In N.Y., Peter Lattman noted Dewey & LeBoeuf Global Litigation Chair JEFFREY KESSLER is "leaving the law firm to join Winston & Strawn.” As recently as last week, Kessler “maintained that the firm had no plans to close in mid-May or to seek bankruptcy protection.” A number of Dewey partners are “expected to join him at Winston.” Kessler has represented the players’ unions of all four major sports leagues, as well as numerous athletes ( NYTIMES.com, 5/9). Kessler served as outside counsel to the NBPA and NFLPA last year during their respective lockouts ( THE DAILY).
HELPING HAND: MLB, the Players Trust and league sponsor State Farm yesterday announced a partnership with Habitat for Humanity Int’l to build a total of nine new homes in Joplin, Mo., and Tuscaloosa, Ala., each of which was hit by significant tornadoes last year. Two of the nine houses will be framed July in Kauffman Stadium as part of All-Star Game events being held there. The effort builds upon a collective donation of $200,000 made by MLB and the MLBPA immediately after the tornadoes (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
PARK IT: In Cleveland, James McCarthy notes federal investigators have “subpoenaed the Cleveland Cuyahoga Port Authority for records dealing with parking lot leases with the Cleveland Browns, including a price-cutting deal approved last year.” The subpoena “makes no mention of what investigators suspect,” but Port Authority BOD member RICHARD KNOTH “accused three of his colleagues in May 2011 of meeting illegally with the Browns to discuss the team’s request for concessions” (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 5/10).
NAMES: Packers QB AARON RODGERS accepted “an official resolution recognizing Dec. 12, 2012 as Aaron Rodgers Day in Wisconsin” (GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE, 5/10)….Golf HOFer GARY PLAYER yesterday became the 10th recipient of the PGA Tour’s Lifetime Achievement Award (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 5/10)….Golf HOFer NANCY LOPEZ will be awarded the ’12 Byron Nelson Prize at the HP Byron Nelson Championship on May 15. The prize is “awarded to a person in the golf world who embodies the same philanthropic spirit” as Nelson (HP Byron Nelson Championship)….Catalyst PR received the ’12 SABRE Award for Boutique Agency of the Year (Catalyst)....Singer MARTINA MCBRIDE will perform the national anthem before the Indianapolis 500 on May 27 (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 5/9).
IN MEMORY: Red Sox PA announcer CARL BEANE died yesterday after suffering a heart attack while driving his car in Sturbridge, Mass. The 59-year-old had been the “Voice of Fenway Park” since '03 (Red Sox). In Boston, Chad Finn notes for decades, Beane was a prominent freelance radio reporter and provided national updates for ESPN Radio, Sirius Satellite Radio, Westwood One, the AP and Metro Networks. Beane “even stepped in for JOHNNY MOST on a Celtics game in 1979 when Most lost his voice after the first quarter.” The Red Sox will honor Beane in pregame ceremonies Friday (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/10).
