McAdam proposed a merger between Verizon and CBS multiple timesGETTY IMAGES
Sources said that Verizon CEO LOWELL MCADAM last year approached CBS BOD Vice Chair & Dir SHARI REDSTONE "multiple times" about a possible merger with CBS, including at the Allen & Co. business conference in Sun Valley and then through mutual friend, Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT. The sources added that Redstone said she would "consider a Verizon offer only after a CBS-Viacom merger" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 5/29). Meanwhile, Kraft "helped save a man who collapsed Saturday night at a KEVIN HART performance at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City." A source said the man "seemed to be having a seizure" and Kraft "helped him up and summoned security" (NYPOST.com, 5/28).
ON THE WAY OUT: USC President MAX NIKIAS is "stepping down from his post" after more than a week of "uproar over the university's handling of a longtime campus gynecologist accused of misconduct toward female students" (L.A. TIMES, 5/26). Nikias is the Chair of the CFP Board of Managers and of the Pac-12 CEO group (THE DAILY).
A GREAT HONOR: Fox Sports' PAM OLIVER won the '18 Gracie Award for "on-air talent-entertainment and sports at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel" in Beverly Hills. The awards recognizes "exemplary programming created by women, for women and about women in all facets of media and entertainment" (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 5/25)....Triple-A Int'l League Pawtucket Red Sox Vice Chair MIKE TAMBURRO will "finally be inducted" into the team's HOF. Tamburro brought McCoy Stadium from a "bankrupt 'dump' to what Rhode Islanders know and love today." He served as GM through '84, before becoming President in '85 (WPRI.com, 5/24).
FROM THE HARDWOOD: Jazz F EKPE UDOH and his business partners "officially kicked off Let's Get Right, a hydroponic farming company aimed at producing fresh vegetables in his native Oklahoma." Udoh and his partners launched the business with the "idea of helping inner-city schools, children who are malnourished and people who simply aren't as fortunate" (SLTRIB.com, 5/27)....Thunder F CARMELO ANTHONY, along with the Somerset Hospitality Group, is leading a $5M investment to "roll out a chain of sports bars and pizza joints nationwide." Anthony is an investor in Nobodys Pizza, which is now "forming a partnership with The Ainsworth, a 10-year-old chain of pubs" (NYPOST.com, 5/28)....NBA Kings Owner & Chair VIVEK RANADIVE on Friday played golf with PRESIDENT OBAMA (TWITTER.com, 5/25)....Former 76ers GM SAM HINKIE spent time last week with the Broncos at their HQ in Dove Valley, Colo., discussing how to "best use the influx of data they've received over the years" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/25).
NAMES: The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation partnered with Energy Transfer Partners for the Rangers MLB Youth Academy at Mercy Street Complex. The partnership will include a $1M commitment by Energy Transfer Partners that will be used for future programs and operations of the Academy (Rangers)....Rappers LIL WAYNE, E-40, PAUL WALL, SLIM THUG, TRAVIS SCOTT and TRAE THA TRUTH were among those in attendance last night at Warriors-Rockets Game 7. KYLIE JENNER, Texans QB DESHAUN WATSON and U.S. Sen. TED CRUZ (R-Texas) were also in attendance (HOUSTONCHRONICLE.com, 5/28)....TOM BRADY played catch with model BELLA HADID as a brand ambassador for TAG Heuer for a promotional event at the F1 Monaco GP (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/29)....CNN’s ANDERSON COOPER was also on location at the Monaco GP as a part of an assignment for "60 Minutes" (TWITTER.com, 5/26)....N.C. State football coach DAVE DOEREN toured the Charlotte Motor Speedway garage before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday (CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.com, 5/27)....MSNBC’s MIKA BRZEZINSKI and JOE SCARBOROUGH were at Fenway Park on Sunday for Braves-Red Sox (POLITICO.com, 5/28).
