File this one under the “whoops, wish we didn’t send that guy a check” folder. University of Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan was placed on indefinite paid administrative leave Wednesday following a bizarre failed benefit concert involving Stevie Wonder.
Hawaii AD Suspended, $200,000 Missing In Stevie Wonder Concert Fiasco
University of Hawaii athletic director Jim Donovan was placed on administrative leave after the university lost $200,00 in a failed effort to book a Stevie Wonder concert.
The university paid $200,000 of athletic department funds as a deposit to secure Wonder for an Aug. 18 concert benefiting athletics. The concert, which was to be held at the university’s Stan Sheriff Center, was canceled Tuesday when Hawaii officials learned the event was planned without Wonder’s knowledge.
Now university officials have contacted the FBI in an effort to recoup the funds. Asked if he thought the university had fallen for a scam, Donovan said, “I couldn’t speculate.” Rich Sheriff, manager of the Stan Sheriff Center, was also placed on indefinite paid administrative leave.
The end result is two Hawaii employees on administrative leave, $200,000 missing and, to add insult to injury, no Stevie Wonder concert.
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