In Denver, Legwold & Nicholson report Broncos Player Personnel Dir MATT RUSSELL on Saturday was arrested for DUI after "allegedly hitting two cars in Summit County -- one of them a Breckenridge police car." Colorado State Patrol Public Information Officer NATE REID said that Russell also is "accused of fleeing the scene of the earlier collision in Frisco." Russell "faces charges of driving under the influence, having an open container of alcohol in his car, careless driving resulting in injury and failure to display proof of insurance." Exec VP/Football Operations JOHN ELWAY "promoted Russell to his current position" in January '12 after Russell joined the team in '09 as College Scouting Dir (DENVER POST, 7/9).
FAMILY DAY: In L.A., Bill Plaschke reports several dozen family members of firefighter ANDREW ASHCRAFT, one of 19 who died in the Yarnell Hill wildfire in Arizona last week, "climbed into a bus supplied" by the D'Backs and "rode it 125 miles south" from Prescott to watch the team's game against the Dodgers. A large No. 19 "had been painted into the field." Players from both teams "met with the family during batting practice," and Dodgers broadcaster VIN SCULLY also met with the family. Plaschke writes for "all its problems, baseball still has the capacity to bring out that love, to reveal that community, to give strength to those in need." As last night "again proved, baseball is still America's family game, still the game most shared by generations, still the game that [makes] people feel safe at home." The D'Backs after a call from Ashcraft's family "quickly arranged for a bus and seats in the owner's suite and a place on the field" (L.A. TIMES, 7/9).
MUTINY FROM THE BOUNTY: Former NFLer BARRETT GREEN is suing the Redskins, claiming that his “career-ending knee injury resulted from a bounty program organized by” current Titans assistant coach GREGG WILLIAMS. Green in the suit said that his injury “came during a game on Dec. 5, 2004 as a result of an ‘unusual, outrageous and an obvious cheap shot.’” The suit in addition to Williams also names former NFLer ROBERT ROYAL, the player “who hit Green” (TENNESSEAN.com, 7/8).
INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE: Heat F CHRIS BOSH will travel to Mumbai, India, from July 16-19 to conduct a variety of events. Bosh will be the 22nd NBA or WNBA player to travel to India since ’06. His tour will be captured by Sony and NBA Entertainment and featured in NBA programming on Sony Six. Bosh’s visit will launch the official NBA India Instagram channel. Meanwhile, Heat G DWYANE WADE has started a 10-day trip to China to promote footwear brand Li-Ning (THE DAILY)....Bulls G DERRICK ROSE is on a 10-day tour of Europe to “promote his adidas line of shoes and clothing, the first of two” int’l tours for the brand. Rose started "his European working vacation at adidas headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on July 5 and then jetted to Milan, Italy.” He will be in Europe through July 15 with stops in London, Paris, Madrid, Belgrade and Zagreb (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 7/8).
NAMES: First lady MICHELLE OBAMA, Pro Football HOFer JOHN RIGGINS and Tennis HOFer BILLIE JEAN KING attended the World TeamTennis opener yesterday in DC (USATODAY.com, 7/9)….Former NBAer DEVEAN GEORGE is building 45 affordable housing units in north Minneapolis as part of an “outreach program for community youth that he calls George’s Building Blocks” (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/9)....Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast ALY RAISMAN was the honorary captain at Saturday’s MLS Earthquakes-Revolution game (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/9)….Rays RF MATT JOYCE and mascot RAYMOND yesterday visited the “pediatric patients at the Children’s Medical Center at Tampa General Hospital” (TAMPABAY.com, 7/8).
