Thousands of MUHAMMAD ALI admirers, global dignitaries and celebrities "converged on the Kentucky Exposition Center Thursday for the boxing legend's traditional Islamic funeral ritual." Ali's casket was "rolled into the hall, with some chanting 'Allahu Akbar,' Arabic for 'God is great.'" During the roughly 45-minute service, led by Muslim-American scholar IMAM ZAID SHAKIR, funeral prayers "echoed through the large concrete hall." Among those looking on were the Rev. JESSE JACKSON, Nation of Islam leader LOUIS FARRAKHAN, boxing promoter DON KING, Turkish President RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, Pakistani Ambassador JALIL JILANI and Boxing HOF SUGAR RAY LEONARD. While 16,000 tickets "were distributed, it appeared that far fewer showed up" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 6/10).
FOOT FAULT: Wimbledon could "expel MARIA SHARAPOVA as a member after she was banned from tennis for two years on Monday for breaching doping regulations." Sharapova "earned her honorary membership 12 years ago, when she won the singles title." But a source "confirmed that the management committee will meet when this year's tournament is over in mid-July to discuss whether she should be thrown out." MARTINA HINGIS, the '97 singles champion, was also "suspended for two years but did not have her membership rescinded" (LONDON TIMES, 6/10).
RAW POWER: The Nationals on Saturday will host their 11th annual Dream Gala to benefit the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation at the Marriott Marquis in Northwest DC, and the fundraiser's silent auction will "feature a very unique piece of memorabilia" from a RF BRYCE HARPER home run. Harper "hit his first career grand slam and 100th home run of his career on April 14" off Braves P JULIO TEHERAN. The 429-foot blast "broke an LED panel on the scoreboard on the second deck in right field." The scoreboard has "since been repaired, but the busted panel was preserved and will go to the highest-bidding Harper fan" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/9).
NAMES: Cowboys RB DARREN MCFADDEN "has sued his longtime business manager, saying he misappropriated and mishandled money throughout his NFL career," including $3M "lost in a bitcoin business venture." The $15M lawsuit was "filed Tuesday against MICHAEL VICK of Mabelvale, Arkansas, and 10 unknown others named only as 'Doe'" (AP, 6/9).....Excel Sports Management has signed THOMAS DETRY, a Belgium native and Big Ten Golfer of the Year, for representation. LANCE YOUNG will represent him. Detry will make his professional debut this week in his home country at the KPMG Trophy on the European Challenge Tour (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer)....Redskins President of Business Operations DENNIS GREENE on Thursday attended a "dinner thrown by the local chapter of the ALS Association" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/10)....Lions LB STEPHEN TULLOCH "started a book tour that will take him to Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee to sign copies of his new children's book, 'The Little Linebacker'" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/9)....Saints QB DREW BREES "is hoping to lead consumers" to his new fitness franchise Title Boxing Club, which "offers boxing and kickboxing classes." The club was founded in '08 by former boxer DANNY CAMPBELL (FOXBUSINESS.com, 6/9)....Former MLBer KEVIN YOUKILIS is teaming with his brother, SCOTT, to "open Loma Brewing Company near his home in Los Gatos, Calif." The brewpub "replaces Los Gatos Brewing Company," which the brothers purchased last year (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/10).
