Cubs co-Owner TODD RICKETTS' home in Wilmette, Ill., is "worth more than twice as much as previously thought -- and that could more than double his property tax bill next year and trigger a tab of at least $60,000 in back taxes and interest." The Cook County assessor's office yesterday "completed its reassessment of Ricketts' property," and found that Ricketts had been "paying taxes as if the older, smaller house he'd torn down more than a decade ago was still there" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/17).
BRAVE BATTLE: Braves Digital & Accessible Services Coordinator KATIE HEARN, appearing on the "TODAY" show yesterday, discussed her battle with eye disease and how she eventually lost her sight. Hearn said she "worked hard to get to where I was with the Braves and it's more than a job for me. It's a passion." She added her "village really rallied around me and (I) really leaned on them" as she transitioned into her new life dealing with blindness ("Today," NBC, 7/16).
MEETING OF THE MINDS: The ACC hosted a private reception and dinner last night at Fahrenheit in Charlotte before the start of its football media day today. The ACC VIP Football Kickoff reception and dinner was hosted by Commissioner JOHN SWOFFORD and staff, and drew approximately 80 guests, including football coaches DAVE DOEREN from NC State and STEVE ADDAZIO from Boston College. Also on hand was Miami AD BLAKE JAMES. Other guests included ESPN Senior VP/College Networks ROSALYN DURANT, NFL Panthers President TOM GLICK, Charlotte Sports Commission Chair DANNY MORRISON, former Raycom President & CEO KEN HAINES, Wasserman Managing Exec of Properties DEAN JORDAN, SBJ/SBD Publisher ABE MADKOUR, former ACC players MARK HERZLICH and MATT HASSELBECK, radio personality MARK PACKER and former Miami coach MARK RICHT (THE DAILY).
WHO RUN THE WORLD? USWNT F MEGAN RAPINOE will be in Charlotte this weekend "in conjunction" with the Int'l Champions Cup game between EPL club Arsenal and Serie A club Fiorentina. Rapinoe also will be "part of Relevent Sports Group's House of Soccer fan fest" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 7/17)....While USWNT MF JULIE ERTZ was in France for the Women's World Cup, a "children's book that she wrote hit the market on July 2." Ertz spent "around a year" working on the book titled, "Chase Your Dreams: How Soccer Taught Me Strength, Perseverance, And Leadership" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 7/17)....Young Money Sports Association agent NICOLE LYNN earlier this year became just the third woman to "rep a first-round draft pick" in the NFL. Lynn's client roster at Young Money is "stacked," as she "reps 14 NFL players, a handful of coaches" and three pro softball players (GLAMOUR.com, 7/16).
NAMES: NWHL Boston Pride G KATIE BURT “loves her summer job” as a Fenway Park ball attendant, calling it her “dream job” (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/16)....WFAN’s BOOMER ESIASON will be inducted into the New York State Broadcasters HOF at the NAB New York Show in October (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 7/16)....MALCOLM D. LEE is “set to direct” Warner Bros.’ and LEBRON JAMES’ “SPACE JAM 2,” replacing TERENCE NANCE on the sequel to the ’96 movie (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 7/16)....N.Y.-based tech company Yext, the platform for Brand Verified Answers, announced MAGIC JOHNSON as the closing keynote speaker at ONWARD19: The Future of Search set for Oct. 29-30 (Yext)....TIME released its list of the 25 “Most Influential People on the Internet,” and not one sports figure was included (TIME.com, 7/16).
