Former UCLA G LONZO BALL, the "possible No. 1 overall pick," has "filed paperwork to enter" the '17 NBA Draft and hired representation. Sources said that Ball has signed with Slash Sports & Entertainment agent HARRISON GAINES, who is "based in California and counts Ball as his first NBA client." Meanwhile, sources added that Ball's family has "launched Ball Sports Group." In hiring Gaines, Ball will have "standard player representation." Sources said that Gaines will be "responsible for Ball’s future NBA contracts and team negotiations as a member of the Ball Sports Group" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 4/6).
GLIMPSE BEHIND THE CURTAIN: WWE Chair & CEO VINCE MCMAHON and his wife LINDA in a "joint financial disclosure filing" reported between $938M-1.1B in "real estate, WWE stock and other assets that include hedge fund investments." The 32-page filing "provides a unique glimpse at the couple’s vast empire," from their $8M Greenwich, Conn., estate with nearby polo field access to a $3M penthouse in the "aptly-named Trump Parc luxury condominium high-rise in Stamford" (CTPOST.com, 4/4).
THE HOYA DESTROYA: Basketball HOFer PATRICK EWING was introduced as Georgetown's new basketball coach yesterday, and "several current players" were in attendance along with Ewing’s agent DAVID FALK. Georgetown's search process was led by former NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE, who serves as Georgetown BOD Vice Chair (WASHINGTON POST, 4/6).
CROSSED OFF THE AGENDA: Access to the Philadelphia Museum of Art has become the “first high-profile casualty” of preparations for the upcoming NFL Draft. Access to the iconic steps outside the museum will be cut off, “spoiling a dream” for some “ROCKY”-inspired tourists. Crews have begun “erecting the stage for the draft, which will take place from April 27-29 in an outdoor theater in front of the steps.” The disruption will “likely continue through the first week of May” (PHILLY.com, 4/5).
NAMES: Giants 1B BRANDON BELT is “ready to contribute a pair of shoes to a seemingly homeless man.” Belt “responded to a Twitter post yesterday about giving Size 14 or 15 shoes" to a man. The gift was “facilitated” by ALEXIS PENCE, the wife of Giants RF HUNTER PENCE (MERCURYNEWS.com, 4/5)....Pro Football HOFer JEROME BETTIS gave more than 200 students a private sneak peek of “THE BUS TO CANTON: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JEROME BETTIS” at the HOF on Tuesday. The three-part documentary series is currently in production by PostGame VR (HOF)....Bills coach SEAN MCDERMOTT recently took seven of the franchise’s former players “out to dinner,” including HOFers BRUCE SMITH, JIM KELLY, ANDRE REED and THURMAN THOMAS, as well as DARRYL TALLEY, STEVE TASKER and CORNELIUS BENNETT (BUFFALONEWS.com, 4/5)....The WALL STREET JOURNAL’s Andrew Beaton profiled Excel Sports Management Founder & President JEFF SCHWARTZ as part of the paper's "A Day in the Life" feature. The “demanding nature of his business takes Schwartz on the road four months out of every year” (WSJ.com, 4/5)....Former Colorado State AD JACK GRAHAM is “considering a run for governor on the Republican ticket” (Colorado Springs GAZETTE, 4/5)....The NYC Law Department has "agreed to pay" Hawks F THABO SEFOLOSHA $4M to "settle a federal lawsuit in which he accused five police officers of false arrest and using excessive force during an encounter outside a Manhattan nightclub." The settlement ends Sefolosha’s "two-year fight to clear his name and recover damages after he was arrested early on April 8, 2015" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/6).
