ESPN’s Ed Werder reported there have been “no meetings set up” between Eagles WR DESEAN JACKSON and JAY-Z for the rapper’s Roc Nation Sports to represent Jackson. Werder noted that after "speaking with the people at the Eagles today, they don't think that this is a reflection in any way of dissatisfaction with the contract he signed just about a year ago" and that "they think it's strictly an issue between DREW ROSENHAUS and the player" ("NFL Live," ESPN, 6/3). CBS Sports Network's Doug Gottlieb said Jackson "wants to have a post-football ... music label, music career ... so that's the reason you bring in Jay-Z" ("Lead Off," CBSSN, 6/3). Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said Jackson "has aspiration to have a music career,” and that is what is “attracting him to Jay-Z.” Florio: “All this controversy and notoriety and publicity about Jay-Z's efforts to recruit players ... is paying off" ("PFT," NBC Sports Network, 6/3).
TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER: A glove worn by Baseball HOFer JACKIE ROBINSON in the '55 and '56 World Series on Sunday was "auctioned for $373,002." The Steiner Sports auction also saw a Robinson bat, "thought to be from the 1956 season," sell for $114,000 (AP, 6/3)....A Julien's Auctions event on Saturday in Beverly Hills "contained a bunch" of items from MUHAMMAD ALI's career. An AAU National Amateur Boxing Championship Most Outstanding Boxer award from '60 sold for $35,200 while a "training-worn and signed robe" from '81 sold for $31,250 (ESPN.com, 6/3).
AWARDS & HONORS: Vikings RB ADRIAN PETERSON and WNBA Sky F SWIN CASH last night "were honored" as recipients of the Henry P. Iba Citizen Athlete Awards at the Renaissance Hotel in Tulsa. CBS Sports' SETH DAVIS served as Master of Ceremonies while Kentucky men's basketball coach JOHN CALIPARI "delivered the keynote address" (TULSA WORLD, 6/4)....JACK NICKLAUS was selected as the '13 Ambassador of Golf by Northeast Ohio Golf Charities. Nicklaus "will be honored" at Firestone Country Club in Akron on July 31 (OHIO.com, 6/4)....Ad Age named NBA Senior VP/Marketing MELISSA ROSENTHAL BRENNER and EA Games Senior VP LAURA MIELE as "Women To Watch" in '13 (AD AGE, 6/3 issue)....Architectural Record magazine named Salt River Fields at Talking Stick the winner of its ’13 Good Design is Good Business competition (D’Backs).
CHARITY STRIPE: Patriots Owner ROBERT KRAFT yesterday visited Russell Elementary School in Dorchester, Mass., to “congratulate the students and staff on winning $30,000 in the Find Your Balance Challenge, a nationwide school health competition.” Kraft “shocked nearly everyone in attendance when he announced that he would match the grant” (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/4)….The Grizzlies and G TONY ALLEN raised more than $90,000 for the American Red Cross “to help victims of a recent tornado in the Oklahoma City area” (COMMERCIALAPPEAL.com, 6/3)….Several Browns players, including S T.J. WARD, on Friday served as celebrity bartenders at the House of Blues to raise money for MICHELLE KNIGHT, GINA DEJESUS and AMANDA BERRY, who were “found last month after being held captive for more than a decade” (CLEVELAND.com, 6/3).
IN MEMORY: Former MLB Umpires Association Exec Dir RICHIE PHILLIPS died on Friday at the age of 72. Phillips “took over the umpires’ union” in ’78 and “successfully fought for improved salaries and benefits until a failed bargaining strategy led to his ouster and the formation of another union” in ’99 (FOXSPORTS.com, 6/3).
