U.S. District Court Judge DAVID DOTY indicated that it “might be time for another judge to oversee the landmark 1993 REGGIE WHITE settlement that created modern free agency in pro football and empowered him to supervise collective bargaining between the league and the players.” Doty assumed his role “was finished when the NFL and union ended the 2011 lockout” by settling the TOM BRADY-led lawsuit. U.S. District Judge SUSAN NELSON was assigned the Brady case, and Doty said, “I thought it was all done and it had moved down the street with the Brady case. Judge Nelson did a hell of a job” (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 6/15).
HOW TO LOVE: In Oklahoma City, Keeping & O'Connor note controversial statements about rapper LIL WAYNE's treatment in the city during the NBA playoffs are "drawing national attention and possibly making the top-selling rap artist the man most hated by Thunder fans." The drama began last month when he "was denied a front-row seat for Game 3 of the Thunder-Spurs series" at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Lil Wayne "bought his own ticket" for Tuesday's Game One and took a "courtside seat opposite the Heat bench." He "wasted no time heating up the hatred after the game," when he wrote on Twitter, "Again I was treated like s--- by the Thunder staff" (OKLAHOMAN, 6/15). Meanwhile, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" comedian BILL HADER, Univ. of Oklahoma President DAVID BOREN, Vikings RB ADRIAN PETERSON and Oregon State Univ. men's basketball coach CRAIG ROBINSON were among the "famous faces" in attendance for Thursday's Heat-Thunder Game Two (OKLAHOMAN, 6/15).
CHARITY STRIPE: The NFL will award $2.5M in grants for new or refurbished football fields in 15 cities. The program is a partnership between the league and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. (AP, 6/14)....The NHLPA and the Heart & Stroke Foundation (HSF) announced that the fundraising total for the NHLPA Beard-a-thon has surpassed $300,000, with more than $115,000 raised this year. The proceeds will assist the HSF in funding research (NHLPA)....MLB Exec VP/Baseball Operations JOE TORRE's Safe At Home Foundation held a fundraiser Thursday night at L.A.'s Hotel Bel-Air. Torre, former MLB manager TONY LA RUSSA, Baseball HOFer and Dodgers Special Advisor TOMMY LASORDA, Angels manager MIKE SCIOSCIA and Dodgers manager DON MATTINGLY took part in a panel discussion hosted by Dodgers broadcaster VIN SCULLY (MLB.com, 6/15)....The Packers players and coach MIKE MCCARTHY Wednesday participated in the eighth Edgar Bennett Celebrity Bowl-A-Thon to raise money for children with cancer (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/14).
AWARD-WINNING: ESPN's "E:60" received the '12 National Edward R. Murrow Award for Outstanding Sports Reporting in the TV Network category for "Angel In The Outfield," the story of late little leaguer CHRISTINA-TAYLOR GREEN. ESPN Radio's "The Sporting Life With Jeremy Schaap" won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Audio Sports Reporting in the Radio Network/Syndication Service category for the "E:60" feature "Hero," the story of late boxer FRANCISCO "PACO" RODRIGUEZ (ESPN)....Paralyzed Rutgers football player ERIC LEGRAND will receive the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYS next month (ESPN).
NAMES: Former equity derivatives trader ANDY FRANKENBERGER on Monday defeated poker player PHIL IVEY to win the World Series of Poker's $10,000 pot-limit hold 'em tournament in Las Vegas. Frankenberger collected $445,899 and a gold bracelet (WSJ.com, 6/12)....Golfer DUSTIN JOHNSON, MLB Giants Ps CLAY HENSLEY and MATT CAIN, and former MLBer J.T. SNOW took part in a driving exhibition Wednesday afternoon as part of the U.S. Open. Cain, who went on to pitch a perfect game Wednesday night, "needed the OK" from Giants GM BRIAN SABEAN in order to participate (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/14)....Heat G DWYANE WADE's book, titled "A FATHER FIRST: HOW MY LIFE BECAME BIGGER THAN BASKETBALL," is due out Sept. 4 (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 6/14)....Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment Chair LAWRENCE TANENBAUM received an honorary doctor of laws degree from St. Michael's College on Thursday (THESTAR.com, 6/14)....Chargers coach NORV TURNER recently purchased a 1,500-square-foot condo in Mission Beach, Calif., for $1.2M (UTSANDIEGO.com, 6/14)....Braves 3B CHIPPER JONES and his wife, SHARON, have separated after 12 years of marriage (AJC.com, 6/14)....Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN, Cubs broadcasters LEN KASPER and BOB BRENLY, and MLB Network's PETER GAMMONS Thursday attended the Hot Stove Cool Music Fundraiser in Chicago (WGNTV.com, 6/15).
