Cowboys QB DAK PRESCOTT was cheering on Mississippi State on Friday as they defeated UConn in the NCAA Women’s Final Four. Former NFLer DONOVAN MCNABB was also in Dallas "cheering on niece KIA NURSE,” who plays for UConn. Seahawks QB RUSSELL WILSON was “supporting his sister ANNA,” who plays for Stanford. “GMA” co-host ROBIN ROBERTS was “sitting at center court” at American Airlines Center, cheering on MSU (AP, 4/1). Meanwhile, Cardinals WR LARRY FITZGERALD and his father attended Saturday's men's Final Four games at Univ. of Phoenix Stadium (AZCENTRAL.com, 4/2).
A DAY AT THE RACES: Always Dreaming, a horse owned by NHL Panthers Owner & Chair VINNIE VIOLA, "won the 66th running of the Florida Derby" at Gulfstream Park on Saturday to "vault itself among favorites in thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown season." Viola "co-owns Brooklyn Boyz Stables" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/2)....WARREN BUFFETT and BILL GATES attended the Int'l Omaha Grand Prix equestrian event "in the same box" on Saturday. Bruins CEO CHARLIE JACOBS was also at CenturyLink Center Omaha over the weekend, as he competed in yesterday's Longines FEI World Cup Jumping Final (POLITICO.com, 4/2). Gates' daughter, JENNIFER, jumped in Saturday's event (POLITICO.com, 4/1).
CHARITY STRIPE: Dolphins S MICHAEL THOMAS traveled to Haiti this week with Steelers CB COTY SENSABAUGH, free agent S JONATHAN MEEKS and their families. The trip is "part of Thomas’ push to raise $100,000 for food and fresh water for the poorest nation in the Americas" (MIAMI HERALD, 4/1)....CHANCE THE RAPPER has secured an additional $1M from the Bulls for his New Chance Arts & Literature Fund (AP, 4/1)....Saints QB DREW BREES "helped construct a home" in Central City, La., on Friday. Brees' charitable cause was done in partnership with Marriott Int'l and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOLA.com, 3/31)
NAMES: Celtics Managing Partner & CEO WYC GROUSBECK recently married his fiancée, N.Y. businesswoman EMILIA FAZZALARI. Grousbeck said, "If you're ever in Vegas, I would recommend the Bellagio chapel" (BOSTONHERALD.com, 3/31)....Tennessee AD JOHN CURRIE officially began work at his new position on Saturday. Currie spent Friday in Memphis with new Tennessee Chancellor BEVERLY DAVENPORT, “connecting with Tennessee alumni and supporters” (Nashville TENNESEAN, 4/1)....Cubs 3B KRIS BRYANT “showed up to the team’s hotel in Houston on Friday with a host of gifts from the Adidas x ‘Reigning Champ’ collection.” A truck arrived “loaded with shoes, shirts and other items that were handed out to everyone in a Cubs uniform” (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/1)....Raiders QB DEREK CARR and Patriots WR JULIAN EDELMAN attended the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas last night (JUSTJARED.com, 4/2)....Fenway Park was “filled with notable names” for the premiere of an animated show centered on the Red Sox’ mascot, “WALLY'S OPENING DAY,” which had its “green carpet” premiere at Regal Cinemas Fenway yesterday and aired later on NESN. Actor LENNY CLARKE “stars as a grandfather taking his granddaughter to her first Opening Day at Fenway Park.” Former MLBer DAVID ORTIZ has a “cartoon cameo on the show” (BOSTON HERALD, 4/3)....Federal prosecutors during the trial of Las Vegas businessman and renowned gambler BILLY WALTERS “broke down a series of stock trades” by PHIL MICKELSON in '12 and identified an alleged $1.9M debt "related to sports gambling" (ESPN.com, 3/31).
IN MEMORY: Former MLB Senior VP/Scheduling & Club Relations KATY FEENEY, the daughter of late Giants GM and NL President CHUB FEENEY, passed away yesterday at the age of 68. Katy Feeney died of “natural causes” while visiting relatives in Maine. She was also a great-niece of longtime Giants Owner HORACE STONEHAM (S.F. CHRONICLE, 4/3). Feeney was part of SBJ/SBD's "Game Changers" in '12 (THE DAILY).
