In N.Y., Kovaleski & Macur report former USA Gymnastics President & CEO STEVE PENNY "discussed the possibility of a top security job" at the USOC for FBI agent JAY ABBOTT while Abbott was investigating LARRY NASSAR on "allegations of sexual abuse." Penny had "worried about the organization's image and sought to cultivate a close relationship with federal investigators." Penny's lawyer confirmed that the USOC position "had been discussed but insisted there was no conflict of interest" (N.Y TIMES, 10/19). Penny was arrested Wednesday night on evidence-tampering charges related to the Nassar investigation (THE DAILY).
Silver attended Lakers-Trail Blazers and will be in Milwaukee on Friday for the opening of Fiserv ForumNBAE/getty images
MAN ON THE MOVE: NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER was in the stands for Lakers-Trail Blazers on Thursday night at Moda Center, where he was seated next to Nike Chair, President & CEO MARK PARKER and in front of NBA Deputy Commissioner & COO MARK TATUM. When TNT's broadcast of the game showed the trio on camera, TNT’s MARV ALBERT jokingly said, "Adam Silver explaining the clear-path foul rule to all those in his section." Silver was at Oracle Arena on Tuesday for the Warriors' championship ceremony and will be in Milwaukee on Friday for the first regular-season game at the Bucks' Fiserv Forum (“Lakers-Trail Blazers,” TNT, 10/18).
UNAPOLOGETIC: RIHANNA "declined an offer to headline the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show because she 'supports COLIN KAEPERNICK.'" A source said that the NFL and CBS "really wanted Rihanna" to be the performer at the Super Bowl in Atlanta. The source: "They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn't agree with the NFL's stance.'" After Rihanna turned down the offer, the NFL extended it to MAROON 5 (USMAGAZINE.com, 10/18).
FILM STUDY: Former Univ. of North Carolina basketball players DAVID NOEL and DONALD WILLIAMS and former Clemson basketball player SHAWAN ROBINSON are the focus of a new documentary, "BEYOND TOBACCO ROAD," that looks at how the three men "transitioned from being college and professional athletes to educators" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/19)....Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY will serve as exec producer for an upcoming faith-based film "BREAKTHROUGH," set for an April release (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 10/19).
NAMES: N.Y.'s Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade was going to be cancelled due to insurance issues, but ESPN's KATIE NOLAN and civic group Good Old Lower East Side became involved, and the parade will move forward at a new location. Nolan heard that the event was going to be cancelled, and connected her producers with parade organizers to see how she and the net could help. ESPN also donated $10,000 to the City Parks Foundation (THE DAILY)....Nike co-Founder & Chair Emeritus PHIL KNIGHT has "dropped another" $1M to support Oregon State Rep. KNUTE BUEHLER and his gubernatorial campaign. That donation "brings Knight's direct spending on Buehler's campaign" to $2.5M (OREGONLIVE.com, 10/18)....Univ. of Minnesota AD MARK COYLE, hired in '16, received a total of $290,000 in bonus pay in his first two years on the job. His "incentive compensation" was based on the "in-class and on-field performance of student-athletes and Coyle's achievement of compliance and management goals." Coyle in the '16-17 school year received the maximum $150,000 his contract allows for. This past year his bonus was $140,000 (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 10/19).
