Suit: Hicks misdirected millions from team
DALLAS, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Former Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks misdirected tens of millions of dollars from the team to acquire what are now profitable parking lots, a lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit, filed Monday by the team's post-bankruptcy administrator, accuses Hicks of using money from the franchise to acquire the lots near Rangers Ballpark in Arlington and Cowboys Stadium, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
Hicks also forced the Rangers to spend at least $18 million on parking lots and roads instead of financing deferred compensation for players, as required by Major League Baseball, said Alan Jacobs, the administrator charged with disbursing assets from the bankruptcy sale,
A total of $30.5 million was misdirected, according to lawsuit, filed in the 116th state District Court in Dallas.
The suit says financial statements released by Hicks hid a funding shortfall.
The Star-Telegram said Hicks' Ballpark Real Estate takes in several million dollars a year in parking revenue near Cowboys Stadium and could be worth an additional $100 million "if Hicks is successful in extorting additional parking revenue from the Texas Rangers' new owner and the team's fans."
Hicks spokeswoman Lisa LeMaster labeled the lawsuit's claims baseless and pointed to a "bizarre flip-flop" by the Rangers' major creditors, including hedge funds that bought the team's debt.
"We welcome the opportunity to challenge these allegations in court," LeMaster said.
The Rangers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2010 while Hicks owned the team after his company defaulted on bank loans. The team was sold in 2010 for $593 million in a bankruptcy auction to a group including Nolan Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher.
Naked pics of Brady's son off of Web site
BOSTON, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- A blogger who posted naked photos of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's son said he removed the pictures after a visit from state investigators.
David Portnoy of barstoolsports.com said in a post the police were friendly, non-threatening and "basically just said they were getting lots of complaint from the lunatic fringe ... and it would be in the best interest of everybody involved if I'd just take them down," The Boston Globe reported Tuesday.
While maintaining he had every right to post the picture, Portnoy said he wasn't "looking to make [cops'] jobs more difficult [than] it already is," so he removed the photo.
Portnoy came under intense attack on the airwaves and elsewhere last week after he posted pictures of the toddler naked on a beach in Costa Rica. Some people called for criminal charges against Portnoy.
Jason Wolfe, vice president of programming for WEEI-AM, a sports talk station, posted on the radio station's Twitter page that Portnoy would not be invited to appear again, saying, "What he did was completely irresponsible."
Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio didn't comment specifically on the visit to Portnoy's home because the matter was handled by Attorney General Martha Coakley's office, the Globe said.
A spokeswoman for Coakley's office confirmed detectives from her office visited Portnoy, the Boston Herald reported.
"We asked Mr. Portnoy to remove the postings and appreciate that he voluntarily chose to do so," Coakley spokeswoman Melissa Karpinksky said in a statement. "At this time, no further action is pending."
Pierzynski placed on disabled list
CHICAGO, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Chicago catcher A.J. Pierzynski has been placed on a 15-day disabled list because of a wrist injury suffered last week, the White Sox said Tuesday.
It is the first time Pierzynski, who broke into the major leagues in 1998, has been placed on the disabled list in his career. He suffered a fractured left wrist last Friday when he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City's Bruce Chen.
Pierzynski was hitting .296 with six home runs and 39 runs batted in 105 games this season. He's appeared in 1,470 games in his career, hitting .285 with 126 home runs and 644 RBI.
Catcher Donny Lucy was called up from Class AAA Charlotte to take the open spot on the Chicago roster. It is his third time in the majors. He appeared in eight games in 2007 and seven last season, hitting a combined .267 with one home run and two RBI.
Washington to start Beck at quarterback
ASHBURN, Va., Aug. 16 (UPI) -- John Beck will start at quarterback for the Washington Redskins in their exhibition game Friday against Indianapolis.
Beck, in his fifth NFL season, has appeared in five professional games -- all in his rookie season at Miami. He and quarterback Rex Grossman have split time working with the Redskins' first-team offense this week.
Washington Coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday Beck would be given the start Friday in Indianapolis. Beck missed last week's pre-season game against Pittsburgh because of a groin injury. Shanahan said the injury was healed.
Grossman started at quarterback against the Steelers, completing 19-of-26 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Kellen Clemens played the second half. Washington won the game 16-7.
Beck was a second-round draft choice by Miami in 2007. He appeared in five games, starting four, for the Dolphins that season. Miami was 1-15 that season. He signed with Baltimore in 2009 and then was traded to the Redskins prior to last season.
