Lananna was removed from his post as president of USA Track & Fieldon on Feb. 18, 2018GETTY IMAGES
Former USA Track & Field President VIN LANANNA has filed a formal grievance with the NGB that will "challenge the USATF board over its Feb. 18, 2018, decision to put him on 'temporary administrative leave.'" Lananna is arguing that a January meeting "had been promised, but USATF leadership moved it to late February" (TIMESOFSANDIEGO.com, 2/13).
MADE TO ORDER: The LEBRON JAMES-backed Blaze Pizza chain is "expanding deliveries across the United States" in order to ready itself for an IPO, a goal which the company now sees "being reached earlier than before." The move is meant to help Blaze "compete with industry stalwarts" Domino’s and Pizza Hut. Blaze also "hired a former Nestle executive to lead its digital growth division, a new arm of the company" (OHIO.com, 2/14).
FOR OLD TIMES' SAKE: The documentary "UNRIVALED: EARNHARDT VS. GORDON" premiered Thursday night on FS1, detailing the "complicated relationship" between the late DALE EARNHARDT and JEFF GORDON. Featured in the film are DALE EARNHARDT JR., RICK HENDRICK, KYLE BUSCH and RICHARD CHILDRESS, among many others, as they dissect "one of the most intense rivalries in any sport." The project was produced by Fox Sports Films in collaboration with NASCAR Productions and DLP Media (USATODAY.com, 2/14).
NAMES: Red Sox 2B DUSTIN PEDROIA and New Balance donated $10,000 to a Boston school to provide children a "blue plastic gift bag packed with brand new sweatshirts, sweatpants, socks and sneakers" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 2/14)....Lightning D BRAYDON COBURN and LW TYLER JOHNSON spent Wednesday afternoon as Southwest Airlines workers, "helping passengers check-in to board their flights, loading luggage onto the right planes and even marshaling flights on the tarmac." Southwest is a team partners (TAMPABAY.com, 2/14)....Patriots WR JULIAN EDELMAN will be the honorary starter at Sunday's Daytona 500 (AP, 2/14)....MLB free agent LOGAN MORRISON said that he is “out $65,000" to the owner of a classic-car body shop in Jupiter, Fla., that has been “accused of scamming clients of more than $280,000.” THOMAS LLOYD JR. was “arrested Jan. 4 for allegedly defrauding 11 people.” Morrison paid $75,000 a year ago to have a vehicle restored (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 2/14).
