Tax documents released by conservative watchdog group 2ndVote show the NFLPA "donated $5,000" in '15 to the Center for Community Change Action, a group that is politically "active" against PRESIDENT TRUMP. The NFLPA in '13 and '15 also contributed to AFL-CIO community affiliate Working America, which reportedly spent $1M in last year to campaign against Trump (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/6).
FILL US IN: Six Democratic U.S. Reps. on Tuesday sent a letter saying that they "want an update" from NCAA President MARK EMMERT on the progress of a '16 pledge to "diversify the college coaching and administrative hiring pools." The NCAA last year asked college presidents to "sign a pledge to address college athletics' diversity challenge" (ESPN.com, 10/5).
TALL & HANDSOME: Hornets C DWIGHT HOWARD was featured in the N.Y. TIMES' men's style section, where he discussed "how to dress well, which can be summed up in two words: custom tailoring." Howard said he is a "T-shirt type of guy." Howard: "I’m looking for something that shows off my physique and also something that has a graphic or something meaningful on it. ... Being tall, I cannot find anything off the rack, so I have to look for custom. There’s this guy, DANIEL PATRICK. He makes some good clothes and he customizes especially for the taller guys in the NBA" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/6).
CHARITY STRIPE: Golden Knights Owner BILL FOLEY's charity organization has "partnered" with the team's AHL affiliate to "donate an additional $200,000 to support the victims and first responders in Sunday's shooting on the Las Vegas Strip" (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 10/5)....Imagine Dragons frontman DAN REYNOLDS on Wednesday "led a therapeutic 'jam session' with pediatric patients at Sutter Children’s Center" in Sacramento. He was introduced by Pro Football HOFer STEVE YOUNG, whose foundation "helped build a devoted music therapy room in the hospital" (SACRAMENTO BEE, 10/5).
NAMES: A $7.5M defamation lawsuit filed by Angels 1B ALBERT PUJOLS' cousin against Pujols, his wife DIEDRE and their charitable organization was "dismissed by a U.S. district court" in St. Louis. Wilfrido Pujols reportedly "filed the suit last October," alleging that Diedre Pujols had "defamed him by claiming in an email that he was responsible in a fatal car crash" (DAILYNEWS.com, 10/5)....Production company Constant Beta, Creative Control and Abramorama have "teamed for a wide release" in North America for "THE FIRST TO DO IT," a documentary about the NBA's first black player EARL LLOYD. The film is "set to have its world premiere" on Friday at the Hamptons Int'l Film Festival (DEADLINE.com, 10/5)....Pro Football HOF Exec Dir JOE HORRIGAN is writing a book titled “THE NFL CENTURY,” a history of the league. Rodale Books will publish the book in Fall '19 to “coincide with the kickoff of the NFL’s 100th season” (Pro Football HOF)....UNC men’s basketball coach ROY WILLIAMS will “receive the Nell and John Wooden Leadership in Coaching Award during a ceremonial awards dinner” in DC on Oct. 12 (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 10/6)....Chargers Special Adviser FRED MAAS was “appointed to the California Horse Racing Board by Gov. JERRY BROWN” (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 10/5)....LEBRON JAMES and the rest of the Cavaliers on Thursday were in attendance at Progressive Field to "support the Indians" during their Game 1 win over the Yankees in the ALDS (CLEVELAND.com, 10/5).
