda driven by RYAN HUNTER-REAY when he won the '14 Indianapolis 500 "will be auctioned off" from Jan. 29-30 in Scottsdale. The buyer "won't get the car until it's retired, which is projected to be at the conclusion" of the '18 season. When delivered, the car "will be restored to its Indy-winning configuration, complete with the bodywork kit used." Andretti Autosport officials "have not said what the minimum bid must be," but an auction catalogue "estimates the value between $600,000 and $750,000" (INDYSTAR.com, 1/6).
FREEZE FRAME: The Ole Miss football coaching staff has led the team to consecutive New Year's Six bowl games, which has in turn "paid off with pay increases." Coach HUGH FREEZE "received a one-year extension that will increase his pay" to an average of $4.925M over the next four years. The team's nine assistant coaches also "earned raises," with total pay for the group going from $3.11M to $4.26M. The strength and conditioning coaches and other support staff "received an increase of $260,000" (Jackson CLARION-LEDGER, 1/7).
NAMES: Bucks co-Owner WES EDENS has purchased Milwaukee-based newspaper The Daily Reporter, "which publishes stories on building, construction, real estate development and transportation in Wisconsin." The Edens-led New Media Investment Group also acquired the Milwaukee-based Wisconsin Law Journal (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/6)....Panthers LB THOMAS DAVIS was named winner of the Bart Starr Award, given annually to an NFL player "who exemplifies character and leadership on and off the field" (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 1/6)....A Portland-based publisher has “released a comic book" starring Seahawks QB RUSSELL WILSON. Storm -- an "independent production studio of comic books, young adult books and graphic novels -- this week released ‘FAME: RUSSELL WILSON.'" Storm in the past has “released other athlete biographies, including those” of ALEX RODRIGUEZ, JACKIE ROBINSON and DAVID BECKHAM (BIZJOURNALS.com, 1/6)....Pro Football HOFer EMMITT SMITH will play himself "in a cameo appearance on Sunday night’s episode of 'CSI: CYBER'" (AP, 1/6).
