PUBLICINTEGRITY.org's Michael Beckel cited campaign finance records as showing that Republican strategist KARL ROVE's Super PAC, American Crossroads, "received a cash infusion last month from a mysterious limited liability company that lists its address as the Tempe, Ariz., training facility" of the NFL Cardinals. Records show that Cholla West LLC "contributed $50,000 to American Crossroads" this year. The BIDWILL family, which owns the Cardinals, has "previously contributed to politicians -- mostly Republicans" (PUBLICINTEGRITY.org, 6/20).
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Nowitzki's celebrity baseball game at Dr Pepper
Ballpark sells out for the first time |
CHARITY STRIPE: Jaguars WR
CECIL SHORTS has expanded his partnership with the United Way of Northeast Florida. Shorts "was already the nonprofit’s Team NFL representative, but now he has founded Cecil’s Backpack Challenge, a school supply drive underway this summer, and Cecil’s Mathletes, which will provide incentives for students to be successful in math." He also "is recruiting more mentors for the United Way’s Achievers for Life dropout prevention program" (
JACKSONVILLE.com, 6/21)....Mavericks F
DIRK NOWITZKI on Saturday hosted his '14 Heroes Celebrity Baseball Game, which featured players from the Mavericks and Cowboys plus former MLB Rangers. The event "benefits the children’s charities of the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation and the Heroes Foundation," established by Mavericks Owner
MARK CUBAN. The game, played at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas, sold out for the first time (
ESPN.com, 6/21).
AWARDS & HONORS: Saints and Pelicans Owner TOM BENSON on Saturday night was elected into the Louisiana Sports HOF in abesentia, with Saints and Pelicans President DENNIS LAUSCHA speaking on his behalf (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 6/22)....Former NFLer EDDIE GEORGE and Bank of America "will be honored by the Tennessee Performing Arts Center with its most prestigious recognition, the Applause Award, during its annual gala in August" (TENNESSEAN.com, 6/22).
NAMES: New York Supreme Court judge EILEEN BRANSTEN has denied golfer VIJAY SINGH’s request for PGA Tour files on players who "have tested positive for banned substances other than IGF-1." The decision "was filed with the New York Supreme Court and New York County clerk on June 19" (JACKSONVILLE.com, 6/20)....Revolution D KEVIN ALSTON, D DARRIUS BARNES, MF SHALRIE JOSEPH and D ANDREW FARRELL last night attended a FIFA World Cup viewing party for U.S.-Portugal at House of Blues in Boston (BOSTON HERALD, 6/23)….Former MLBer VIDA BLUE served as the Grand Marshal for yesterday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway (PRESSDEMOCRAT.com, 6/22)….Former NFLer MATT LEINART listed his three-story Manhattan Beach, Calif., home for $2.059M (LATIMES.com, 6/20)….Suspended Yankees 3B ALEX RODRIGUEZ "wants to return" to his N.Y. home at 15 Central Park West. However, a source said that the building’s management “is calling foul” because of "all the negative press he stirs up" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/23).
IN MEMORY: Red Sox Manager of Productions & Game Operations JACK LANZILLOTTI and his girlfriend were “hit by a car” and killed on Saturday. Lanzillotti was 28 years old (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/22). The Emmy Award winner produced the video and scoreboard entertainment on a daily basis at Fenway Park. He also created many of the vignettes that entertained fans between innings, as well as features on the award-winning "Red Sox Report" that runs weekly on NESN (Red Sox).
