STEVE BARTMAN yesterday received an official Cubs '16 World Series Championship ring as a "special gift from the RICKETTS family and the Cubs." Cubs Owner TOM RICKETTS "thought it was high time to extend an olive branch" (WGNTV.com, 7/31).
FAN'S PERSPECTIVE: Audience monetization platform FanAI announced it is closing its Series Seed. The round was led by Courtside Ventures Partner DEEPEN PARIKH and included QB1 Ventures, Catalyst Sports and DraftKings Founder JASON ROBINS (FanAI).
CLOSING THE GAP: SERENA WILLIAMS recently wrote an essay for Fortune magazine on the topic of "fighting to close the pay gap for African-American women." Williams said she wrote it to "acknowledge the many realities black women face every day." Williams: "Together, we will change the story -- but we are going to have to fight for every penny" (NYPOST.com, 7/31)
NAMES: JOHN BOWLEN, son of Broncos Owner PAT BOWLEN, was "arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor driving under the influence" Sunday in Paso Robles, Calf. The 31-year-old was "found guilty of harassment last April" for a '15 incident in which prosecutors said that he "shoved his girlfriend against a bathroom wall while she was trying to call 911." He "used to work as a marketing assistant for the Broncos" (USATODAY.com, 7/31)....Warriors G STEPHEN CURRY and Cavaliers G KYRIE IRVING were both in attendance at Mavericks F HARRISON BARNES wedding in Newport, R.I., last weekend (PROVIDENCEJOURNAL.com, 7/31)....The jersey Yankees RF AARON JUDGE wore in his MLB debut in August '16 "sold for a whopping $160,644.05." The winning bid is the "highest price paid for any jersey worn in the four major U.S. pro sports leagues in the past 15 years" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/1)....The Red Wings are hosting the Hockeytown 5k Run/Walk on Sept. 10 as "part of events leading up to the official opening of the new Little Caesars Arena" (AP, 7/30).
