An L.A. County Superior Court jury yesterday "unanimously rejected" former Clippers VP/Basketball Operations ELGIN BAYLOR's wrongful-termination lawsuit against the team. The jury "voted 'no' to all of Baylor's claims" that the Clippers, Owner DONALD STERLING and President ANDY ROESER "oversaw a hostile workplace." Baylor "alleged he was harassed and subjected to age discrimination leading to his 2008 departure after 22 years as a Clippers executive." Baylor's attorney, ALVIN PITTMAN, said that he is "considering an appeal" (L.A. TIMES, 3/31).
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Ishikawa pledges to give all his tournament
winnings this year to Japan relief efforts |
LENDING A HELPING HAND: Golfer RYO ISHIKAWA said that he is "giving all of his tournament earnings this year to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in his native Japan." Kyodo News yesterday reported that Ishikawa also is "pledging money for every birdie he makes" (AP, 3/30). YAHOO SPORTS' Shane Bacon wrote Ishikawa "feels the extra motivation to play well will help his game, and give him a reason to really grind out every round" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/30)....NBA players "have donated more than $250,000 to Direct Relief International's Japan Relief and Recovery Fund," including $54,000 from Bulls G DERRICK ROSE, $49,000 from Lakers F PAU GASOL and $47,000 from Thunder G RUSSELL WESTBROOK. Each player "donated $1,000 a point in games played Friday through Sunday." Lakers G KOBE BRYANT "recorded a public service announcement, which has begun running during games, encouraging fans to support the effort" (USA TODAY, 3/31).
COURT REPORT: In Baltimore, Jill Rosen reports WJZ-FM sports reporter JENNIFER ROYLE "has filed an $800,000 defamation suit" against WNST-AM Owner NESTOR APARICIO and two of his hosts, "saying they diminished her reputation by calling her 'trashy' and incompetent on-air and online." Royle has been covering the Orioles and Ravens for WJZ-FM and MASN "for about a year." The suit alleges that during her time at MASN, Aparicio and hosts GLENN CLARK and DREW FORRESTER "made repeated statements about Royle" on WNST-AM, as well as "on blogs and on Twitter." The statements "included saying Royle was incompetent, involved in sexual relationships with multiple professional athletes and resembled a stripper" (Baltimore SUN, 3/31).
DO IT FOR THE KIDS: ESPN MLB analyst BOBBY VALENTINE in a N.Y. TIMES op/ed writes MLB and the MLBPA, as they negotiate a new CBA, "should include a comprehensive ban on the use of tobacco products during games." Players are "public figures and need to recognize the added responsibility that the limelight brings." MLB "has the opportunity to protect today's players and provide positive role models to the millions of kids who want so much to be like their heroes." Valentine: "All it has to do is get tobacco out of the ballpark" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/31).
NAMES: Basketball HOFer and Hawks TV analyst DOMINIQUE WILKINS was attacked after last night's Magic-Hawks game by RASHAN MICHEL, who "has worked as an NBA and college basketball referee and previously owned his own clothing store." Michel, who was "arrested and charged with one count of simple battery," said that Wilkins "owed money for suits purchased several years ago" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 3/31)....FIFA is "set to name SEPP BLATTER and MOHAMED BIN HAMMAM as the only candidates in the race for the presidency," after ELIAS FIGUEROA "decided not to stand." The election will take place at the FIFA Congress in Zurich on June 1 (WORLDFOOTBALLINSIDER.com, 3/31)....Bengals QB CARSON PALMER has put his five-bedroom, two-story home outside Cleveland on the market for $2.1M (CINCINNATI.com, 3/30).
