Rangers LW SEAN AVERY last month recorded a video for the Marriage Equality Act, and he "would like the NHL to become involved in issues of social justice, beginning with this one." Avery said it "would be meaningful" for NHL Commissioner GARY BETTMAN and the BOG "to open themselves up for conversation about this issue." He added, "It would be great for the NHL to take the lead among professional sports leagues in terms of social equality and justice and be out front and progressive regarding issues like this" (N.Y. POST, 6/28).
FULL SPEED AHEAD: In Charlotte, Joe Marusak reports the "owners of a more than century-old farm have given up their legal fight" against NASCAR driver MICHAEL MCDOWELL's planned go-kart track in Mooresville, N.C., after McDowell's DryLake Entertainment "agreed to pay them $14,000 to settle the case." The Mooresville Board of Commissioners "voted unanimously on June 20 to agree to the settlement." Town attorney STEVE GAMBILL said that Mooresville "isn't paying anything as part of the agreement" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 6/28).
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Rapids presented Obama with a No. 10 jersey
during a ceremony at the White House |
PRESIDENTIAL SEAL: PRESIDENT OBAMA honored the Colorado Rapids yesterday at the White House for winning last year's MLS Cup. The Rapids, including team Owner STAN KROENKE, presented Obama with a No. 10 jersey, and after the ceremony the players "changed into team gear and led a clinic on the South Lawn for children from military families" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/26).
NAMES: Univ. of Kentucky men's basketball coach JOHN CALIPARI has agreed to a contract extension worth at least $36.5M "over the next eight years." The new contract calls for Calipari to receive a "base salary of $400,000 for the next eight seasons and an additional $3.4 million a year in media obligations and endorsements." Calipari also can "earn retention bonuses" of up to $6.1M if he stays at UK through '19 (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/28)....Patriots LB BRANDON SPIKES has left agent TERRY WATSON for Rosenhaus Sports (BOSTONHERALD.com, 6/27)....ANTHONY CLIFF has filed a civil complaint in Clark County District Court alleging that boxer FLOYD MAYWEATHER "ordered three of his body guards to assault him." Cliff is asking for "more than $10,000 in damages" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/28)....Baseball HOFer WADE BOGGS plays a role in "SWAMP SHARK," a Syfy original movie debuting Saturday night. In the film, Boggs' character "helps an evil sheriff cover up the accidental unleashing of a gigantic man-eating shark into the Louisiana bayou" (NBCSPORTS.com, 6/27)....The ECHL yesterday awarded its Excellence for Marketing award to the Cincinnati Cyclones. The league also announced Alaska Aces announcer JOSH BOGORAD as Broadcaster of the Year for '10-11 (THE DAILY).
