Names In The News

PETA has sent a letter to NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL asking that Falcons DT JONATHAN BABINEAUX be suspended for a year if he is convicted of felony animal cruelty. The group also asked the Falcons to suspend Babineaux “if the case is not resolved by the start of the season” and to “cut him if he is found guilty.” Babineaux is accused of killing the dog of his live-in girlfriend, BLAIR ANDERSON (N.Y. TIMES, 2/27).

Papelbon Investing In Social Networking Web Site

NAMES: Real Madrid MF DAVID BECKHAM will appear in “TRUCE,” a movie about a temporary peace called between British and German troops in World War I during which soccer games between the armies were held. Beckham will play an English soccer player in the movie, which is set for release in December ‘08 (London MIRROR, 2/25)....Red Sox P JONATHAN PAPELBON is one of the investors in ispottedyou.com, which “bills itself as the place ‘where the virtual world meets the real world.’” Papelbon said other MLBers, as well as some NFLers, are also investors, as is Under Armour. Papelbon said one difference from MySpace is that the site is bilingual (BOSTON HERALD, 2/25)....Mariners P MIGUEL BATISTA has released “THE AVENGER OF BLOOD,” a novel about a 14-year-old serial killer and “how the legal system deals with temporary insanity.” Batista is presently working on “DNA 18,” a novel about cloning (MLB.com, 2/25)....Two separate fan-based fundraisers were started to pay the $10,000 fine levied by the NHL against Sabres coach LINDY RUFF for his role in the brawl during the team’s game against the Senators last Thursday (AP, 2/27)....Last night’s edition of NBC’s “Deal Or No Deal” featured Yankees manager JOE TORRE coaching contestant WAYNE RAMOS via satellite (NBC, 2/26).

IN MEMORY: World Indoor Football League Daytona Thunder WR/DB JAVAN CAMON died last night after suffering a head-to-head blow while trying to make a tackle in a game. Camon was 25 (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 2/27).