The "unexpected resignations earlier this month" of Pegula Sports & Entertainment Senior VP/Administration & HarborCenter GM MICHAEL GILBERT and HarborCenter VP & Hockey Dir NIK FATTEY "followed an internal investigation into whether the two men sexually harassed female employees after a holiday party in December," according to sources. One of the women said that Gilbert "made sexually explicit and inappropriate remarks to her and repeatedly asked her to meet him in his hotel room." Gilbert and Fattey "were the two highest-ranking" PS&E execs at HarborCenter. PS&E has "not publicly acknowledged Fattey's resignation, but his bio was removed from the HarborCenter website" (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/17).
Lasry makes the seven-hour trip from New Jersey to Milwaukee about 25 times each season NBAE/GETTY IMAGES
FIRST CLASS: THE ATHLETIC's Frank Isola profiled Bucks co-Owner MARC LASRY, who lives in N.Y. and makes the "seven-hour excursion from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to Milwaukee and back, usually accompanied by 12 invited passengers ... approximately 25 times each NBA season." The passenger manifest "changes each trip simply because Lasry wants others to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a private plane and a courtside seat at an NBA game." There is "constant talking on both legs of the trip, which is exactly how Lasry wants it." Therefore, the plane, which has "just about anything you’d want, does not offer Wi-Fi service" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/15).
HELPING HAND: Kentucky men's basketball coach JOHN CALIPARI "wants to help local federal workers not being paid during the government shutdown," so he is partnering with Reach, Inc. and Kroger to "provide financial assistance to the approximately 400 federal workers in Lexington not being paid" (COURIERJOURNAL.com, 1/16).
JOLLY MON SING: JIMMY BUFFETT, a Saints superfan, will “perform the National Anthem" ahead of Sunday's Rams-Saints NFC Championship in New Orleans. Classic rock band CHEAP TRICK will also “perform a free pre-game concert” in New Orleans’ Champions Square to “rally the crowd’ before heading to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Rapper CHOPPA will “perform at halftime” and will be joined by the YING YANG TWINS (NOLA.com, 1/16)
NAMES: A L.A. Superior Court judge has granted former USC assistant football coach TODD MCNAIR a "new trial in his defamation lawsuit against the NCAA," which indicated in a statement that it "will appeal the order." McNair "first sued the NCAA" in '11, seeking "damages for libel, slander and breach of contract" (DAILYNEWS.com, 1/16)....ECHL Rapid City Rush Owner SCOTT MUELLER said that long-time partners BARRY and LUKE PETERSON are "leaving the team and are being replaced by JEFF DICKERSON and T.J. PUCHYR of Spire Sports + Entertainment" (RAPIDCITYJOURNAL.com, 1/16)....Giants RB JONATHAN STEWART and his wife NATALIE have purchased Charlotte-based media platform Charlotte Lately, which started as an Instagram handle in ’15 and now has “expanded to include networking and community events, and a print publication.” The Instagram handle “now has over 33,000 followers” (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 1/17)....Boston-based auction house RR Auction is putting “nearly 150 Olympic-themed items up for sale.” RR Auction Exec VP BOBBY LIVINGSTON said that the company has a “total of 35 Olympic winner’s medals” for sale (BOSTONHERALD.com, 1/16).
IN MEMORY: PBR rider MASON LOWE on Tuesday night “died from injuries he suffered during an event at the National Western Stock Show” in Denver (KDVR.com, 1/16).
