Former NBPA Exec Dir CHARLES GRANTHAM in a special to THE UNDEFEATED wrote this year's ESPYs, highlighted by a call for social change by several prominent NBAers, could "begin a very public conversation" about issues in the country. Athletes "need to be more than merely complimented on speaking out on social issues: They need the support of basketball." Instead, there is "largely silence." On the ownership side, only ISIAH THOMAS, "through his work against gun violence in Chicago, and MICHAEL JORDAN, through his financial contributions to build trust between law enforcement and the black community, have been vocal." Ownership "is showing its racial politics again." NBA Commissioner ADAM SILVER "should meet" with athletes and their unions to "engage in a principled discussion" about social issues (THEUNDEFEATED.com, 8/2).
CASE DISMISSED: U.S. District Court Judge CHARLES COODY in a July 15 ruling "dismissed with prejudice the case filed by W. MATTHEW DAVIS, a former employee" of Tigers Unlimited -- the fundraising arm of Auburn's athletic department. Davis alleged he was wrongfully fired after he informed then-Auburn COO and current UConn AD DAVID BENEDICT that, while conducting an audit prior to the '14 football season, he found "between 3,500 and 3,800" seats in the Tigers Unlimited area of Jordan-Hare Stadium "were not being sold through the program and were instead being sold at face value instead" (AL.com, 8/2).
WORKING WITH THE BEST: Nike co-Founder PHIL KNIGHT, asked what he has learned from athletes, said, "You realize that they ... are just regular human beings, but what they really have in common is an attitude toward competition and toward training. They work harder to get to where they are, both mentally and physically. They are focused in a way that other people aren't" (MEN'S JOURNAL, 9/ '16 issue).
NAMES: Former NBAer RASHEED WALLACE last weekend "lent a helping hand to Flint water relief efforts," as he joined ESPN's RACHEL NICHOLS and others to deliver bottled water to area homes (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/3)....Blackhawks G COREY CRAWFORD appears in a campaign to "raise money for about 1,900 new vests” for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. The Blackhawks also announced yesterday plans to “donate $5,000 this week to the ‘Get Behind The Vest’ drive, which has already provided more than 6,100 replacement vests” since the fall of ’14 (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/3)....DraftKings Head of PR & Corporate Communications SABRINA MACIAS and ESPN Senior Dir of Communications KERI POTTS were both named to PRWeek's "40 Under 40 2016" list (PRWEEK.com, 8/2)....Disney Chair & CEO BOB IGER and Wasserman Chair & CEO CASEY WASSERMAN are among the co-hosts for a HILLARY CLINTON fundraiser on Aug. 23 (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 8/2).
