NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL's wife, JANE, "will moderate a panel" titled "Media, Entertainment & Sports as a Platform" during the two-day NFL Women's Summit from Feb. 4-5 in S.F. Roger Goodell "will open the summit, followed by a keynote address by former Secretary of State CONDOLEEZZA RICE." Others participating include SERENA WILLIAMS, BILLIE JEAN KING, ANNIKA SORENSTAM and JESSICA MENDOZA. USA TODAY's Christine Brennan, who also will be moderating a panel, writes the Super Bowl "has always been known as a week of parties with a football game tacked on at the end," so this is a "departure for the NFL, and a welcome one" (USA TODAY, 1/21).
ALL THE KLINS' MEN: U.S. men's national soccer team coach JURGEN KLINSMANN earned more than $3.2M in FY '14, a 28% increase over the previous tax cycle. Klinsmann received $3.21M in reportable compensation and another $25,371 in funds from U.S. Soccer and related groups. The figures cover income earned between April '14 and March '15, a period that included the '14 FIFA World Cup. The U.S. squad advanced to the round of 16 and "presumably triggering bonuses" for Klinsmann. It is "unclear how much women’s coach JILL ELLIS made in the same period because she is not listed among the USSF’s top earners" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/20).
SUPER BOWL 50 101: A new course at Stanford is "giving students a behind-the-scenes look at Super Bowl 50" by examining the NFL's biggest game "from many perspectives, including marketing, broadcasting and technology." The six-week course, titled "The Business of Super Bowl 50 and Silicon Valley," also "features guest speakers from key players who helped bring the Super Bowl" to Levi's Stadium (CSNBAYAREA.com, 1/20).
CHARITY STRIPE: Redskins DT TERRANCE KNIGHTON yesterday tweeted that he and his teammates were "donating 3,600 bottles of Fiji Water to Catholic Charities USA" in the wake of news that water sources in Flint, Mich., are "contaminated with lead" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 1/20)....Hockey HOFer BOBBY HULL is "about to launch the Bobby Hull Foundation for Children," and an official announcement "will be made in early February." The first fundraising event in which Hull is participating is "a trip aboard a private jet to see" the Jets play the Blues on Feb. 9 (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, 1/21).
NAMES: Saints Senior VP/Communications GREG BENSEL in a statement said that Owner TOM BENSON and his wife GAYLE are "'extremely hurt' by 'ridiculous accusations' in a lawsuit filed this week" by Benson's former personal assistant, RODNEY HENRY. Bensel wrote that the team "denies 'any wrongdoing by anyone within the organization with respect to Mr. Henry's employment'" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 1/21)....Rutgers yesterday in a video "sent via email to more than 190,000 Rutgers alumni and supporters" announced that football coach CHRIS ASH, AD PATRICK HOBBS and basketball coach EDDIE JORDAN donated $50,000 each to "help fund the effort to bring Rutgers' venues, practice facilities and locker rooms up to Big Ten quality." Every other coach and senior administrator also is "making a pledge, which fits the theme" of a $100M initiative (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 1/21)....Former NBAer CHARLES OAKLEY will be inducted into the Virginia Sports HOF (CLEVELAND.com, 1/20)....Cubs 1B ANTHONY RIZZO and Warriors coach STEVE KERR "recently showed off some comedy and improv chops, making appearances at Second City within a week of each other" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 1/20).
