From '10-16, Scott has been credited with just over $24.8M in pay from the Pac-12GETTY IMAGES
Documents show Pac-12 Commissioner LARRY SCOTT was credited with nearly $4.8M in compensation in '16, which "represents a $600,000 increase" from '15. That raise keeps Scott as the "highest-paid conference commissioner in college sports in terms of annual compensation." Scott received just over $3.5M in "base compensation" in '16, up "more than $855,000" from '15. From '10-16, Scott has been credited with just over $24.8M in pay from the Pac-12 (USA TODAY, 5/9).
BUCKEYES WIN! Former NFLer ANTHONY GONZALEZ, who "benefited from a $300,000 ad buy from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," last night in Ohio's 16th district won the Republican slot in the November race to fill the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. JIM RENACCI. Gonzalez will face Democratic challenger SUSAN MORAN PALMER (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/9).
MAJOR MENTOR: T’Wolves Owner GLEN TAYLOR, who “owns farmland in northwest Iowa near Sioux Rapids and an egg plant in nearby Spirit Lake,” a few years ago accepted an invitation to talk to DONNA SENNERT’s business class at Sioux Central High School. After the talk, Sennert wrote a thank-you letter to Taylor, particularly for getting “shy” student HARLEY RIES to come “out of his shell” and ask Taylor questions. Sennert: “I wrote to him about the kid in the red shirt who asked him questions, and told him he could use a little help going to college.” After a meeting, Taylor “offered to pay for Ries’ college education.” Taylor said it “isn’t the first time he has helped students pay for college” and it “usually happens by chance, when he runs across a student that needs help and mentoring.” A “requirement is regular meetings ‘to work with Grandpa Glen.’” Ries will graduate this spring from Minnesota State-Mankato, and an internship with Taylor Corp. “led to a sales job” there (DES MOINES REGISTER, 5/4).
NAMES: Former Lions Dir of Video Operations ROBERT YANAGI and former Assistant Video Dir MICHAEL RICHARDSON "claim they experienced unequal treatment and disparaging comments because of their race" and have "filed suit against the team, alleging they were fired because of racial and age discrimination." They seek "damages in excess of $25,000 for being terminated in January 'without justification.'" The suit also "names the NFL as defendant" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/9)....The NHL is honoring WILLIE O'REE, the "first black player to suit up in the league, with a new award recognizing those who have positively impacted their community." The award is "looking to highlight those who have 'demonstrated an impressive record of leadership collaboration or behavior that has transcended the sport, improving lives and helping others reach their potential" (SPORTSNET.ca, 5/8)....JOHN HARBERT, BILLY HARBERT, JIM REIN and JACK BRYANT "will be joining" the ownership group of the USL club Birmingham Legion FC (BIZJOURNALS.com, 5/8).
