KOBE BRYANT is "set to appear on the debut episode" of "THE PLAYERS," a new Chinese reality show. The show "features a group of celebrity contestants who face off in various basketball-related challenges against rival teams described by the show as 'qipa,' a popular Chinese slang term roughly meaning 'strange' or 'unusual.'" Bryant will "shoot his first episode in China later this month, and the premiere will air sometime in mid-July." Show producer Dragon TV said that it is "unclear at this stage whether Bryant will participate in further episodes" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/17).
ANYONE HAVE THE TIME? Detroit-based watch and luxury goods retailer Shinola named former Lions President TOM LEWAND CEO. Lewand was "fired from the Lions in November" by Owner MARTHA FORD, along with GM MARTIN MAYHEW, following the team's 1-7 start. Lewand had opportunities to "stay in the NFL, including potentially working for the league office, but he said Shinola appealed to him for many reasons" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/17).
IN THIS TOGETHER: The U.S. men's national soccer team on Wednesday released a video "honoring the victims" of the Orlando nightclub shooting. USMNT members in the video "speak about a message of unity." The video features MFs MICHAEL BRADLEY and JERMAINE JONES, along with several other members of the team (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 6/16)....NASCAR Chair & CEO BRIAN FRANCE and his wife, AMY, donated $10,000 to benefit victims of the shooting (NASCAR).
MEETING OF THE MINDS: The American Gaming Association, which "wants to legalize sports betting, gathered nearly 40 law enforcement leads for its first-ever Law Enforcement Summit to discuss steps to address the existing black market." Participants included representatives from the FBI, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, Interpol DC and National Association of Attorneys General Gaming Committee, among others (POLITICO.com, 6/16).
NAMES: The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved a resolution "paying tribute to the life" of late Hockey HOFer GORDIE HOWE (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/17)....Hawks Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer NZINGA SHAW was named a recipient of The Network Journal's "40 Under Forty Achievement Award" (Hawks)....Patriots QB TOM BRADY this week "made a surprise appearance" at On Cue, an annual gathering sponsored by Boston-based venture capital firm Cue Ball (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 6/16)....Select members of the Penguins, including C SIDNEY CROSBY and RW PHIL KESSEL, on Thursday "made appearances at the U.S. Open" at Oakmont Country Club along with the Stanley Cup (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/17)....Patriots TE ROB GRONKOWSKI's new Nickelodeon series "CRASHLETES,"which features "popular viral videos of sports bloopers," will debuts July 5 at 7:00pm ET (AP, 6/16)....Fidelity National Financial Chair BILL FOLEY, the leader of Las Vegas' NHL effort, has "sold exactly 37,225 shares" of the corporation, totaling roughly $1.3M (HINTSNEWSNETWORK.com, 6/16)....UConn football coach BOB DIACO and his wife, JULIA, "will donate $250,000 toward the construction of new facilities for men's and women's soccer, baseball and softball" (HARTFORD COURANT, 6/17)....Former Georgia football coach VINCE DOOLEY endorsed DONALD TRUMP on Wednesday in Atlanta (TWITTER.com, 6/16)....Former MLBer DEREK JETER is holding his bachelor party in the Dominican Republic (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/17).
