Bubka has denied a claim that he was paid to vote for Rio de Janeiro's winning bid to host the '16 GamesGETTY IMAGES
Former Ukrainian pole vaulter SERGEY BUBKA and Russian swimmer ALEXANDER POPOV have "denied claims made in a Brazilian court that they were paid to vote for Rio de Janeiro's winning bid to host" the '16 Games. The IOC said that its ethics commission "contacted both men about the allegation" made by former Rio state Gov. SERGIO CABRAL, who is "serving a prison sentence for corruption." Cabral's testimony on Thursday "echoed details of an alleged Olympic vote-buying scheme" in '09 already in the public domain (AP, 7/5).
GETTING TO KNOW YOU: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jared Diamond profiled Indians Assistant Dir of Content & Entertainment Strategy TARA TITCOMBE, who discussed her role as Project Manager for tomorrow's MLB All-Star Game. Titcombe said she is "making sure we're working closely" with MLB from the "start of the planning phase until the trophy presentation after the All-Star Game." She said, "I'm making sure all the correct people and correct departments are involved and have appropriate information, and everybody knows their roles and responsibilities for All-Star week, as well as helping MLB make the contacts they need to make" (WSJ.com, 7/4)....In Tampa, Joey Knight profiled Tampa Bay Sports Commission Exec Dir ROB HIGGINS, who is a "home-grown bundle of savvy, charm and innovation." Higgins is "observant, a meticulous note-taker, unconventional yet wholly unassuming." He "consistently has won over" sports execs by operating "behind the scenes" (TAMPABAY.com, 7/8).
NAMES: The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has awarded $1.7M to 64 organizations through the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy Funds (AP, 7/6)....Basketball HOFer REGGIE MILLER is "joining the Tour de Komen, a 100-mile Indiana bike ride from Fishers to Terre Haute to raise awareness for breast cancer." Miller, who is an "avid cyclist, will be bringing six professional cyclists with him for the ride" (INDYSTAR.com, 7/5)....The Jaguars Foundation donated $75,000 to the Clara White Mission, a nonprofit in Jacksonville (JACKSONVILLE.com, 7/4)....NESN's JERRY REMY's new book, "IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK," covers his "baseball and broadcasting careers ... before detailing his personal hardships and horrors." The book was coauthored by the late NICK CAFARDO (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 7/4)....Browns QB BAKER MAYFIELD married his fiancée EMILY WILKINSON on Saturday in Malibu (NYPOST.com, 7/7).
IN MEMORY: Former 49ers radio announcer BOB FOUTS died yesterday at age 97. Fouts, the father of Pro Football HOFer DAN FOUTS, joined the 49ers in ’50 and “alternately called their games on television for CSB and on radio” (SFGATE.com, 7/8).
