Former NFLer TIM TEBOW took to Facebook on Thursday to "say reports of his involvement" at the Republican National Convention "are just 'a rumor.'" Tebow: "I wake up this morning to find out that I'm speaking at the Republican National Convention. It's amazing how fast rumors fly. And that's exactly what it is" (ESPN.com, 7/14). PAUL MANAFORT. the campaign manager for DONALD TRUMP, said, "I don’t know what happened between the announcement of Tebow and the invitation. But I do know that we have a lot of people who want to speak. We have too many people who want to speak" (CNN, 7/15).
COURT REPORT: NEIMAN NIX, the owner of a Florida sports performance facility and a baseball academy, on Thursday sued MLB in federal court, claiming the league’s '13 Biogenesis doping crackdown "destroyed his Florida business." The complaint names MLB Commissioner Emeritus BUD SELIG and current commissioner ROB MANFRED, as well as MLB VP/Information Security & Special Projects NEIL BOLAND and MLB investigator AWILDA SANTANA, as defendants (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/15)....A group of former NFLers on Thursday "filed a lawsuit against helmet manufacturer Riddell," arguing that the company "failed to warn players about the extent to which their helmets provided head protection." The players contend that they "suffered numerous concussions during their time in the NFL and played through the symptoms because they were never told the consequences of doing so." The players also "alleged Riddell knew the consequences of the brain injuries the players were suffering" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 7/15).
WHERE DOES THE MONEY COME FROM? The N.Y. TIMES looks at Bucks co-Owner WES EDENS and his firm, Fortress Investment Group, under the header, “How Private Equity Found Power And Profit In State Capitols.” Fortress and other private equity groups since ’08 have “rapidly expanded their influence, assuming a pervasive, if under-the-radar, role in daily American life,” and “sophisticated political maneuvering ... is central to this growth.” Part of the controversy stems from Fortress’ control of subprime loan lender Springleaf Financial and its lobbying efforts. Edens said that Fortress “did not create Springleaf’s lobbying campaign, but supported it.” He also “emphasized the positive effects of Fortress’s companies across the American economy” (N.Y. TIMES, 7/15).
NAMES: Islanders co-Owner JON LEDECKY "plans to be in Brazil" to witness his niece, U.S. swimmer KATIE LEDECKY, compete in the Rio Games (NEWSDAY, 7/15)....U.S. decathlete ASHTON EATON and model GIGI HADID will be on the August cover of Vogue magazine (TWITTER.com, 7/15)....A boxing center at Miami-Dade County park is being renamed for MUHAMMAD ALI. Tropical Park will now be called the “Muhammad Ali Boxing Center” (ESPN.com 7/15)....NBA Kings F CARON BUTLER will host a block party and bicycle giveaway on Saturday in his hometown of Racine, Wisc. Butler will give away 100 bikes to local children (THE DAILY)....NASCAR driver JOEY LOGANO hosted the Driving Hope Home golf tournament on Thursday at Southington Country Club in Connecticut. Logano’s foundation “raises and donates money for a variety of charities, such as the Ronald McDonald House and Susan G. Komen Foundation” (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/15)....The Colts have commissioned city firefighter and artist RYAN FEENEY to "create a statue” of PEYTON MANNING. The statue “will be placed outside Lucas Oil Stadium next year” (AP, 7/15).
-----------------------------------GAME CHANGERS CONFERENCE-----------------------------------
The fourth annual Game Changers Conference will be held September 15 at the New York Marriott Marquis, Times Square. This year's program will examine the role that women executives play in sports business as well as examine women as consumers, women’s sports and a whole range of related topics.
This year's program will also feature a Career Breakfast Session and topics will include the importance of networking, mentor/mentee roles and how to seek out the best opportunities within your company for growth. To register or view the full agenda. click here.
