YAHOO SPORTS' Getlin & Cole cite sources as saying the NFLPA is "investigating the relationship between agent DREW ROSENHAUS and a former financial adviser who persuaded a number of players to invest in a failed Alabama bingo casino." Rosenhaus and Pro Sport Financial Founder JEFF RUBIN had an "unusually close business relationship that spanned upwards of seven years." That relationship "might have resulted in Rosenhaus breaching the fiduciary duties all agents who are certified by the NFLPA owe to their clients." The NFLPA is "looking into whether Rosenhaus should have paid closer attention and kept his clients away from Rubin." Rosenhaus said, "Let me say this on the record, I had no reason to believe that Jeff Rubin was doing anything illegal or irresponsible or unethical" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 9/4).
HEALTHY PRIORITIES: The AP reported Steelers S RYAN CLARK is "teaming up with a Pittsburgh hospital to help raise awareness for those who suffer from sickle cell blood disorder." Clark and UPMC yesterday launched the "Cure League," an initiative that "focuses on education, donations and support that will enable researchers to learn how to provide better care and hopefully help lead to a cure" (AP, 9/4). Clark suffers from sickle cell trait and he said that sickle cell disease "killed his sister-in-law and affects more than 70,000 Americans and millions worldwide." The "Cure League" is a partnership between Clark, UPMC, the Univ. of Pittsburgh's Vascular Medicine Institute and the Institute for Transfusion Medicine (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/5).
STUDY SESSION: USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham notes Bills S GEORGE WILSON "won't play football without his iPad" and "doesn't go anywhere without the Apple tablet." Wilson said, "Most guys can't sleep the night after a game, whether you won or lost. You want to go back and see what you did, what plays you left out there on the field. You always want to try to fine-tune your mistakes and correct them as quickly as you can. ... By the time they're on the airplane, our teams have uploaded the (NFL-shot game video), so if we have an hour flight, most guys have an opportunity to already see the game footage before we actually walk off the airplane" (USA TODAY, 9/4).
CHARITY STRIPE: The Stand Up To Cancer initiative announced the launch of a new MLB-themed campaign called "Baseball Believes." The campaign was filmed at Fenway Park and features actors STEVE CARELL, COLIN HANKS and KEN JEONG. The six spots will celebrate great plays from MLB postseason history, connecting the theme of "believing in miracles" to the efforts to end cancer. The spots will appear for the rest of the season on Fox, ESPN, MLB Network and in ballparks. MLB is a founding donor to Stand Up To Cancer and to date has committed more than $30M to the initiative (Stand Up To Cancer). Meanwhile, Olympic Gold Medalists GABBY DOUGLAS and MISSY FRANKLIN will participate in the "Stand Up To Cancer" telethon Friday (AP, 9/5).... Former NFLer HEATH EVANS is putting his Super Bowl XLIV ring up for raffle in "an effort to raise money for the Celebration Hope Center" in Metairie, La. The ring is "worth an estimated $10,000." Raffle tickets are "$2 each and a minimum purchase of five tickets is required" (NOLA.com, 9/3)....The A's on Sunday raised $53,600 as part of their Breast Cancer Awareness Day, giving the funds to the American Cancer Society, Cancer Prevention Institute of California and Susan G. Koman for the Cure (CSNBAYAREA.com, 9/3).
NAMES: A statue honoring late boxer JOE FRAZIER will be unveiled next year and will be located near the Xfinity Live! complex in South Philadelphia. An official announcement is scheduled for next week (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/5)....Missy Franklin will serve as an honorary captain and will be at midfield for the coin toss before Sunday night's Broncos-Steelers game (AP, 9/4)....A group including Basketball HOFer and Dodgers investor MAGIC JOHNSON and Detroit native MARVIN BEATTY has submitted a bid to redevelop the Michigan State Fairgrounds (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 8/31)....Oregon's Brandon Dunes Golf Resort Retail Dir AMY PENDERGAST has been named PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Resort Facilities. Brandon Dunes is operated by Northbrook-based KemperSports (Illinois DAILY HERALD, 9/5)....Yankees GM BRIAN CASHMAN's "estranged wife MARY is switching back to her maiden name amid her messy divorce." Mary Besman is "seeking permanent alimony, a split of their property and joint custody of their 13-year-old daughter and 8-year-old son" after Cashman was "publicly accused of a second affair" (N.Y. POST, 9/5)....Bruins LW SHAWN THORNTON on Friday "was roaming the acreage around TPC Boston as PGA.com's designated NHL blogger" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/1)....Cubs GM JED HOYER has paid $2.1M for a restored and renovated, five-bedroom house on an extra-wide lot in Lincoln Park (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 9/4)....Maple Leafs D DION PHANEUF and actress ELISHA CUTHBERT have announced their engagement (CBC.ca, 9/4)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. swimmer MICHAEL PHELPS celebrated his retirement with a Labor Day weekend bash at the Wynn Encore's Surrender nightclub in Las Vegas. Teammates ALLISON SCHMITT and NATHAN ADRIAN were in attendance (LATIMES.com, 9/3)....Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT and girlfriend RICKI LANDER spent the weekend in Provincetown (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/5).
