Nike co-Founder BILL BOWERMAN passed away last week at
the age of 88. One of Bowerman's "innovations was a sole
molded in a waffle iron" (USA TODAY, 12/27). Audible Inc.
Chair and the author of "Just Do It: The Nike Spirit In The
Corporate World" Donald Katz wrote on Bowerman in the WALL
STREET JOURNAL: "[His] competitive spirit of high-level
athletes informed Nike's fiercely competitive corporate
culture, and he personally inspired, coached and often
goaded" Knight. Katz wrote that Bowerman was Knight's
"mentor and tormentor" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 1/3)....In
Dallas, Marc Stein reported that suspended Mavericks F LEON
SMITH has "fired" agent MATT MUEHLEBACH and will "apparently
be represented" by the NBPA (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12/30).
...Penguins Owner MARIO LEMIEUX, GM CRAIG PATRICK and USA
Hockey Dir of Special Projects LOU VAIRO have been named
recipients of the 2000 LESTER PATRICK AWARD for outstanding
service to hockey in the U.S. The winners will be honored
by the Lester Patrick award luncheon, presented by Bud
Light, in the spring (NHL)....OLIVER STONE's "ANY GIVEN
SUNDAY" was the third top grossing film last week, bringing
in a total of $13.1M. The film's has grossed a total of
$47.3M since its opening on December 22 (VARIETY, 1/3).
Meanwhile, Exhibitor Relations estimates that Americans
spent $7.5B on movie tickets last year, an increase of 8% in
'98 (N.Y. TIMES, 1/3)....DENNIS RODMAN said on the "Tonight
Show" that he wants to return to the NBA. Rodman: "I do
want to play, but I don't want to go to some team that just
wants to use me for marketing and making money. I want to
go win championships. My first option is here, L.A."
Rodman promoted his new movie, "CUTAWAY" ("Tonight Show,"
1/3)....FSN's Keith Olbermann reported the Red Wings' SERGEI
FEDOROV has "sent his first disadvantaged kid to college
this week selecting Tarin Turner of Inkster, MI from among a
group of former foster children. He will receive about
$200,000 for tuition, room, and board through Fedorov's
charitable foundation. Turner wants to become an
aeronautics engineer." Olbermann: "Rather fitting for a kid
who's going to college courtesy of a Red Wing" (FSN, 12/31).
...Redskins President STEPHEN BALDACCI is facing misdemeanor
charges of fleeing the scene of an accident and illegally
crossing a median after he drove away from a "rush-hour
collision" last week without exchanging information with the
other driver involved in the accident (WASH. POST, 1/4).
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