A "large contingent" of Clemson football players and staff visited the White House yesterday in honor of their '17 national championship. South Carolina politicians attending included Gov. HENRY MCMASTER, U.S. Sens. LINDSEY GRAHAM and TIM SCOTT and Rep. JEFF DUNCAN, a former Clemson football player who "helped coordinate" the visit. A group of "approximately 175 people representing Clemson were on hand for the event," including Clemson President JIM CLEMENTS. Almost all members of the national championship team were in attendance, including Texans QB DESHAUN WATSON and DT CARLOS WATKINS, who were "flown to the ceremony" by Owner BOB MCNAIR (GREENVILLE NEWS, 6/13).
DECISION TIME: UCF K DONALD DE LA HAYE released a video titled, "Quit College Sports Or Quit YouTube," in which he "details the NCAA's complaints with his YouTube channel" that has over 53,000 subscribers. In the final three minutes, which was filmed after De La Haye leaves a meeting at UCF, he "explains that if he wishes to earn money from advertising on his videos, he will lose his scholarship." De La Haye said, "I'm not doing anything wrong. I'm not making money illegally. ... I'm not going around selling my autographs. I'm not sitting here getting Nike checks and Nike deals and all these sponsorship. I'm literally just filming things" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/13).
GIVING BACK: The PGA Tour Honda Classic achieved its 11th consecutive record charitable distribution giving to South Florida children's charities. The Honda Classic is awarding a record $3.63M to 133 local organizations which benefit children, $420,000 more than what was distributed in '16 (Honda Classic)....The Cowboys, in conjunction with NFL Foundation, provided a $250,000 grant to "turn the dirt into a new artificial turf football field for Mercy Street, a West Dallas non-profit organized to held revitalize that area" (DALLASNEWS.com, 6/12).
NAMES: The story of late MLBer DOCK ELLIS is "coming to the big screen" with O’SHEA JACKSON JR. attached to star in the title role. DAVID PERMUT, JEFF KWATINETZ and ICE CUBE -- Jackson's father -- are "producing from a script by JOEY POACH.” The film is the “first project to come from Cube Vision’s strategic partnership with AID Partners” (DEADLINE.com, 6/12)....T’Wolves and Lynx CEO ETHAN CASSON has been appointed to Positive Coaching Alliance’s National Advisory Board (PCA)....Among the celebs who were “spotted mingling” with Warriors players before last night’s NBA Finals Game 5 at Oracle Arena were PUFF DADDY, SNOOP DOGG and E-40 (MERCURYNEWS.com, 6/12)....Boxer CLARESSA SHIELDS has signed a “promotional agreement with Salita Promotions,” which was founded in ‘10 by boxer-turned-promoter DMITRIY SALITA. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Salita Promotions “promoted Shields' second professional bout at MGM Grand Detroit in March when she beat SZILVIA SZABADOS" (MLIVE.com, 6/12)....The Falcons yesterday honored QB MICHAEL VICK and WR RODDY WHITE as "retired former team members" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 6/13).
