Ball alleges a company co-founder conspired to take millions of dollars to buy property in EthiopiaNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Big Baller Brand and Lakers G LONZO BALL are suing BBB co-Founder ALAN FOSTER, "alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duties, in hopes of recovering" more than $2M in damages. The lawsuit alleges that Foster "conspired to take millions of dollars and used those funds to buy property in Ethiopia." The suit also alleges that Foster "mishandled tax filings and failed to distribute profits from Big Baller Brand to Ball." Although Foster was the "registering agent for Big Baller Brand" and owned 16.3% of the company, Ball, who owns 51%, "removed him as a manager" (L.A. TIMES, 4/3).
GAMING THE SYSTEM: Syracuse WR ANTHONY QUEELEY is turning a profit "selling high-end sneakers on the re-sale market for hundreds of dollars more than their retail value." Queeley said that he is "not violating NCAA rules," and is "allowed to use his name to promote his business thanks to a little-known NCAA provision called a previously approved waiver." Queeley is "able to get legislative relief because he isn't using his status as an athlete to promote his business, and his product isn't tied to his identity as a football player" (SYRACUSE.com, 4/3).
PAGE TURNER: In a "lovingly crafted" biography of Baseball HOFer ERNIE BANKS, "LET'S PLAY TWO," author RON RAPOPORT "gets as close to revealing the real Mr. Cub as anyone to date." After "trying unsuccessfully to collaborate with Banks on an autobiography, Rapoport set out to discover the real Mr. Cub after Banks' death" in '15. The book is a "balanced portrait that covers all the triumph and tragedy, joy and sorrow, of Banks' life and playing career" (DAILYHERALD.com, 4/2).
NAMES: Collegiate Sports Management Group announced that Phoenix Sports Partners will complete its Series B investment round. PSP's RANDY ECCKER also will join CSMG Chair DR. HARVEY SCHILLER as a member of the CSMG Board (CSMG)....Indians Chair & CEO PAUL DOLAN will deliver the spring commencement address at Cleveland State on May 11 (CLEVELAND.com, 4/2)....Monumental Sports & Entertainment Chair & CEO TED LEONSIS will be a keynote speaker at the East Coast Gaming Congress & NexGen Gaming Forum on June 12-13 in Atlantic City (ECGC)....NBA Draft prospect BOL BOL has signed with CAA. The former Oregon player will “likely be a top-20 pick” (OREGONLIVE.com, 4/1).
