Haslam joins Arthur Blank, Robert Kraft, John Mara and Art Rooney on the Compensation Committeegetty images
Browns Owner JIMMY HASLAM has been voted onto the NFL Compensation Committee. Haslam was the only owner to run for the slot. NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL typically appoints committee members, but following the controversy over his compensation last year, owners agreed to reshuffle the compensation committee. Two members, Texans Owner BOB MCNAIR and Chiefs Chair & CEO CLARK HUNT, were taken off. Owners voted for the fifth member. Haslam joins the Falcons’ ARTHUR BLANK, Patriots’ ROBERT KRAFT, Giants’ JOHN MARA and Steelers’ ART ROONEY II on the committee (Daniel Kaplan, THE DAILY).
CARDS ON THE TABLE: Sources said that Rockets Owner TILMAN FERTITTA has approached Caesars Entertainment "about a possible merger with his Golden Nugget casino chain and restaurant group." The deal "would make" Fertitta Chair and CEO of Caesars, which would then combine with his privately held Golden Nugget, valued around $3B (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10/18).
TRIAL & ERROR: Former Kenyan National Olympic Committee Chair KIPCHOGE KEINO earlier today "handed himself over to police" and is "set to face charges of corruption and abuse of office." Keino tomorrow is due in court to "plead to the charges relating to the misuse of more than half a million dollars meant to fund Kenya's team" at the '16 Rio Games (AP, 10/18)....Former Microsoft Dir of Sports Marketing & Alliances JEFF TRAN yesterday was "indicted on five counts of wire fraud" related to "selling Super Bowl tickets allocated for Microsoft employees." Tran is accused of using a ticket broker to "sell more than 60 tickets" to the Super Bowl LI in Houston that were intended for Microsoft employees, "keeping more than $200,000 for himself" (GEEKWIRE.com, 10/17).
SCREEN PASS: Film director MICHAEL MEREDITH, the son of late Cowboys QB DON MEREDITH, has “signed on to direct ‘THE PRESIDENT’S TEAM,’” a documentary about the ’63 Navy football team. The film is based on the ’09 book of the same title by MICHAEL CONNELLY and “follows the story of commitment and camaraderie among a team of young athletes attempting to revive a nation wrought with grief -- 10 days after the assassination of PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY.” Navy that season was led by Pro Football HOFer ROGER STAUBACH (VARIETY.com, 10/16).
HONORS & AWARDS: Baseball HOFers JIM THOME and OZZIE SMITH, along with Loyola Chicago's SISTER JEAN, headline this year's recipients of the St. Louis-based Musial Awards in honor of late Baseball HOFer STAN MUSIAL (Musial Awards)....NLL CMO ASHLEY DABB was awarded a Business & Computer Information Management Distinguished Alumni Award from Neumann Univ. (NLL).
NAMES: KOBE BRYANT was “taken off” the jury for an upcoming animated film festival, Animation Is Film Festival in L.A., “amid online backlash” over the ’03 sexual assault allegation against him (NYDAILYNEWS.com, 10/17)....T’Wolves F ANDREW WIGGINS “will donate $22 for every point he scores this season to help underprivileged kids get better access to organized sports.” Wiggins last season “scored a total of 1,452 points,” and if he “does that again this year, Wiggins would donate over $31,000” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 10/16)....It has been revealed that Flames co-Owner ALLAN MARKIN “paid roughly” C$750,000 to “help free kidnapped journalist AMANDA LINDHOUT in Somalia.” She and an Australian photographer were “taken hostage” in ’08 and “were freed after being held hostage for 15 months” (CP, 10/16)....The National Sailing HOF BOD voted to “relocate” the HOF from Annapolis to the Armory building in Newport, R.I. (PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.com, 10/17)....Baseball HOFer GEORGE BRETT was in Atlanta on Monday "shooting scenes for the IFC show 'BROCKMIRE'" (K.C. STAR, 10/18).
IN MEMORY: Longtime Redskins reporter RICH TANDLER, who joined NBC Sports Washington in '11, died Tuesday at 63. The Redskins will "hold a moment of silence for Tandler" before their game against the Cowboys on Sunday and will "keep his regular seat on press row empty" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 10/17).
