In L.A., Ken Bensinger reports Pro Football HOFer DEION SANDERS in '11 "filed a workers' compensation claim in California, alleging head trauma and other injuries incurred while playing" for the Cowboys. The case is "pending, but in November 2010, Sanders was determined to be 86% disabled by the Division of Workers' Compensation." Four doctors diagnosed "more than a dozen medical conditions, including cognitive impairment and behavioral/emotional disorder." Sanders is "one of a host of current NFL employees, including at least six other NFL Network analysts and dozens of assistant coaches and team personnel, who have made such claims." The filings from the league's own employees "underscore the depth and complexity of a head injury problem that the NFL is trying hard to put to rest" (L.A. TIMES, 9/6).
DOLPHIN TALE: In Miami, Greg Cote writes he applauds Dolphins Owner STEPHEN ROSS' $200M donation this to the Univ. of Michigan because he is "donating money that he didn't have to." But he adds, "What interests me the most is that his donation comes just weeks after Ross fought so hard in a losing battle to gain public funding for about that same amount of money for renovations" to Sun Life Stadium. Cote: "Half of me still applauds Ross, but the other half wonders why he doesn't just pay for his own stadium improvements" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 9/5). In West Palm Beach, Frank Cerabino writes the effort for public funding for stadium improvements "was dealt a severe blow," as the donation "does nothing to help Ross build a case that taxpayers should shoulder half the costs of the capital improvements to his private business." It is "too bad he can't just pretend that fixing up his own stadium is just another collegiate donation" (PALM BEACH POST, 9/6).
PANNING FOR GOLD: 49ers Exec VP/Development LARRY MACNEIL said of Levi's Stadium, "The North Santa Clara area is great for development in general. I think you're seeing the stadium spark some interest." He added, "For us, as we were doing site selection, there was excellent traffic infrastructure that is very well-maintained -- great access to the three major freeways, public transit that has been invested in and works -- and then just a very well-run city." MacNeil: "We're a couple weeks ahead on some things, but I would not rely on that to say we're going to be open ahead of our July 31 target date. We still have a lot of work to do. We are 60 percent done. We are now starting to work on interior finishes, and there's a lot of time and man hours on that. The work force from the local labor market has been great" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 9/5).
PLAYING HOUSE: The $20M L.A. home of Patriots QB TOM BRADY and his wife, GISELE BUNDCHEN, is featured on the cover of the October issue of Architectural Digest. The 14,000-square-foot, Mediterranean-style home was "built with mostly recycled or reclaimed materials" (BOSTON HERALD, 9/6).
