Convicted Boston mobster WHITEY BULGER "will be allowed to keep" his Stanley Cup ring that was "seized from the Santa Monica, Calif., apartment in which he was hiding out." The ring is "believed to have once belonged" to former NHLer CHRIS NILAN, who won the '86 Stanley Cup with the Canadiens. Nilan was "married to the daughter of Bulger's then-girlfriend" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/12).
CHARITY STRIPE: N.Y.-based charity Seats of Dreams has been transferring "unused event tickets to disadvantaged, disabled or sick kids" at sporting events since last year. Rays VP/Sales & Service BRIAN RICHESON said that Seats of Dreams co-Founder DAVID BIEBER "contacted the team before the season started." Seats of Dreams has "one other official partnership -- the Boston Blades, a women's hockey team." However, Bieber said that they are "working on securing the Yankees" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/13).
NAMES: Yankees 3B ALEX RODRIGUEZ "has hired top New York criminal defense lawyer JOE TACOPINA to bolster his legal team" in his appeal against MLB's 211-game PED suspension (N.Y. POST, 8/13)....The Shawn Thornton Foundation held its fourth annual "Putts & Punches for Parkinson's" charity golf tournament yesterday at Ferncroft Country Club in Middleton, Mass. Proceeds from the event "will benefit the American Parkinson Disease Association and the Boston Bruins Foundation" (ESPN.com, 8/12)....Liberty Media Chair JOHN MALONE has sold $3.4M in Discovery Communications stock (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/13)....Mets 3B DAVID WRIGHT and his fiancée, MOLLY BEERS, have reportedly set Dec. 26 as their wedding date (N.Y. POST, 8/13)….Knicks G BENO UDRIH and his wife, MICHELLE, have purchased a “new 8,500-square-foot home” in Seattle for $4.4M (PUGET SOUND BUSINESS JOURNAL, 8/9 issue).
IN MEMORY: Former Univ. of Arizona broadcaster DAVE SITTON died yesterday of a heart attack at the age of 58. Sitton called UA football and basketball games from '90-'12. He also “ran in a Republican special primary" to replace former U.S. Rep. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS in ‘12, but “received just 17 percent of the vote” (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 8/13). Sitton was “perhaps best known locally for his charity involvement.” He was a “member of the Tucson Conquistadores” and “served on the board of the Pima County Sports and Tourism Authority” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/13).
