Utah State Univ. AD SCOTT BARNES was named Chair of the '14-15 NCAA Men's Basketball Committee. He has served on the committee for the last three years (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 5/9). Barnes will replace Wake Forest Univ. AD RON WELLMAN, who will hold the position for the '13-14 season (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 5/8).
COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION: A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that 68% of Americans support Wizards C JASON COLLINS' decision to come out, while 23% are opposed. The percentage of positive responses is "higher among younger and better-educated respondents." The only part of the public with "lukewarm or negative reactions to Collins' decision are those who identified themselves as 'very conservative' politically," and those who "identified themselves as gay marriage opponents." The poll was conducted from May 1-5, among 1,008 adults (WASHINGTON POST, 5/9). Collins will be "in Boston for Pride Week," and will march in the city's Pride Parade on June 8 (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/9).
CHARITY STRIPE: Golfers RORY MCILROY, RICKIE FOWLER and GRAEME MCDOWELL yesterday made 11-year-old SLOAN AUBREY's birthday "a lot more special." Sloan's 20 year-old brother, KYLER, who suffers from cerebral palsy, had the idea to "record video on his iPad of the players wishing Sloan a happy birthday." All three players as they finished their practice rounds for The Players Championship "smiled into the iPad camera and wished Sloan a happy birthday" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 5/8)....Redskins QB ROBERT GRIFFIN III yesterday at a luncheon for the American Cancer Society "raised $33,000 in a matter of minutes, more than half of the $60,000 tallied during the auction portion of the fundraiser." A man from Texas "paid $15,000 for a pair of pink cleats" worn by Griffin last season (AP, 5/8).
NAMES: An L.A. Superior Court Judge yesterday ruled former USC football player ARMOND ARMSTEAD's lawsuit against the school "could move forward." Armstead "alleged that USC team doctors gave him painkillers that caused him to have a heart attack that effectively ended his college career and affected his professional football aspirations" (DAILYNEWS.com, 5/8)....Lions RB REGGIE BUSH’s fiancée, LILIT AVAGYAN, had the “couple’s first child, an 8-pound, 9-ounce girl” (FREEP.com, 5/8)….Nationals hitting coach RICK ECKSTEIN’s wife, CAROLINE, yesterday “gave birth to a baby girl," ISABEL LORING ECKSTEIN (MLB.com, 5/8)….Rays 1B JAMES LONEY and his wife, NADIA, bought a 6,000-square-foot home for $1.75M in San Diego's Bridlewood Country Estates community (UTSANDIEGO.com, 5/8).
