Former Coliseum Authority Exec Dir SCOTT MCKIBBEN, who was "criminally charged with violating state law by seeking payment from RingCentral for negotiating a stadium naming rights contract, took a plea deal on Tuesday, avoiding a trial and possible jail time." McKibben pleaded "no contest to a misdemeanor count of violating a state conflict-of-interest law." In exchange for his plea, Alameda County prosecutors "tossed out a felony count of violating that same law." Under the deal, McKibben "will serve three years probation and take an ethics course" (San Jose MERCURY NEWS, 10/15).
NAMES: NWSL Orlando Pride D ALI KRIEGER and ELLEN DEGENERES are among "more than 30 athletes and celebrities who will serve as ambassadors for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games being held in Orlando." Krieger, who also is a veteran member of the USWNT, is "joined on the list by several other athletes with Orlando Ties -- LEE CORSO, JOHNNY DAMON, GRANT HILL and WARREN SAPP (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/15). Former NFLer and ESPN's MARK SANCHEZ was the "fourth celebrity to be revealed this season on 'THE MASKED SINGER.'" But he "didn't just wear just a normal disguise: Sanchez was 'Baby Alien,' the show's first ever costume that came with a puppet" (VARIETY.com, 11/14).
