ESPN's "OTL" cited sources and court documents in reporting that nearly $3M "transferred from golfer PHIL MICKELSON to an intermediary was part of 'an illegal gambling operation which accepted and placed bets on sporting events.'" While Mickelson has not been charged with a crime and is not under federal investigation, former sports handicapper GREGORY SILVEIRA, who acted "as a conduit for an offshore gambling operation, pleaded guilty last week to laundering" approximately $2.75M. Sources said that the money "belonged to Mickelson." Sources added that Mickelson, "who was not named in court documents, is the unnamed 'gambling client'" (ESPN.com, 6/29).
PAYING TRIBUTE: NCAA President MARK EMMERT, Pac-12 Commissioner LARRY SCOTT, ACC Commissioner JOHN SWOFFORD, Big 12 Commissioner BOB BOWLSBY and SEC Commissioner GREG SANKEY are "among the many voices" present in an 11-minute video tribute to former SEC Commissioner MIKE SLIVE produced by ESPN and narrated by the net's PAUL FINEBAUM. ESPN President JOHN SKIPPER, along with Slive's daughter, ANNA SLIVE HARWOOD, and several SEC school presidents, ADs, administrators and coaches are "also featured in the video" (AL.com, 6/29).
CROSS OVER: N.Y. Times crossword puzzle editor WILL SHORTZ today will play table tennis for the 1,000th consecutive day, and he will mark the occasion with a celebration at the Westchester Table Tennis Center, which he partially owns. Shortz has not missed a day playing since Oct. 4, 2012, and he has played in clubs across 49 states, the U.K., China and Japan during the streak. He said that he plans to pursue the streak indefinitely. USA Table Tennis CEO GORDON KAYE issued a special congratulations (Ben Fischer, Staff Writer).
NAMES: A police report states that Michigan Associate AD/Football JIM MINICK "had to be forced onto a stretcher by a police officer to have blood drawn and was more intoxicated than he informed the officers when he was arrested in the early hours of May 8 after crashing his GMC Yukon." He "pleaded guilty" last Wednesday and "faces eight months probation." He is a retired Marine colonel and a "longtime friend" UM football coach JIM HARBAUGH (DETROIT NEWS, 6/30)....The Minnesota Secretary of State's office has “posted an opening for a seat on the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which oversees the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium.” The seat on the five-member authority “is open after DUANE BENSON announced he was stepping down last week because he could no longer work with Chair MICHELE KELM-HELGEN” (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/26)....Cubs President of Baseball Operations THEO EPSTEIN at his annual “Hot Stove Cool Music” benefit on July 9 “will play guitar" alongside his "old friend," Pearl Jam's EDDIE VEDDER (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/30)....Former NFLer ASANTE SAMUEL “recently founded Eighties Nation Records and has expressed interest in signing” Falcons S WILLIAM MOORE (BIZJOURNALS.com, 6/26)....Clippers coach DOC RIVERS "tapped into Hollywood" in his effort to retain C DEANDRE JORDAN, inviting actor JAMIE FOXX to a "recent dinner with the unrestricted free agent at a swanky Malibu restaurant” (L.A. TIMES, 6/30).
