League Notes
In L.A., Sam Farmer reports the NFL, “concerned that some players might celebrate by flashing the hand signals of street gangs, has hired experts to examine game tapes and indentify the gestures.” NFL VP/Security Milt Ahlerich: “There have been some suspected things we’ve seen. When we see it, we quietly jump on it immediately, directly with the team and the player or employee involved to cease and desist." Celtics F Paul Pierce was fined $25,000 by the NBA for a gesture made during the playoffs, and Farmer notes, "partly because of that episode, the NFL decided to make the identification of gang signs a point of emphasis this season.” NFL game officials “will alert the league headquarters of anything unusual or suspicious they see” (L.A. TIMES, 7/16).
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Sheryl Crow (l), Selig Announce Text Donation
Initiative Around Stand Up To Cancer |
TEXT FOR A GOOD CAUSE: MLB and the Entertainment Industry Foundation last night announced the launch of a text donation program for Stand Up To Cancer, the charitable effort unveiled two months ago to raise money for cancer research. For the rest of the season, all 30 clubs will play a PSA during games asking fans to make a $5 donation to the cause through their mobile devices. The effort will serve in part as a prelude to a September 5 telethon that will air simultaneously on NBC, CBS and ABC. MLB in May became the first major donor to the Stand Up To Cancer effort with an initial $10M donation (Eric Fisher, SportsBusiness Journal).
NO QUICK FIX: SI.com’s Steve Aschburner wrote under the header, “One Year After Donaghy Scandal Broke, Transparency Still Lacking.” Aschburner: “We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of [NBA Commissioner David] Stern’s stunning, anguished news conference about the whole mess, and with the league’s vast and expensive machinery deployed for 12 months on behalf of its reputation, the situation has only gotten worse.” The NBA “has done little -- an underwhelming little given the time elapsed -- to pull back its curtains and assure fans that no fix is in.” Referees are “no more accessible to the public through pool reporters,” and chances to "educate the fans ... haven’t been pursued” (SI.com, 7/16).
DEVELOPING STORY: SI.com’s Peter King wrote his feeling is that the CFL “eventually will have as at least part of its mission the development of talent for the NFL." King: "Will it be a Triple-A league for the NFL? I’m not sure it’ll go that far, but I believe the NFL would be willing to subsidize a player-development program in the CFL eventually, particularly if NFL honchos like [Chiefs President & GM] Carl Peterson continue to beat the drum for a developmental concept to replace the defunct NFL Europa” (SI.com, 7/15).
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