Sarkisian sought the $12.6M left on his contract, plus other unspecified damages for "mental anguish"GETTY IMAGES
Falcons offensive coordinator STEVE SARKISIAN has lost a $30M lawsuit that "claimed he was improperly fired" as USC coach instead of being "allowed to seek treatment for alcoholism." An arbitrator ruled in favor of USC, saying Sarkisian "concealed his condition from the school." Sarkisian was fired in October '15 and "sued for breach of contract and discrimination based on disability" (AP, 7/9). Sarkisian sought the $12.6M "left on his contract, plus other unspecified damages for 'mental anguish.'" The arbitrator "determined Sarkisian was 'not terminated on the basis of any disability,' but for misconduct in breach of his contract" (DAILYNEWS.com, 7/9).
SECRET WEAPON: THE ATHLETIC's Marcus Thompson II profiled Warriors General Counsel and VP/Basketball Management & Strategy DAVID KELLY, who is the team's "resident salary cap guru and CBA expert." Kelly is "in the running for the hardest-working member of the franchise." Warriors President of Basketball Operations & GM BOB MYERS said of Kelly, "I love the guy. I really do. He's the best." Kelly might "end up running things one day." He worked with Warriors co-Owners JOE LACOB and PETER GUBER as "outside counsel during their purchase" of the franchise (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/9).
GREEN MAN: Former CBSSports.com analyst MARTIN GITLIN has "inked a deal to write a biography" of Celtics G KYRIE IRVING. Tentatively titled "THE ISOLATION ASSASSIN: HOW KYRIE IRVING BECAME THE DEADLIEST ONE-ON-ONE PLAYER IN THE NBA," the book's focus "will be on basketball." It will be released in the fall of '19 (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/9). Meanwhile, Lionsgate "gambled that there was room for its family-oriented" movie "UNCLE DREW" amidst the summer blockbusters, but it is "not paying off." Irving's film had a second weekend 57% drop to $6.6M, and a possible $45M U.S. total. International prospects are "limited, so even with relatively low costs, this one may not get out of red ink" (SHOWBUZZDAILY.com, 7/8).
NAMES: ESPN Films VP AND Exec Producer/ESPN Films & Original Content LIBBY GEIST was named to Multichannel News' class of 40 Under 40 (MULTICHANNEL NEWS, 7/9 issue)....The fourth-annual George Springer All-Star Bowling Benefit on Sunday had a "full house of Stuttering Association for Young supporters, Astros fans and media stars packed into the bowling alley-slash-nightclub" in Houston. The crowd of 450 "raised $250,000, double the $125,000 brought-in last year" (CHRON.com, 7/9)....In June, the Patriots "donated more than 70 iPads" to United South End Settlements, a non-profit organization "helping families in the South End of Boston break the cycle of poverty." The idea came from Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT (SI.com, 7/9)....SHAQUILLE O'NEAL "plans to film a reality show about his new chicken restaurant expected to open near Hard Rock Hotel later this year" in Las Vegas. The show will air on Facebook (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 7/9)....Actor WINSTON DUKE will take on the role of late MMA fighter KIMBO SLICE in the film “BACKYARD LEGEND” (DEADLINE.com, 7/9)....Giants WR ODELL BECKHAM JR. and former Giants P BRAD WING make cameo appearances in NIKKI MINAJ and ARIANA GRANDE’s latest music video for the song “Bed” (USATODAY.com, 7/7)....Panthers QB CAM NEWTON “became a father again” on Friday, welcoming a baby boy (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/8)....Former U.S. gymnast ALICIA SACRAMONE QUINN “gave birth on Friday to her second daughter” with her husband, former NFLer BRADY QUINN (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/9)....Twins 1B JOE MAUER and his wife MADDIE are expecting a third child around Thanksgiving (TWINCITIES.com, 7/7)....Nets F ALLEN CRABBE “cut a six-figure check to prevent” Frederick K.C. Price III Christian School in L.A. from “having to shut its doors.” Crabbe graduated from the school and his grandfather, FREDERICK PRICE III, “founded the institution” (MERCURYNEWS.com, 7/9)....JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and wife JESSICA BIEL were at Wimbledon today watching the SERENA WILLIAMS-CAMILA GIORGI match (THE DAILY).
IN MEMORY: Sports psychologist DR. KEN RAVIZZA died on Sunday at 70. Ravizza was a “pioneer in the field of applied sports psychology consulting” and worked with the Angles, Dodgers, Cubs, college athletes and Olympians (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 7/10). NBCSPORTSCHICAGO.com: “Baseball World Reacts To Passing Of Cubs Consultant Ken Ravizza.”
