In Salt Lake City, Brooke Adams writes NBA Kings G JIMMER FREDETTE is "engaged in a full-court press against a Utah apparel company he claims has failed to honor an endorsement contract." He alleges that Black Clover Enterprises "owes him money and has used his identity without his consent." Black Clover is "a Draper clothing company that targets an active 'Live Lucky' audience." A lawsuit filed in Salt Lake City's Third District Court indicated that Fredette "seeks at least $50,000, plus interest and court costs and attorneys' fees" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 4/4).
CHARITY STRIPE: Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN and his brother PAUL's organization that benefits kids in need, The Foundation to Be Named Later, "hosted a celebrity bartender event at Bleacher Bar" in Boston on Tuesday night to raise money for its marathon team. Guest barkeeps included Patriots P ZOLTAN MESKO, MLS Revolution G MATT REISS and NESN's TOM CARON. Money raised will go to a scholarship in the name of NESN's PETER GAMMONS that helps Boston public school students who have overcome hardships (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/4)....One Mission, which provides support for children and families affected by pediatric cancer, yesterday said that Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI will "join its fourth annual Kid's Cancer Buzz-Off event June 9 at Gillette Stadium" (BOSTON HERALD, 4/3).
NAMES: Astros Owner JIM CRANE bought new iPads for the team, which they found at their lockers when they returned from Spring Training last week. Crane on Tuesday said that the iPads were "the brainchild" of GM JEFF LUHNOW (MLB.com, 4/2)....TNT NBA analyst REGGIE MILLER participated as the "Guest Programmer" series for Turner Classic Movies on Tuesday night (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/2)....Nike Brand President CHARLIE DENSON will be the commencement speaker for the Utah State graduation ceremony on May 4. Denson, a USU alum, also will receive an honorary doctorate (OREGONLIVE.com, 4/3)….Former NFLer WARREN SAPP sold his 10,000-sqaure-foot lakefront Orlando home for $2.9M (TAMPABAY.com, 3/29)….Twenty-three current and former NFLers will take part in a new “Investment for Impact” business management program April 18-21 at Notre Dame (NFL)….Pro Football HOFer TERRY BRADSHAW will “deliver the commencement address” for the New England Institute of Technology’s May 5 ceremony (PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.com, 4/3)….The “rift” between Syracuse basketball coach JIM BOEHEIM and ESPN’s ANDY KATZ “is no more.” The two “shook hands” on Friday in DC and Boeheim was a guest on the “Katz's Korner” show. Boeheim “reached out” to Katz through an athletic department official (SYRACUSE.com, 4/3)….Celtics G PAUL PIERCE's wife JULIE on Tuesday gave birth to their first son (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/4).
IN MEMORY: Former Newsday columnist STAN ISAACS died Tuesday night at his Haverford, Pa., home at the age of 83. Isaacs was part of a group of “industry-changing young reporters known as Chipmunks and later a pioneer as a columnist writing about televised sports” (NEWSDAY, 4/4)….Former Kansas State AD BEBE LEE died Sunday at the age of 96 (KSU)….Former Jacksonville Journal and Florida Times-Union columnist and editor GENE PULLEN died Tuesday at the age of 74 (FLORIDA TIMES-UNION, 4/4).
