From the "bizarre sports news" files
'Mattress Mac' makes unusual ultimatum to UNT (AP)
A booster's unusual ultimatum has placed the University of North Texas in an awkward position: Rename its new athletic facility after the football coach that was just fired or have the donor's $1 million gift redirected to the music department.
To keep the peace, and perhaps keep open the big-money pipeline, school officials say they will honor the odd request from Houston furniture magnate Jim McIngvale -- known locally as "Mattress Mack" for his goofy TV and radio spots. A school spokeswoman cited the school naming policy, which states that a facility "may be named in keeping with the wishes of the donor."
Thus, the McIngvale Practice Facility will get renamed for Darrell Dickey, who was fired last week. No timeline for the renaming is set.
It was either rename it, McIngvale said, or redirect his money to the acclaimed One O'Clock Lab Band, the showpiece at one of the country's top music schools. Mattress Mack was serious enough to take out a one-page ad Sunday in the Denton Record-Chronicle explaining his demand.
"Right's right and wrong's wrong. It's the right thing to do," McIngvale said. "I don't think firing a guy three weeks after he had a heart attack was the right thing to do, either. Even Wall Street is not that callous."
It's sort of an odd demand, since the story later admits that the money was donated several years ago and has already been spent.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 11/16/06 20:57 | Sports | Technorati
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