NCAA basketball official JOHN HIGGINS has "filed a federal civil lawsuit against Kentucky Sports Radio, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, tortious interference with a business and civil conspiracy." The lawsuit alleges KSR and operators MATT JONES and DREW FRANKLIN "caused harm to his family and his business by sharing Higgins' personal and business information about his company, Weatherguard, online and on radio broadcasts." The suit "calls for an award of damages in excess of $75,000" (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 10/4).
HELPING OUT: Astros DH CARLOS BELTRAN said that Owner JIM CRANE recently "chartered a plane to fly about 85 people, including 10-15 cancer patients that needed to continue their treatments," to Houston from Puerto Rico. Dodgers CF ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ "tweeted his family was able to get out of Puerto Rico on the plane" (MLB.com, 10/3)....The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic and the Pajcic Foundation yesterday "donated $150,000 to the Jaguars Foundation for hurricane relief efforts and other programs" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 10/3)....WAYNE GRETZKY has "signed on to help" lead a project for a new "neurological intensive care unit in Edmonton." Gretzky is "also donating $99,000 from his own foundation" (EDMONTON SUN, 10/4).
NAMES: Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast ALY RAISMAN "discussed a wide range of topics during her talk at the Forbes Under 30 Summit" at Boston's Faneuil Hall yesterday. Raisman confirmed that the '20 Tokyo Games are “on her mind.” But she added that she "hasn’t begun training in earnest" (BOSTON.com, 10/3)....Columbus Short and Artistry Films are "developing a film based on the life" of late MLBer DOCK ELLIS. The project, titled "ELLIS D," is "planned to go into production next year" (VARIETY.com, 10/3)....HGTV's CHIP GAINES "will be the honorary pace car driver for the AAA Texas 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway" next month (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 10/4)....Nationals P SEAN DOOLITTLE "married longtime girlfriend EIREANN DOLAN on Monday" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/4)....It appears IndyCar drivers ALEXANDER ROSSI and CONOR DALY “will be part" of "THE AMAZING RACE” on CBS next season, though it “hasn’t been confirmed yet” (NBCSPORTS.com, 10/1)....WWE Chief Brand Officer STEPHANIE MCMAHON, Lakers President JEANIE BUSS and ESPN’s HANNAH STORM were among the speakers at the espnW: Women + Sports Summit this week in California (THE DAILY)....A group of Orlando City SC players, along with USWNT F ALEX MORGAN, were asked to leave Disney World “after an incident at a bar in Epcot” on Sunday (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 10/4).
